---
title: "Portugal Ethnic Groups: The Complete List"
url: https://33travels.com/portugal-ethnic-groups/
author: "Dr. Kofi Mensah"
published: 2025-12-29
updated: 2026-04-06
place: "Portugal"
---

# Portugal Ethnic Groups: The Complete List

Portugal’s history as a crossroads of Atlantic and Mediterranean routes has shaped a socially diverse population. From long-established regional communities to more recent arrivals, the country’s towns and cities reflect layers of migration, language and cultural exchange.

There are **34 Portugal Ethnic Groups**, ranging from Algerians to Venezuelans. The list is arranged so that for each group you’ll find below Population (est),Main regions,Primary language(s) to make comparisons quick and practical — you’ll find below.

## Which groups make up the largest ethnic communities in Portugal?

The majority population is Portuguese, but among non-Portuguese communities the largest are typically Brazilians, Cape Verdeans, Romanians and Ukrainians, followed by other EU nationals and Lusophone African groups; sizes vary by city, with Lisbon and the Algarve hosting especially diverse mixes.

## How reliable and up-to-date are the population estimates in the list?

Numbers are estimates compiled from national statistics, migration records and community surveys; they give a useful snapshot but can change with new migration trends or official updates, so treat them as approximate and check source dates if you need precise figures.

## Portugal Ethnic Groups

| Name | Population (est) | Main regions | Primary language(s) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portuguese | 10,300,000 | Nationwide, Lisbon, Porto | European Portuguese |
| Azoreans | 250,000 | Azores archipelago, Lisbon, mainland diaspora | European Portuguese, Azorean dialects |
| Madeirans | 250,000 | Madeira archipelago, Funchal, Lisbon diaspora | European Portuguese, Madeiran dialects |
| Roma (Ciganos) | 30,000–60,000 | Lisbon metropolitan area, Setúbal, Algarve | Portuguese, Romani dialects |
| Sephardic Jews | 2,000–8,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Belmonte | Portuguese, Hebrew, Ladino (historically) |
| Brazilians | 200,000–350,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Algarve | Brazilian Portuguese |
| Cape Verdeans | 60,000–80,000 | Lisbon, Setúbal, Algarve | Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) |
| Angolans | 70,000–120,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Algarve | Portuguese, Kimbundu, Umbundu |
| Mozambicans | 30,000–60,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Portuguese, Emakhuwa, Makonde |
| Guinea-Bissau people | 50,000–70,000 | Lisbon, Setúbal | Portuguese, Crioulo (Kriol), local languages |
| São Toméans | 20,000–40,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Portuguese, Forro, Principense |
| Timorese (East Timorese) | 30,000–50,000 | Lisbon, Coimbra | Portuguese, Tetum |
| Chinese | 30,000–60,000 | Lisbon (Martim Moniz), Porto, Braga | Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese |
| Indians | 20,000–35,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Algarve | Portuguese, Konkani, Hindi, English |
| Pakistanis | 35,000–50,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Alentejo | Urdu, Punjabi, Portuguese |
| Bangladeshis | 30,000–45,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Bengali, Portuguese |
| Nepalese | 20,000–35,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Faro | Nepali, Portuguese |
| Ukrainians | 70,000–120,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Algarve | Ukrainian, Russian, Portuguese |
| Romanians | 40,000–80,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Algarve | Romanian, Portuguese |
| Moldovans | 20,000–40,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Romanian (Moldovan), Portuguese |
| British | 40,000–80,000 | Algarve, Lisbon, Cascais | English, Portuguese |
| Spanish | 30,000–60,000 | Border regions, Lisbon, Algarve | Spanish, Galician, Portuguese |
| French | 20,000–40,000 | Lisbon, Algarve, Porto | French, Portuguese |
| Germans | 20,000–40,000 | Algarve, Lisbon | German, Portuguese |
| Poles | 10,000–30,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Braga | Polish, Portuguese |
| Moroccans | 50,000–70,000 | Lisbon, Porto, Setúbal | Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), Portuguese |
| Algerians | 5,000–15,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Arabic, French, Portuguese |
| Senegalese | 10,000–25,000 | Lisbon, Setúbal | Wolof, French, Portuguese |
| Nigerians | 8,000–20,000 | Lisbon, Porto | English, Portuguese, Igbo |
| Venezuelans | 10,000–25,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Spanish, Portuguese |
| Colombians | 10,000–20,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Spanish, Portuguese |
| Turks | 5,000–15,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Turkish, Portuguese |
| Macanese | 1,000–3,000 | Lisbon, Porto | Portuguese, Cantonese, Macanese Patuá |
| Galicians | 15,000–30,000 | Northern Portugal, Braga, Viana do Castelo | Galician, Spanish, Portuguese |

## Images and Descriptions

![Portuguese](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Portuguese

The dominant ethnic group of Portugal with deep Iberian roots, mixing Celt, Roman, Germanic and Moorish heritage; modern Portuguese culture centers on language, fado music, maritime history and regional culinary traditions.

![Azoreans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Azoreans

Islanders of the Azores with distinct cultural traditions, dialects and strong maritime identity; many live on the mainland as a notable diaspora, shaping fisheries, cuisine and festival customs in Portugal.

![Madeirans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Madeirans

Residents of Madeira archipelago with unique musical, culinary and folk traditions; strong regional identity, important in tourism and wine production, with a visible diaspora in mainland Portugal.

![Roma (Ciganos)](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Roma (Ciganos)

Longstanding itinerant and settled Romani community in Portugal, often fluent in Portuguese while preserving Romani language and culture; face social exclusion but have visible musical and craft traditions.

![Sephardic Jews](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Sephardic Jews

Historic Jewish community with roots before 1497 expulsions; modern Sephardic descendants and returnees maintain synagogues, genealogical ties and cultural revival after centuries of persecution and clandestine presence.

![Brazilians](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Brazilians

Largest immigrant-origin community with strong linguistic and cultural affinities; includes recent migrants, students and long-term residents contributing to cuisine, music and labor markets across cities and coastal regions.

![Cape Verdeans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Cape Verdeans

Historic Lusophone African community with deep migration ties to Portugal since the 20th century; prominent in urban neighborhoods, music (morna, coladeira) and Creole cultural life.

![Angolans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Angolans

Large post-colonial community from Angola with strong linguistic ties; notable presence in business, professions and cultural networks, including music and community associations in urban centers.

![Mozambicans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Mozambicans

Post-colonial migrant community from Mozambique with cultural and family links to Portugal; present in healthcare, services and cultural life, often active in Lusophone African networks.

![Guinea-Bissau people](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Guinea-Bissau people

Lusophone West African community, many bilingual in Portuguese and Kriol; significant migration flows since independence, contributing to urban labor markets and cultural diversity.

![São Toméans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### São Toméans

Community from São Tomé and Príncipe with Creole language traditions and strong historical ties to Portugal; visible in service sectors and cultural festivals in Lisbon and coastal cities.

![Timorese (East Timorese)](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/timorese_east_timorese.jpg)

### Timorese (East Timorese)

East Timorese community with historical colonial ties and shared language; includes students, migrants and returnees involved in education, civil service and cultural preservation.

![Chinese](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chinese-2.jpg)

### Chinese

Diverse Chinese community including mainland, Hong Kong and Macau origins; active in commerce, restaurants and small business, with growing professional and student populations.

![Indians](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/indians.jpg)

### Indians

Indian-origin communities include Gujaratis, Goans and Kerala migrants; many involved in trade, IT, restaurants and professional sectors, with some long-established Goan-Portuguese cultural links.

![Pakistanis](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pakistanis.jpg)

### Pakistanis

Significant South Asian community concentrated in urban and agricultural work, maintaining linguistic and cultural ties while increasingly integrated into commerce and small business ownership.

![Bangladeshis](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/bangladeshis.jpg)

### Bangladeshis

Growing Bangladeshi community primarily in urban neighborhoods, active in textile, catering and retail sectors; maintain cultural associations and religious centers while adopting Portuguese language.

![Nepalese](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/nepalese.jpg)

### Nepalese

Rapidly growing community in recent decades, working in hospitality, agriculture and construction; active migrant networks and cultural associations, with rising naturalizations.

![Ukrainians](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ukrainians.jpg)

### Ukrainians

Large Eastern European community bolstered by recent refugee flows and labor migration; present in care, construction and services, forming active cultural support networks across Portugal.

![Romanians](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Romanians

EU migrant community with strong labor migration history since 2000s; active in construction, services and agriculture, increasingly settled with families and businesses.

![Moldovans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Moldovans

Community of Moldovan origin often linked by language to Romania; involved in seasonal and permanent work, with growing diasporic networks in cities.

![British](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### British

Significant British expatriate and retiree community, especially in Algarve and Lisbon coastal towns; influential in real estate, tourism and international schools.

![Spanish](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Spanish

Close cross-border presence from neighboring Spain, including commuters and migrants; shared Iberian culture, bilingualism and family ties, particularly in northern and central Portugal.

![French](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/french-7.jpg)

### French

Notable expatriate community often in tourism, arts and professional sectors; active cultural associations and French schools, especially in Lisbon and Algarve.

![Germans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Germans

Expatriate retirees and professionals concentrated in coastal regions; engaged in tourism, property and cultural exchange, with strong community organizations.

![Poles](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Poles

Eastern European migrant group present in construction, services and seasonal work; growing families and cultural associations, integration into Portuguese society notable.

![Moroccans](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Moroccans

North African migrant community with Arab and Amazigh roots; strong presence in urban neighborhoods, entrepreneurship and cultural-religious life while many adopt Portuguese language.

![Algerians](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/algerians.jpg)

### Algerians

Smaller Maghreb community connected by Mediterranean migrations and economic links; present in urban areas with gradual integration into labor markets.

![Senegalese](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Senegalese

West African community with long migration ties to Portugal; contributes to urban culture, markets and music, maintaining strong transnational family connections.

![Nigerians](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/nigerians.jpg)

### Nigerians

Growing West African community from Nigeria active in diverse sectors, including entrepreneurship and services; vibrant cultural and religious associations in cities.

![Venezuelans](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/venezuelans.jpg)

### Venezuelans

Latin American refugee and migrant community arriving in recent years due to crisis; concentrated in cities, often bilingual, contributing to cultural and professional sectors.

![Colombians](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Colombians

Latin American community present in urban labor markets, language exchange and cultural scenes; many arrive for work, study or family reunification.

![Turks](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/turks.jpg)

### Turks

Small Turkish community engaged in commerce and services, with growing cultural and business ties between Portugal and Turkey.

![Macanese](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/macanese.jpg)

### Macanese

Community with historical ties to Macau, often of mixed Portuguese-Asian descent; small but culturally distinct, maintaining culinary and historical links to Macau and Lusophone Asia.

![Galicians](https://florafaunafun.com/wp-content/uploads/lists/placeholder.jpg)

### Galicians

Cross-border ethnic group from neighboring Galicia, Spain; share linguistic and cultural affinities with northern Portugal, with fluid identity and family ties across the border.