The resident population in Portugal fell in 2017, despite a slight reduction in the death rate, a decrease in emigration and an increase in immigration, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics.
According to the latest demographic statistics, the population has been declining since 2010, although the rate of decline has eased over the last four years.
The resident population in Portugal at the end of 2017 was estimated at 10,291,027, a decrease of 18,546 inhabitants from the previous year end.
This is a growth rate of -0.18% with the number of births recorded as 86,154 - equivalent to a decrease of 1.1% compared to 2016.
The average age of the first baby remained the same as in 2016 - 29.6 years - with the infant mortality rate declining to 2.7 deaths per thousand live births.
In 2017, 109,758 people died, 0.7% less than in 2016 and 36,639 permanent immigrants entered Portugal, 22.4% more than in 2016.
As for those deciding that the grass is greener, 31,753 people left Portugal last year, down a welcome 17.0% from the 2016 figure.
