In 2023, there were 462.4 thousand people of African descent living in Portugal, representing 6.1% of the population aged 18 to 74 (7.6 million), of whom 201.6 thousand (2.7%) were first generation, 238.6 thousand (3.1%) were second generation and 22.3 thousand (0.3%) were third generation.

People of African descent had a younger age structure and a higher level of education than the total population, a trend that was particularly evident among the second and third generation.

Almost half (48.2%) of the first generation of people of African descent self-identified with the black ethnic group, and almost two thirds (63.4%) of the second and third generation identified with the white ethnic group.

Compared to the total population, a higher proportion of people of African descent were employed, and more than a third of the first generation (36.2%) needed to work while studying.

One-third (33.4%) of the first generation of people of African descent were in the first quintile of income distribution.

Approximately one in three (31.7%) people of African descent have experienced discrimination in Portugal. The experienced discrimination is multiple and more frequent than the one observed for the total population.

Almost three quarters (72.8%) of the people of African descent considered that there is discrimination in Portugal and more than half (55.2%) had witnessed discrimination.