In Portugal  more people are dying than being born with live birth decreasing and emigration increasing, revealed Thursday the Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE).

Accordingly, the Portuguese population is at its lowest level in six years, for three consecutive years. In 2012, the number of live births decreased to 89,856 (96,856 in 2011) and the number of deaths increased to 107,612 (102,848 in 2011). The number of marriages is also declining (34,423, 1,612 less than in 2011) and the number of divorces had its second consecutive drop (25,380, a decrease of 1,371 from 2011).

On December 2012, the total population in Portugal was estimated to be of 10,487,289 persons, 55,109 less than the estimated population for December 31st 2011. The downward trend began in 2010, from 10,573,479 individuals in 2009 to 10,572,721 in 2010.

In 2011 the population decrease was even more pronounced, with about  less 30 000 individuals,  a total of 10.54 million. In 2012 the negative trend was accentuated, declining to 10,487,289 individuals, the INE revealed.

The migration trend was also negative. In 2012, the number of emigrants (51,958) exceeded the number of  immigrants (14,606), resulting in a negative net migration of 37,352, steeper than estimated for 2011 (-24 331)..

Currently, Portuguese women’s fertility rate currently stands at 1.32, amongst the lowest rates in the world, making Portugal one of the countries in Europe with the lowest birth rate after Germany.

In terms of  health and life expectancy, men in Portugal can expect to have 60.7 years of healthy life, while women can expect 58.7 years, figures that are below the European averages of 61.8 and 62.2. Life expectancy in 2012 was estimated at 79.78, being 76.67 for men and 82.59 for women.

paj.staff