🇵🇹Portugal Political Stability: 68.6/100
Portugal scores 68.6 out of 100 on the Political Stability Index, rated "Stable" based on World Bank 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators across six governance dimensions.
Composite score is the unweighted average of six governance dimensions, each measured on a 0-100 percentile scale.
Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe, comprising a mainland territory and the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores. The country has a total area of 156,597 km², with diverse landscapes including forests, agricultural land, and mountainous regions, particularly in the north. The climate is mainly Mediterranean, with variations across regions, and Portugal is known for its warm temperatures and vulnerability to wildfires.
As of 2024, Portugal has a population of approximately 10.7 million, with a median age of 47.3 years, making it one of the oldest populations in the world. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, and Portuguese is the official language, with a high proficiency in English among the populace. The country has seen a rise in immigration, with about 14% of residents being foreign-born.
Governance Indicators
Governance Profile: Portugal
World Bank governance: rule of law 77th percentile, corruption control 65th percentile, political stability 56th percentile.
Portugal's strongest governance dimension is Voice & Accountability at 81/100, placing it in the top quartile globally. This indicates relatively strong citizen participation in selecting government, along with freedom of expression, association, and a free media.
The weakest dimension is Political Stability at 56/100. Political instability concerns may affect the overall security environment and long-term predictability.
A moderate spread of 25 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.
Travelers to Portugal benefit from functional government institutions and reasonable regulatory frameworks. While not without challenges, the overall governance environment supports a manageable travel experience with adequate infrastructure and legal protections.
The U.S. State Department currently rates Portugal as Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.
EU Governance Comparison
Top governance performers in EU based on the corruption composite ranking (weighted: 60% corruption control, 25% rule of law, 15% government effectiveness).
| Country | Score |
|---|---|
| 🇩🇰Denmark | 96.6 |
| 🇫🇮Finland | 95.2 |
| 🇳🇴Norway | 93.9 |
| 🇨🇭Switzerland | 93.8 |
| 🇱🇺Luxembourg | 92.9 |
| 🇵🇹Portugal | 68.4 |
Common Questions About Portugal's Political Stability
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More Portugal Data
Safety ratings, regional breakdown, and entry requirements.
Free — 96/100 on the Freedom House index.
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