The socio-economic panorama of Portugal is revealed through data provided by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), and provide a clear vision of the different economic classes in the country.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, cited by Executive Digest, those who earn between 75% and 200% of a country’s average income belong to the middle class. In Portugal, where the average monthly income is €918, or €11,014 per year (2022 data), being middle class means earning between €688 and €1,836 net per month.
The distribution reveals that 60.1% of the Portuguese population is classified as middle class, while 16.8% have low income (between 50% and 75% of the average). The percentage of poor people reaches 12.4%, and 10.6% remains in the high-income category.
These figures indicate that to join the middle class in Portugal, it is enough to earn 688 net euros per month. Those who earn more than €1,836 per month are considered part of the upper class, although this amount is less than the minimum wage in some European countries.
On the other hand, anyone who earns less than €688 per month is classified as the lower class in Portugal. These categories reflect the country’s economic reality but also raise questions about purchasing power and disparities compared to other EU member states.
Comparative analysis reveals that the Portuguese middle class has lower purchasing power compared to its counterparts in the European Union. An annual income of €15,500 places a person in the upper middle class in Portugal, while in countries like Spain or Italy, it is equivalent to the lower middle class.
Portugal is characterized by a relatively low percentage of households that define themselves as middle class, with only 32% confirming that they belong. By comparison, in the Netherlands, 82% of the population considers themselves part of the middle class.