In 2025, the latest edition of Lisboa, the Economy in Figures, published by the Municipal City Board of Economy & Innovation, highlights, among other data, the most recent news about the economic activity in the city of Lisboa and the Lisboa Metropolitan Area (LMA). Through indicators such as the number of companies, or the number of people employed in this territory, it is possible to know some of the main socio-economic dynamics.
In this issue, attention is also drawn to information about consumption trends in the city of Lisboa, entrepreneurship, startups, knowledge and innovation. Graphics, infographics and statistics summarize and illustrate the essentials of this supporting decision-making tool, available for those who want to invest, study and work in Lisboa.
EDITION
Lisboa City Council
AUTHOR
Municipal City Board of Economy & Innovation, Division of Studies and Foresight
Nuno Caleia
Andreia Ramires
Luísa Botinas
Paula Ribeiro
the Economy in Figures 2025
Source:
100 Lisboa (City)
3.015 km² km²
Lisboa (LMA)
Lisboa
92.225 km²
Portugal
Climate in Lisboa
Maximum daily precipitation 57 (mm)
Rainless days 304 (No.)
Note: Meteorological Station / Lisboa Geofísico.
Source: Statistics Portugal, Statistical Yearbook of the Lisbon Region, Ed. 2024, Year: 2023
CML/Daniel Rodrigues
Enquadramento territorial
Geographical context
Lisboa
Lisboa
Metropolitanade
Lisboa (AML)
sboaMetropolitanArea (LMA)
Montijoontijo
Regional economy
The Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), comprising 18 municipalities on both banks of the Tagus River, is home to the country’s main decision-making centres and drives economic activity, accounting for 37% of Portugal’s total GDP.
33 million passengers at the airport
Open to the world due to its geographic location LMA is a key factor in internationalization.
Annually, over 33 million passengers go through the airport. It is in this territory that 31% of the employment of the country is located (1.6 million people), with commerce being the largest employment sector.
LMA is also an important commercial trading platform of the country, having registered in 2023 more than 21 billion euros in exports and more than 10 million tons of cargo on the Port of Lisboa.
Source: Port of Lisbon, Annual Report and Accounts 2023, Year: 2023 Transport indicators
222.753 flights
33.648.691 passengers 160.247 cargo (tonnes)
Source: Portugal Airports (ANA); Civil Aviation Authority, Annual Report and Accounts 2023, Year: 2023
Lisboa Port
2.236 ships
758.328 passengers
10.901.330 cargo (tonnes)
Local economy
The city of Lisboa continues to be an attractive centre. Either for tourists, universities students or for the creation of new companies, the capital is a magnet that also attracts entrepreneurs.
9.3% of the total of the countries companies are based in the municipality of Lisboa, and in 10 years, the number of people working in the cities establishments has increased by around 50%.
Lisboa is the Portuguese city with the largest number of startups.
Tourism continues to be a sector of significant weight in the local economy, which reflects even on the consumption profile of the city, as it is in the tourist route of the historical areas and Parque das Nações that the greatest impact on the value of purchases is noted.
Enterprises (Lisboa City)
140.798
68.607 Companies
35.591
608.505
Persons employed in establishments GVA (€ million)
147.329 Establishments 12,9 %
Note: Enterprises include companies and sole proprietorships.
Source: Statistics Portugal, Integrated Business Accounts System, Year: 2023
The new General Regulation of Lisboa Municipal Markets allows the granting of Extraordinary Licenses and One-Time Occupancies (Pop-ups) in markets with available spaces. These new measures aim to encourage innovative or experimental commercial projects and to make the markets more dynamic and attractive.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Lojas com História program. A program created to reward — and that continues to reward — the resilience and consistency of economic activity maintained in the same physical space over the years, recognizing the capacity to overcome challenges and adapt to changes in tastes, habits and, at a deeper level, mindsets.
The distinction of being recognized as a Loja com História is prestigious for all stakeholders: the shopkeeper, whose work is acknowledged; the property owner, whose asset gains value; and the city itself, which preserves an important part of its identity.
Of the 199 shops distinguished, some have since closed — whether due to unviable business models, unforeseen circumstances, or simply because shopkeepers decided to retire. Currently, 158 shops remain in operation.
It is possible to visit these shops virtually and discover some of the stories behind them at lojascomhistoria.pt or by consulting the two books already published.
Human capital
The population of the Lisboa Metropolitan Area has reached 3 million inhabitants. Almost half of the countries foreign population lives in the LMA.
In the municipality of Lisboa, it is the citizens from the European Union, Brazil, and African Countries with Portuguese as an Official Language that stand out in the resident foreign population.
42% of the active population in the LMA have completed higher education
In a territory where 60 percent of resident women work, it is noteworthy that 42% of the active population in the Metropolitan Area has completed higher education.
Demography
3.005.119
Population in the LMA
Resident Population
575.739
Lisboa City 5,4% National Total National Total 28%
Population Density
5.755 Residents/km² Residents/km² 997
Lisboa City LMA
Source: Statistics Portugal, Statistical Yearbook of the Lisbon Region, Ed. 2024, Year: 2024
Lisboa
Foreign population
512.179
Resident Population (LMA)
162.306
Resident Population (Lisboa)
49%
National Total
16%
National Total
Evolution of the foreign resident population (LMA)
Note: Foreign population with resident status only includes foreigners with a valid residence title.
Source: Statistics Portugal, Statistical Yearbook of the Lisbon Region, Ed. 2024, Year: 2023
Note: Foreign residents with legal residence status from the following PALOP countries: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Source:
Employment Indicators (LMA)
28,7%
1.6 Active population (million)
1.5 Employed population (million)
63,3 %
Activity rate
60,2 %
Female activity rate
37,4 %
Activity rate (years 16–24)
28,2 %
Employment rate (years 16–24) 28,5%
Source: Statistics
60,2 % in Portugal
56,7 % in Portugal
38,3% in Portugal
30,1% in Portugal
Note: Resident active population by completed level of education.
Source: Statistics Portugal, Labour Force Survey (Series 2021), Year: 2024
In addition to attracting university students to its institutions, Lisboa has been capturing the attention of researchers.
133 research centers Knowledge and Innovation
Among companies and R&D institutions, the city has 133 registered research centers, a fact that has contributed to its projection in the national and international scientific community.
The investment in Research & Development has been part of the strategy of the regional business sector (LMA) which has financed 59 percent of this activity.
Higher education indicators
91 in LMA 65
Educational institutions in Lisboa
31,6 LMA in Country
Students enrolled in Lisboa
15.813 in LMA 38,2 LMA in Country 12.275
Teaching staff in Lisboa
166.567 in LMA 37,2 % % % % LMA in Country 131.690
37,3 LMA in Country 27.859
Graduates in Lisboa
35.707 in LMA
Higher education graduates (LMA)
by main fields of study
Foreign students
enrolled 23.060 in Lisboa
5.955 in international mobility programmes
30.140 in LMA 39 % LMA in Country
7.493 in LMA
42 % LMA in Country
Evolution of foreign students enrolled in tertiary education (LMA)
Note: International Mobility Programmes include the Erasmus Program, protocols/partnerships with foreign institutions, and other international programs
Source: DGEEC/MEC – Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics, Year: 2023/2024
Lisboa
in Figures 2025 0
R&D expenditure indicators (LMA)
1.8 R&D Expenditure (€ million)
2 %
R&D Expenditure in GDP
42,5 % National Total
1,7 % in Portugal
Breakdown of Total R&D By sector of performance
By financing source
Source: Statistics Portugal, Statistical Yearbook of the Lisbon Region, Ed. 2024, Year: 2022
Note: R&D personnel and researchers are measured in FTE units (full-time equivalents).
Source: Statistics Portugal, Statistical Yearbook of the Lisbon Region, Ed. 2024, Year: 2022
Enterprises innovation (LMA)
48,9%
25,8% Enterprises with innovation
44,7% 26,7% in Portugal in Portugal Impact on turnover
Note: Innovative companies are defined as all companies with 10 or more employees engaged in innovation activities.
Source: Statistics Portugal, DGEEC, Community Innovation Survey, Biennium: 2020/2022
Sectors with the highest innovation intensity
Electricity, gas, steam, cold and hot water and cold air
Information and communication activities 76% 70% 68%
Financial and insurance activities
Note: Proportion of companies engaged in innovation activities by economic sector.
Source: Statistics Portugal, DGEEC, Community Innovation Survey, Biennium: 2020/2022
Two years after Lisboa was named European Capital of Innovation, the city and its Metropolitan Area continue to be hubs of attraction, open spaces to the world where different interests, companies, and people converge.
As the driving force of the national economy, the Lisboa Metropolitan Area and the city position themselves as engines of development. The natural tension generated by diversity, through the intersection of realities such as Tourism and Housing, also marks these territories. Meanwhile, future challenges are taking shape before our eyes in a global context of some uncertainty. With this scenario as a background, the current strategy of the European Union focuses on innovation, particularly on digitalization and artificial intelligence as tools to strengthen its competitiveness.
Lisboa remains a beacon of innovation and entrepreneurship, from which AI, Web3, Gaming and sustainable technology hubs and projects are developed, addressing the latest challenges we face while maintaining its ambition to establish and consolidate Lisboa as a global, innovative, smart, and sustainable capital.
