In the 2nd quarter of 2020, there were 5.0 thousand licensed buildings which corresponded to a 14.7% decrease in comparison with the same period of the previous year (-5.5% in the 1st quarter of 2020). Building permits for new constructions decreased by 12.0% and rehabilitation permits declined by 21.6% (-2.2% and -11.2% respectively, in the 1st quarter of 2020). Completed buildings decreased by 2.8% (+32.2% in the 1st quarter of 2020) with a total of 3.4 thousand buildings.
When compared to the previous quarter, the number of building permits decreased by 16.0% (+2.4% in the 1st quarter of 2020), and the number of completed buildings declined by 21.9% (+11.5% in the 1st quarter of 2020).
When analysing monthly data, building permits have been recording a downward trend in year-on-year terms from January to May 2020, with a reversal in June (+7.5%) and July (+2.8%).

Despite the circumstances determined by the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Portugal calls for the best collaboration by companies, families and public entities in responding to Statistics Portugal’s data requests. The quality of official statistics, particularly its ability to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucially depends on this collaboration, which Statistics Portugal thanks in advance.