In the 4th quarter of 2020, there were 5.7 thousand licensed buildings which corresponded to a 1.0% reduction in comparison with the same period of the previous year (+4.0% in the 3rd quarter of 2020). Building permits for new constructions increased by 1.2% while renovation permits declined by 7.8% (+6.5% and -3.5% respectively, in the 3rd quarter of 2020). Completed buildings decreased by 4.1% (+1.5% in the 3rd quarter of 2020), amounting to 3.7 thousand buildings.
When analysing monthly data, after recording increases, in year-on-year terms, in November and December, building permits recorded a 17.3% decline in January 2021.
In the year 2020, 22.8 thousand buildings were licensed and 15.0 thousand buildings were completed, corresponding to rates of change of -3.5% and +6.0% respectively, compared to the previous year (+4.1% and +11.6%, in the same order, in 2019).

Despite the circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Portugal calls for the best possible cooperation from enterprises, households, and public bodies in responding to Statistics Portugal’s data requests. The quality of official statistics, particularly their ability to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucially depends on this collaboration, which Statistics Portugal thanks in advance.