The European Union is getting older. In 2021, the average age was 44.1 years, which compares with the average of 43.9 found the previous year.

Portugal is already the third EU country where the average age of the population is higher. In 2021, the average age of the Portuguese population was 45.8 years, just below the average age recorded in Italy and Germany. In contrast, Iceland is the country with the lowest average age (36.7 years), according to Eurostat data.

In 11 years, the average age of the Portuguese population has increased by 4.6 years, having always increased gradually from year to year.

Where are the oldest populations in Portugal?

Analysing the national geography in more detail, the centre is the oldest region, with an average age of 47.4 years, especially the Alentejo district (47.9 years). This is followed by the northern region (46.1 years), the Algarve (45.2 years) and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (44.7 years), in the latter two the averages are already lower than those of the European Union.

In the Portuguese archipelagos, Madeira has an average age of 43.6 years, while the Azores have an average age of 40.6 years.

Almost 11 years separate Italy from Iceland

Only Italy and Germany present a picture of the population that is older than Portugal, with the average age standing at 47.6 and 45.9 years, respectively.

In the opposite direction, Iceland, Cyprus and Ireland occupy the podium of the countries with the youngest population, with average ages of 36.7, 38 and 38.5 years. Together with Luxembourg, they are the only EU countries where the average age of the population is not 40 years old.