Eurostat puts EU growth since 2019 at 5.6 percent. Every Portuguese region beat that except Alentejo, whose real GDP was 0.7 percent below its pre-pandemic level in 2024. Madeira led with 15.7 percent.
Eurostat puts five inland Portuguese regions among the 189 in the EU where fewer than 55 percent of people are aged 20 to 64. Alto Tâmega e Barroso, at 50.8 percent, ranks near the bottom, while the islands and the Minho are the country's youngest.
More than two months after Storm Kristin, rural communities near Tomar remain without internet or TV. Temporary repairs failed, communication poles still lie on the ground, and residents say they feel forgotten and isolated.
Braga, Viana do Castelo, and Guimarães offer affordable property, strong universities, stunning nature, and a genuinely Portuguese lifestyle — without Lisbon's crowds or price tag.
