Portugal has the 7th Cleanest Air Quality in Europe
Portugal is one of the best nations in the world for those seeking relocation or a second residency. The country continues to demonstrate why it is truly the ideal destination for those considering a lifestyle change, as now it is now ranked as having the 7th Cleanest Air Quality in Europe. In a study published on the 19th of March 2024, IQAir, a Swiss air quality company specialised in air pollution and quality, published its yearly World Air Quality Report. IQAir examined air quality data from almost 7,812 cities across 134 countries, which was collected from more than 30,000 monitoring stations.
Which Countries Have the Cleanest Air Quality?
The World Air Quality Report, promoted by IQAir, explains the air quality measured in Particulate Matter (PM), which are the solid particles and liquid droplets present in the air. PMs become airborne via dirt, soot, smoke, dust, or through other harmful substances, that usually come from car engines, industrial machines, power generation, etc., but also originate from natural sources, including storms and fires, for instance. Since PMs are microscopic, they are easily inhalable and can lead to aggravated health problems. The 2023 World Air Quality Report examined PMs of the size 2,5 micrometres, or smaller, in diameter, which are the most harmful type.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that every year, 7 million people lose their lives prematurely due to air pollution. The Report also followed the most up-to-date WHO’s PM2,5 guidelines when it comes to air quality, which targets the “ideal” PM2,5 at 0,5 micrograms or fewer per cubic metre. Overall, out of the 134 studied countries, only 10 countries meet WHO’s target, “earning” the Report’s blue band, which determines the countries with the Cleanest air quality. Out of the 10, only 3 countries are in Europe. In order: Finland, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and the French Polynesia.
How Clean is the Air Quality in Portugal?
Portugal is featured in the 2023 World Air Quality Report’s green band, the second-best category, which places the PM2,5 level between 5,1 to 10 micrograms per cubic meter. It is important to note that the European Union, of which Portugal is a member, limits the presence of PM2,5 in the air to 25 micrograms. The study covered 2,006 cities, across 43 countries, to produce the findings on the European continent.
According to the 2023 World Air Quality Report, Portugal only had 6,8 micrograms of PM2,5 per cubic metre, a staggering difference of 18,2 micrograms, where Portugal is far below the EU officially recommended levels. In 2023, Portugal also witnessed a substantial decrease of 1,3 PM2,5 micrograms from 2022, where it had scored 8,1. Besides the previously mentioned European countries in the blue band, only Ireland, Norway, and Sweden are ahead of Portugal in the green band, which means Portugal has the 7th Cleanest Air in Europe. In comparison, Bosnia and Herzegovina holds the title of the most polluted European country, with 27,5 micrograms of PM2,5 per cubic metre, though it is not part of the European Union. In the EU, that title goes to Greece, which is in the Report’s orange band, with 17,4 micrograms of PM2,5. Spain, Portugal’s next-door neighbour, is the last European Union country in the green band, with 9,9 PM2,5 micrograms per cubic metre.
To put it into perspective, Portugal’s air quality is cleaner than other countries like China, Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, India, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Portugal also features 3 locations in the Least Polluted European Cities ranking, with Lamas de Olo taking the Portuguese crown with the 6th place at 2,8 micrograms. Vaqueiros follows closely at the 7th position, with 2,9 micrograms, and Portugal rounds out its presence with Santana, in the 15th position, with 3,4 micrograms of PM2,5, each following and meeting WHO’s target.
Another study, released in September 2024 and published by the European Environment Agency, further cements Portugal's top positioning in when it comes low air pollution in Europe. However, this study uses different metrics, ultimately producing a distinct ranking from the one produced by IQAir.
In this report, a total of 372 cities were studied and assessed for their air quality. Out of the entire universe, two Portuguese cities stand out: Faro, in the 3rd position, best known for being the Algarve region's main city, registered 3,6 micrograms, just 0,1 away from the best positioned city, Uppsala, in Sweden, which registered 3,5 micrograms. The Madeira archipelago's capital, Funchal, also ranked in the Top 10, coming in at the 8th position, at 4,4 micrograms.
Need More Reasons to Move to Portugal?
Portugal offers more than just some of the best air quality in Europe. The country presents a compelling destination for expats looking to discover the westernmost point of the European continent. Portugal truly has at least something for anyone looking to move abroad.
While Europe may not lead in air quality - it does in security, as Europe is the safest region in the world. According to the 2023 & 2024 Global Peace Index, Portugal ranks as the 7th safest country in the world and 5th in Europe. The Index scores countries on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 representing the most peaceful and 5 the least. Portugal achieved an overall score of 1.333, with particularly low scores in categories like violent demonstrations and violent crimes, rated at 1.5 and 1, respectively.
Portugal has one of Europe’s sunniest climates, enjoying more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. The capital, Lisbon, averages 320 hours of sunlight per month, and the Algarve region is a summer hotspot for beach lovers.
Another advantage of living in Portugal is the Portuguese's high proficiency in English, which is crucial for expats looking for seamless communication without significant language barriers. The 2023 EF English Proficiency Index, which assesses English fluency in non-native countries, ranks Portugal 8th worldwide, ahead of countries like Germany.
For families, especially for parents concerned with their children’s education, Portugal is also an excellent choice. The country places a deep focus on education across all levels, from elementary to superior. Portugal positions itself as an excellent country to raise children, having some of Europe’s best international schools which follow diverse curriculums, like the IB, British, and American. Portugal even consistently features in Europe’s Top Business Universities and has extremely accessible and low tuition costs.
Whatever your motives to move abroad, Portugal has the answer. Want to find out more? Check our dedicated Guide on everything you need to know to move to Portugal, created and curated by Portugal Homes' experts, who have been where you are, and moved to Portugal successfully.
