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Safety Score · Portugal

How safe is Portugal?

Portugal is among the safest markets covered — 0.89 intentional homicides per 100,000 (2023, UNODC via Our World in Data). All three diplomatic advisories sit at their lowest level, with no country-specific safety headline.

Safety Score · Portugal · sub-national view

Grade range across 1 regions
B+toB+

1 of 1 regions earn a C or higher Portugal (national) leads at 87.6; Portugal (national) drags the country average at 87.6.

Portugal is among the safest markets covered — 0.89 intentional homicides per 100,000 (2023, UNODC via Our World in Data). All three diplomatic advisories sit at their lowest level, with no country-specific safety headline.

Regional distribution
1
ABCDF

Each bar = number of regions at that grade. Where you live in Portugal matters more than the country average.

National aggregateB+87.6 / 100— a single number, useful for comparison; not the experience on the ground.
12-mo trend+4.7 pts
25507587.6
Sources · weighted composite
UNODC homicide 40% · three diplomatic advisories at 20% each
UNODC homicide
40%
0.89/100K
per 100K (2022)

0.89 intentional homicides per 100,000 people (2023) — UNODC data via the Our World in Data UNODC export (which cites UNODC Research, Data Portal – Intentional Homicide).

2023 reporting year (OWID UNODC export, updated 2025-05-28)Source ↗
US State Dept
20%
L1
score 100/100

Exercise normal precautions in Portugal..

2025-12-23Source ↗
Government of Canada
20%
L1
score 100/100

Take normal security precautions — similar to those you would take in Canada..

2026-05-04Source ↗
UK FCDO
20%
L1
score 100/100

No country-specific safety headline; standard preamble only.

2026-04-27Source ↗
Last verified2026-05-16·Methodology v1.0.0How we calculate this score →
The read

What a D+ means here

The UNODC-derived homicide rate (0.89 per 100,000, 2023) and all three diplomatic advisories at their lowest level point the same direction. Portugal is one of the safest markets the Safety Score covers; the composite reflects that without qualification.

The Safety Score does not average disagreement away. Where the homicide data and the advisories pull in different directions, the composite holds the tension and the editor’s note explains it — because the honest answer for Portugal is that the neighbourhood you buy in matters more than the national grade.

Statistical peers

Markets that score within range of Panama on the composite.

Germany
B+
Composite 87.50.1% less safe
0.9/100K homicides
Spain
B+
Composite 89.41.8% safer
0.6/100K homicides
United Kingdom
B+
Composite 86.51.1% less safe
1.1/100K homicides
United States
C+
Composite 79.68.0% less safe
6.4/100K homicides
Japan
A+
Composite 98.110.5% safer
0.2/100K homicides
Places you know

Fixed reference points so the grade is legible to a North-American reader.

United StatesAnchor
C+
Composite 79.68.0% less safe
6.4/100K homicides
CanadaAnchor
B+
Composite 88.81.2% safer
2/100K homicides
United KingdomAnchor
B+
Composite 86.51.1% less safe
1.1/100K homicides
SpainAnchor
B+
Composite 89.41.8% safer
0.6/100K homicides
JapanAnchor
A+
Composite 98.110.5% safer
0.2/100K homicides
How we calculate this score →
The Brief

One market read, one process explainer, one number to know.

Free, no sponsors. Cross-border property and retirement, written for North American buyers.