The number of Italians living in Portugal grew 45,5% in four years and reached 32.784 people in 2025. With this total, Italy is the largest European community. among the main foreign nationalities in the country, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) released this Monday (22).
Between 2021 and 2025, there were 10.254 more Italians in Portugal. Italy is ahead of France (26.549) and Germany (21.635), the other two European Union nationalities in the group of the 15 largest.
Despite the increase in absolute numbers, the share of Italians in the total foreign population fell from 3,0% to 2,1%. This trend is explained by the even faster growth of other communities, especially those from outside Europe.
In total, Portugal had 1.597.539 foreigners in 2025, equivalent to 14% of the resident population. Brazilians lead by a wide margin, with 574.195 people, or 35,9% of the total, more than double the figure recorded in 2021.
Italy is growing faster than France and China.
The growth rate of the Italian community (45,5%) was higher than that observed among the French (22,4%) and Chinese (16,3%) during the same period. Among the European origins of the group, only Germany grew more, with an increase of 73,1%.
The figures are part of estimates of the resident population in Portugal in 2025, focusing on the 15 main foreign nationalities. The survey confirms the growing presence of European Union citizens in the country, with Italy leading this bloc.
MAIN FOREIGN COMMUNITIES IN PORTUGAL
| No. | COUNTRY | TOTAL IN 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 574.195 |
| 2 | Angola | 103.140 |
| 3 | India | 93.683 |
| 4 | Cape Verde | 76.099 |
| 5 | Nepal | 56.866 |
| 6 | Bangladesh | 56.724 |
| 7 | Guinea-Bissau | 53.555 |
| 8 | Ucrania | 47.514 |
| 9 | São Tomé and Principe | 46.731 |
| 10 | Paquistão | 39.638 |
| 11 | United Kingdom | 38.640 |
| 12 | Italy | 32.784 |
| 13 | France | 26.549 |
| 14 | China | 23.439 |
| 15 | Germany | 21.635 |
(Based on data from INE)
