Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Department of Demographic and Social Statistics / Demographic Statistics Unit
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Avenida António José de Almeida
1000-043 Lisboa
PORTUGAL
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
27 November 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
27 November 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
13 February 2025
3.1. Data description
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
The regional breakdown of the Member States in the regional demographic tables is done under the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS.
For more information on the versions in force, please see: Eurosta NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
1.Usually Resident Population
2. Legal Residence Population
3. Registered Residence Population
4. Other
Population
X
Live births
X
Deaths
X
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
Loss of citizenship
X
Legally induced abortions
X
Late foetal deaths
X
Infant deaths
X
Marriages
X
Divorces
X
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population
Resident population: set of persons who, regardless of being present or absent in a given housing unit at the moment of observation, have lived in the place of their usual residence for a continuous period of 12 months prior to the moment of observation, or have arrived to the place of their usual residence during the period of 12 months prior to the moment of observation, with the purpose of living there for a year, at least.
Live births
This is the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother’s body, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, of a product of fertilisation that, after separation, breathes or shows any other signs of life, such as a beating of the heart or umbilical cord or actual contraction of any muscle subject to voluntary movement, whether or not the umbilical cord has been severed and whether or not the placenta is retained.
Deaths
The permanent disappearance of vital functions.
Immigrants
Permanent immigrant: a person (national or foreign) who, in a certain period of reference, entered the country with the intention of remaining here for one year or more, having previously resided abroad continuously for one year or more.
Emigrants
Permanent emigrant: a person (national or foreign) who, in the reference period, and after having remained in the country continuously for at least one year, left it with the intention of residing in another country for a continuous period of one year or more.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Form of derivate acquisition of Portuguese citizenship by effect of intent, by full adoption or by naturalization, whose effects report to the date of registration. The acquisition of citizenship by effect of intent can be acquired, through declaration, by foreigners who are children or incapable of father or mother that acquire the Portuguese citizenship; foreigners who are married or living in de facto union for more than three years with a Portuguese citizen; and foreigners who become capable and have lost the Portuguese citizenship during the incapacity. The acquisition of citizenship by naturalization can be acquired by foreigners residing in Portuguese territory for at least six years; children born on the Portuguese territory, of foreign parents, as long as one parent has legally resided in Portugal for at least five years; persons who have had Portuguese citizenship; foreigners descendants of Portuguese citizens; persons born on the Portuguese territory, of foreign parents, who usually have stayed in Portugal during the ten years immediately preceding the application; foreigners descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews.
Loss of citizenship
Occurs at a person’s own request, given that he or she has a foreign citizenship and declares that does not wish to be Portuguese (regardless of their usual place of residence).
Legally induced abortions
Termination of pregnancy before the foetus reaches the extrauterine viability, carried out by or under the direction of a physician, in an official or officially recognized establishment, under the legislation in force.
The following situations are included:
when it is the only means of removing the danger of death or serious and irreversible injury to the body or to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman;
when it is indicated to avoid danger of death or serious and lasting injury to the body or to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman and is made during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy;
when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the unborn child will incurably suffer from a serious illness or congenital malformation and is carried out made during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, with the exception of situations of non-viable foetuses, in which case the termination may be practiced at all times;
when the pregnancy results from a crime against freedom and sexual self-determination and the termination is performed in the first 16 weeks;
when it is performed, at the option of the woman, during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Late foetal deaths
Deaths of foetuses with a gestational age of 28 full complete weeks.
Infant deaths
Deaths of live-born children aged less than one year.
Marriages
Contract signed by two persons that intend to start a family in full partnership and cohabitation according to legislation.
Divorces
Legal and final dissolution of the marriage bond in the lifetime of the spouses, at the request of one against the other (divorce without the consent of a spouse) or of both (divorce by mutual consent), giving each one the right to marry again.
Grounds for divorce without the consent of a spouse: a de facto separation for a consecutive year; the change of the mental faculties of the other spouse when this has lasted for over a year, and its severity, compromises the possibility of life in common; the absence, without any news of the absent, for not less than one year; any other facts which, regardless of fault of the spouses, showing the final rupture of the marriage.
3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population
No significant differences.
Live births
No significant differences.
Deaths
No significant differences.
Immigrants
No significant differences.
Emigrants
No significant differences.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No significant differences.
Loss of citizenship
No significant differences.
Legally induced abortions
No significant differences.
Late foetal deaths
No significant differences.
Infant deaths
No significant differences.
Marriages
No significant differences.
Divorces
No significant differences.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
Statistical population
Population
Not available.
Live births
Not available.
Deaths
Not available.
Immigrants
Resident population living in private dwellings.
Emigrants
Resident population living in private dwellings. The target population consists of all the individuals who, in the reference year, resided in the dwelling and who, in that same year, have left it to live abroad for a period equal to or greater than 3 months, regardless of being present or absent in the dwelling where they usually live, at the time of the interview.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Not available.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Not available.
Infant deaths
Not available.
Marriages
Not available.
Divorces
Not available.
3.7. Reference area
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data on Resident Population and on Vital Statistics are available since 1900 (See 15.2 for details).
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not available.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not available.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The data collected are covered by Article 6 (on statistic confidentiality), Law No. 22/2008, (Official Journal (OJ) No 92 1st Series, of 13 May 2008).
Population estimates are published at mid-June after the end of the reference year. Preliminary weekly data on deaths are made available 12 days after the end of the reference week. Monthly statistics on births, deaths and marriages are available 70 days after the end of the reference month. Annual data on births, deaths and marriages are published in April of the year following the data reference year and divorces on the 3rd quarter of the year following the data reference year. First results on immigration and emigration of the preceding year are available at mid-June and complete results at the end-September; annual Population estimates by citizenship and country of birth are published in November; annual statistics on foreign population and acquisitions of citizenship are published end-September. Annual yearbook “Demographic statistics” reference date of the preceding year is available online at mid-November.
8.2. Release calendar access
Please, consult annex for the information on statistical information availability.
The definition of ‘citizenship as stated’ in Article 2.1 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 applies.
Country of birth
The definition of ‘country of birth’ as stated in Article 2.1 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, considering the country in which the birth took place (in its current borders), if available, otherwise the country of residence of the mother at the time of the birth (in its current borders) applies.
Country of birth of the mother
The definition of ‘country of birth of the mother’ stated in Article 2(c) of Regulation (EU) No 205/2014 applies (‘country of birth of the mother’ means the ‘country of birth’ of the mother).
Country of previous usual residence
The definition of ‘country of previous usual residence’ stated in Article 2(a) of Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 applies.
Country of next usual residence
The definition of ‘country of previous usual residence’ stated in Article 2(a) of Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 applies.
Deaths
The definition of 'death' stated in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 applies.
Divorce
The definition of ‘divorce’ applies: final legal dissolution of a marriage, that is, a separation of the partners which confers on the parties the right to remarriage according to the laws of the country applies. Note that ‘registered partnership’ does not apply in Portugal.
Emigrants
The definition of ‘emigrant’ stated in Article 2.1 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 applies.
First-time marrying person
The definition of ‘first-time marrying person’ applies: a person contracting for the first time in life the marriage.
First-time registering partner
Not applicable.
Foetal death
The definition of ‘foetal death’ applies: ‘Death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy. Death is indicated by the fact that after such separation from its mother the foetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles’.
Foreign-born
The definition of ‘foreign-born’ stated in Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 applies.
Immigrants
The definition of ‘immigrant’ stated in Article 2.1 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 applies.
Infant death
The definition of ‘infant death’ applies: the death of a live-born infant who has not yet completed 1 year of life.
Late foetal death
The definition of ‘late foetal death’ applies: foetal deaths of 28 weeks or more of completed weeks of gestation.
Legally induced abortions
The definition of ‘legally induced abortion’ applies: any interruption of pregnancy with a dead foetus, initiated by deliberate action, in conformity with the national laws, undertaken with the intention of terminating pregnancy.
Level of development
Live birth
The definition of live birth stated in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 applies.
Live birth order
The definition of ‘live-birth order’ applies: the numerical order of the live birth being recorded in relation to all previous live births of the mother.
Marriage
The definition of ‘marriage’ applies: act, ceremony or process by which the legal relationship of the partners is constituted; the legality of the union may be established by civil, religious or other means as recognized by the laws of each country. (See 3.4.2)
Native born
The definition of ‘native born’ stated in Article 2(d) of Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 applies.
Person contracting legal union for first-time
Not applicable.
Regional
The definition of ‘regional’ stated in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 applies.
Registered partnership
Not applicable.
Registered partnership legally dissolved
Not applicable.
Separation
The definition of ‘separation’ applies: the disunion of married persons, according to the laws of the country, without conferring to the parties the right to remarriage applies.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
11.2.1. Quality assessment: Type of duration of stay used when counting a person as a migrant according to Article 2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
1. Actual duration of stay of at least 12 months
2. Intended duration of stay of at least 12 months
3. Actual and intended duration of stay of at least 12 months
4. Other. Please specify
Nationals
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
EEA citizens
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
Non EEA citizens
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
11.2.2. Quality assessment of the definition of acquisitions of citizenship according to Article 3(d) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
1. Acquisitions of citizenship granted to persons having their usual residence in the territory of the Member State
2.Other. Please specify
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not available.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Not available.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister)
Population
High.
The base population used for the population estimates 2022 is the Census 2021 final results. Asylum seekers as well as persons who have applied for or been granted refugee status, are included in the resident population if they have lived in the country for a continuous period of at least 12 months prior to the moment of observation, or have arrived to the place of their usual residence during the period of 12 months prior to the moment of observation, with the purpose of living there for a year, at least. Beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine are included.
Live births
High.
Data collection on live births is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that children of asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event (which results as an "unknown" value).
However, the live births from mothers residing in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Deaths
High.
Data collection on deaths is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event (which results as an "unknown" value).
However, deaths of residents in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Immigrants
Immigrants estimates are based on LFS annual estimates and residence permit issued data and can be considered accurate and coherent with population estimates at national level of geographical detail. Estimation of the migratory component (permanent or long-term immigrants and emigrants) of annual population estimates is made using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Emigration Survey (IMMS). The underlying concept of residence in LFS and IMMS is the same as the one used in Census 2021, meaning that asylum seekers and refugees are included on the same conditions as explain for population.
Emigrants
Emigrants estimates are based on an annual emigration survey applied as a LFS module (with the same rules of LFS) and can be considered accurate and coherent with population estimates at national level of geographical detail. Estimation of the migratory component (permanent or long-term immigrants and emigrants) of annual population estimates is made using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Emigration Survey (IMMS). The underlying concept of residence in LFS and IMMS is the same as the one used in Census 2021, meaning that asylum seekers and refugees are included on the same conditions as explain for population.
Acquisitions of citizenship
High.
Data collection on acquisitions of citizenship is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice).
Loss of citizenship
High.
Data collection on acquisitions of citizenship is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice).
Legally induced abortions
High.
Data collection on legally induced abortions is exhaustive and based on administrative records.
Legally induced abortions from women residing in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Late foetal deaths
High.
Data collection on late foetal deaths is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included.The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event.
However, the foetal deaths from mothers residing in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Infant deaths
High.
Data collection on infant deaths is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event.
However, deaths of residents in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Marriages
High.
Data collection on marriages is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event.
Divorces
High.
Data collection on divorces is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices and Courts, both from Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling error
Population
Not applicable.
Live births
Not applicable.
Deaths
Not applicable.
Immigrants
Sampling errors can be calculated and provided, expressed in terms of Coefficients of variation (relative standard error).
Emigrants
Sampling errors can be calculated and provided, expressed in terms of Coefficients of variation (relative standard error).
Coverage errors, due to the fact that only private, identifiable, non-empty and main residence are included in the sampling basis; other non-sampling errors (such as measurement and non-response errors) may also occur. However, there is no method for quantifying these non-sampling errors.
Emigrants
Coverage errors, due to the fact that only private, identifiable, non-empty and main residence are included in the sampling basis; other non-sampling errors (such as measurement and non-response errors) may also occur. However, there is no method for quantifying these non-sampling errors.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Not applicable.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not applicable.
Late foetal deaths
Not applicable.
Infant deaths
Not applicable.
Marriages
Not applicable.
Divorces
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
According to Article 4(2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3(2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data are fully comparable between geographical areas.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability - over time
Population
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1991 onwards; comparable aggregated information is available since 1940.
Live births
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1995 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1900.
Deaths
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1996 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1900.
Immigrants
Comparable data available online, at national level, from 2008 onwards.
Emigrants
Comparable data available online, at national level, from 2008 onwards.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Comparable data available, at national level, online from 2008 onwards.
Loss of citizenship
At national level, online from 2018 onwards.
Legally induced abortions
Comparable data available, at regional level, online since 2008 onwards.
Late foetal deaths
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1996 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table).
Infant deaths
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1996 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1910.
Marriages
Comparable data on marriages between persons of the opposite sex available online, at regional level, from 1995 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1984 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1900.
Comparable data on marriages between persons of the same-sex available online, at regional level, from 2010 onwards.
Divorces
Comparable data on divorces between persons of the opposite sex available online, at regional level, from 1995 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1920.
Comparable data on divorces between persons of the same-sex available online, at regional level, from 2011 onwards.
Surface in km2
Comparable data available online from 2003 onwards.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Usual resident population is used for all statistical population and other statistical domains outputs.
Differences between Residence Permits Statistics and International Migration Statistics are due to the fact that Resident Permit Statistics are obtained via administrative records, namely from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, I. P. (AIMA), whereas International Migration Statistics are obtained from information from other statistical operations of Statistics Portugal – Migration Survey and Labour Force Survey – which are sources for estimating annual migration flows.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherence of the demographic balancing equation is assured.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
In general terms, revisions are mainly due to new data on the past that could not be incorporated in time of their previous release.
Taking into account the diversity of revision factors and the different frequencies of computation of statistical variables, as well as international experience in this field, revisions can be classified as follows: (1) Regular revisions (Current or General) and (2) Extraordinary revisions. Minor revisions can occur annually on vital events data. Beside minor revisions that can occur, the post-census annual resident population estimates are provisional and are reviewed for the inter censuses years after the final data of the most recent population census. Annual estimates of emigrants and immigrants are reviewed every ten years along with the revision of the resident population estimates.
The resident population for 2011-2020 (based on the 2011 Census) were revised, in order to make it compatible with the results of the 2021 Census, in accordance with Statistics Portugal Revisions Policy, in particular the regular general revisions that follow statistical operations of structural nature. That is, on March 31st, 2023, the revised intercensal resident population for the period 2011-2020 (based on the results of the 2021 Census) were published. At the same date, the postcensal resident population for 2021 were released, substituting the ad-hoc exercise based on provisional results from 2021 Census.
In the context of the resident population revision for 2011-2021, the international emigration and immigration flows were also subject to revision.
Population Census, live birth and death, immigration and emigration estimates.
Live births
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of birth registration act.
Deaths
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of death registration act.
Immigrants
LFS annual estimates and residence permit issued data from Immigration and Borders Service.
Emigrants
Emigration survey (LFS module).
Acquisitions of citizenship
Administrative records provided by Central Civil Register Office and Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice.
Loss of citizenship
Administrative records provided by Central Civil Register Office and Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice.
Legally induced abortions
Administrative data provided by Directorate-General of Health.
Late foetal deaths
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of death registration act.
Infant deaths
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of death registration act.
Marriages
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of marriage registration act.
Divorces
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices and Courts/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of divorce registration act.
Surface in km2
Directorate-General of Territorial Development.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Resident Population estimates are produced on an annual basis.
Data on births, deaths and marriages are provided on a daily basis to NSI.
Data on divorces, acquisitions of citizenship and legally induced abortions are provided on an annual basis to NSI.
Data on migration is annually collected.
18.3. Data collection
Statistics Portugal carry out the annual demographic data collection, based on:
Data on vital events collected by the Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice, according to the data model designed by Statistics Portugal;
Data on acquisitions and loss of citizenship collected by the Civil Central Register/Ministry of Justice;
LFS and Emigration Survey estimates, surveys that are carried out by Statistics Portugal.
18.4. Data validation
Collected data are subject to a validation process that generally involves:
a) checks on file structure;
b) checks on the content of the file regarding:
• Checking rules: fulfilling of the restriction(s) impose to the data.
• Detecting missing values: when values were not provided.
• Data validation: performed to check if specific logical conditions are fulfilled.
Finally, regional and time series checks are performed to detect possible errors that could not be previously identified as long as the data is internally coherent. If any errors or incoherence is detected, the data provider is contacted for clarifications and/or corrections.
18.5. Data compilation
Statistics Portugal carry out the annual demographic data compilation, ensuring the coding of the variables to enter into the database in the case of vital events and estimating emigration and immigration flows, as well as the resident population figures obtained by applying the cohort component method.
18.6. Adjustment
Population of previous year plus natural change (live births minus deaths) plus net migration (immigrants minus emigrants) equals the population on 31 December of the reference year (the demographic balance for total population). This equation is not applied on population estimates by citizenship. Nevertheless, population data are consistent.
No comments.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
1.Usually Resident Population
2. Legal Residence Population
3. Registered Residence Population
4. Other
Population
X
Live births
X
Deaths
X
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
Loss of citizenship
X
Legally induced abortions
X
Late foetal deaths
X
Infant deaths
X
Marriages
X
Divorces
X
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population
Resident population: set of persons who, regardless of being present or absent in a given housing unit at the moment of observation, have lived in the place of their usual residence for a continuous period of 12 months prior to the moment of observation, or have arrived to the place of their usual residence during the period of 12 months prior to the moment of observation, with the purpose of living there for a year, at least.
Live births
This is the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother’s body, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, of a product of fertilisation that, after separation, breathes or shows any other signs of life, such as a beating of the heart or umbilical cord or actual contraction of any muscle subject to voluntary movement, whether or not the umbilical cord has been severed and whether or not the placenta is retained.
Deaths
The permanent disappearance of vital functions.
Immigrants
Permanent immigrant: a person (national or foreign) who, in a certain period of reference, entered the country with the intention of remaining here for one year or more, having previously resided abroad continuously for one year or more.
Emigrants
Permanent emigrant: a person (national or foreign) who, in the reference period, and after having remained in the country continuously for at least one year, left it with the intention of residing in another country for a continuous period of one year or more.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Form of derivate acquisition of Portuguese citizenship by effect of intent, by full adoption or by naturalization, whose effects report to the date of registration. The acquisition of citizenship by effect of intent can be acquired, through declaration, by foreigners who are children or incapable of father or mother that acquire the Portuguese citizenship; foreigners who are married or living in de facto union for more than three years with a Portuguese citizen; and foreigners who become capable and have lost the Portuguese citizenship during the incapacity. The acquisition of citizenship by naturalization can be acquired by foreigners residing in Portuguese territory for at least six years; children born on the Portuguese territory, of foreign parents, as long as one parent has legally resided in Portugal for at least five years; persons who have had Portuguese citizenship; foreigners descendants of Portuguese citizens; persons born on the Portuguese territory, of foreign parents, who usually have stayed in Portugal during the ten years immediately preceding the application; foreigners descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews.
Loss of citizenship
Occurs at a person’s own request, given that he or she has a foreign citizenship and declares that does not wish to be Portuguese (regardless of their usual place of residence).
Legally induced abortions
Termination of pregnancy before the foetus reaches the extrauterine viability, carried out by or under the direction of a physician, in an official or officially recognized establishment, under the legislation in force.
The following situations are included:
when it is the only means of removing the danger of death or serious and irreversible injury to the body or to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman;
when it is indicated to avoid danger of death or serious and lasting injury to the body or to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman and is made during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy;
when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the unborn child will incurably suffer from a serious illness or congenital malformation and is carried out made during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, with the exception of situations of non-viable foetuses, in which case the termination may be practiced at all times;
when the pregnancy results from a crime against freedom and sexual self-determination and the termination is performed in the first 16 weeks;
when it is performed, at the option of the woman, during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Late foetal deaths
Deaths of foetuses with a gestational age of 28 full complete weeks.
Infant deaths
Deaths of live-born children aged less than one year.
Marriages
Contract signed by two persons that intend to start a family in full partnership and cohabitation according to legislation.
Divorces
Legal and final dissolution of the marriage bond in the lifetime of the spouses, at the request of one against the other (divorce without the consent of a spouse) or of both (divorce by mutual consent), giving each one the right to marry again.
Grounds for divorce without the consent of a spouse: a de facto separation for a consecutive year; the change of the mental faculties of the other spouse when this has lasted for over a year, and its severity, compromises the possibility of life in common; the absence, without any news of the absent, for not less than one year; any other facts which, regardless of fault of the spouses, showing the final rupture of the marriage.
3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population
No significant differences.
Live births
No significant differences.
Deaths
No significant differences.
Immigrants
No significant differences.
Emigrants
No significant differences.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No significant differences.
Loss of citizenship
No significant differences.
Legally induced abortions
No significant differences.
Late foetal deaths
No significant differences.
Infant deaths
No significant differences.
Marriages
No significant differences.
Divorces
No significant differences.
Number of persons.
Statistical population
Population
Not available.
Live births
Not available.
Deaths
Not available.
Immigrants
Resident population living in private dwellings.
Emigrants
Resident population living in private dwellings. The target population consists of all the individuals who, in the reference year, resided in the dwelling and who, in that same year, have left it to live abroad for a period equal to or greater than 3 months, regardless of being present or absent in the dwelling where they usually live, at the time of the interview.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Not available.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Not available.
Infant deaths
Not available.
Marriages
Not available.
Divorces
Not available.
Population, live births and deaths data are available at national and regional level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister)
Population
High.
The base population used for the population estimates 2022 is the Census 2021 final results. Asylum seekers as well as persons who have applied for or been granted refugee status, are included in the resident population if they have lived in the country for a continuous period of at least 12 months prior to the moment of observation, or have arrived to the place of their usual residence during the period of 12 months prior to the moment of observation, with the purpose of living there for a year, at least. Beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine are included.
Live births
High.
Data collection on live births is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that children of asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event (which results as an "unknown" value).
However, the live births from mothers residing in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Deaths
High.
Data collection on deaths is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event (which results as an "unknown" value).
However, deaths of residents in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Immigrants
Immigrants estimates are based on LFS annual estimates and residence permit issued data and can be considered accurate and coherent with population estimates at national level of geographical detail. Estimation of the migratory component (permanent or long-term immigrants and emigrants) of annual population estimates is made using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Emigration Survey (IMMS). The underlying concept of residence in LFS and IMMS is the same as the one used in Census 2021, meaning that asylum seekers and refugees are included on the same conditions as explain for population.
Emigrants
Emigrants estimates are based on an annual emigration survey applied as a LFS module (with the same rules of LFS) and can be considered accurate and coherent with population estimates at national level of geographical detail. Estimation of the migratory component (permanent or long-term immigrants and emigrants) of annual population estimates is made using data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Emigration Survey (IMMS). The underlying concept of residence in LFS and IMMS is the same as the one used in Census 2021, meaning that asylum seekers and refugees are included on the same conditions as explain for population.
Acquisitions of citizenship
High.
Data collection on acquisitions of citizenship is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice).
Loss of citizenship
High.
Data collection on acquisitions of citizenship is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice).
Legally induced abortions
High.
Data collection on legally induced abortions is exhaustive and based on administrative records.
Legally induced abortions from women residing in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Late foetal deaths
High.
Data collection on late foetal deaths is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included.The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event.
However, the foetal deaths from mothers residing in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Infant deaths
High.
Data collection on infant deaths is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event.
However, deaths of residents in Portugal that occur abroad are not included.
Marriages
High.
Data collection on marriages is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included. The non-administrative information collected during the event registration is not included in the official documents concerning to the event, as such these variables might have omissions due to non-response of the person who declares the event.
Divorces
High.
Data collection on divorces is exhaustive and based on administrative records (Civil Registration Offices and Courts, both from Ministry of Justice) and information provided by individuals, meaning that asylum seekers and the refugees are included.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
Statistics Portugal carry out the annual demographic data compilation, ensuring the coding of the variables to enter into the database in the case of vital events and estimating emigration and immigration flows, as well as the resident population figures obtained by applying the cohort component method.
List of data sources
Population
Population Census, live birth and death, immigration and emigration estimates.
Live births
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of birth registration act.
Deaths
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of death registration act.
Immigrants
LFS annual estimates and residence permit issued data from Immigration and Borders Service.
Emigrants
Emigration survey (LFS module).
Acquisitions of citizenship
Administrative records provided by Central Civil Register Office and Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice.
Loss of citizenship
Administrative records provided by Central Civil Register Office and Directorate General for Justice Policy/Ministry of Justice.
Legally induced abortions
Administrative data provided by Directorate-General of Health.
Late foetal deaths
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of death registration act.
Infant deaths
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of death registration act.
Marriages
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of marriage registration act.
Divorces
Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices and Courts/Ministry of Justice and information provided by individuals at the time of divorce registration act.
Surface in km2
Directorate-General of Territorial Development.
Births, deaths and marriages: monthly dissemination.
Population estimates, migration flows, acquisition of citizenship: annual dissemination.
According to Article 4(2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3(2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
Data are fully comparable between geographical areas.
Comparability - over time
Population
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1991 onwards; comparable aggregated information is available since 1940.
Live births
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1995 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1900.
Deaths
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1996 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1900.
Immigrants
Comparable data available online, at national level, from 2008 onwards.
Emigrants
Comparable data available online, at national level, from 2008 onwards.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Comparable data available, at national level, online from 2008 onwards.
Loss of citizenship
At national level, online from 2018 onwards.
Legally induced abortions
Comparable data available, at regional level, online since 2008 onwards.
Late foetal deaths
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1996 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table).
Infant deaths
Comparable data available online, at regional level, from 1996 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1910.
Marriages
Comparable data on marriages between persons of the opposite sex available online, at regional level, from 1995 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1984 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1900.
Comparable data on marriages between persons of the same-sex available online, at regional level, from 2010 onwards.
Divorces
Comparable data on divorces between persons of the opposite sex available online, at regional level, from 1995 onwards; comparable data on request is available since 1980 (note that the length of the time series available for more detailed breakdowns is dependent on which variables are contained in the table). Comparable published aggregated information is available since 1920.
Comparable data on divorces between persons of the same-sex available online, at regional level, from 2011 onwards.
Surface in km2
Comparable data available online from 2003 onwards.
