Portugal has once again lost inhabitants. Figures for 2016 show that the population has shrunk for the 7th consecutive year, bringing the depressing total of losses since 2006 to 264,000 people.
Putting the information into an easy to digest format, national tabloid Correio da Manhã says it is like losing the entire population of the archipelago of Madeira (including the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and Desertas – the last being populated only by researchers).
The loss of populations “comes from more people dying than being born”. Last year saw 110,000 deaths set against 87,000 births.
And although over 58,000 immigrants arrived, 38,000 nationals opted for emigration.
If the situation persists, European statistics institute INE forecasts a country with less than 10 million inhabitants by 2027, and one with just 7.5 million by 2081.
