City Profile: Porto
General Overview
Education & Innovation
Governance & Transparency
Health & Well-being
Mobility & Transport
Environment & Sustainability
Economy & Business
General Overview
- Country: Portugal
- Population of the city: 248769
- Area of the city measured in square kilometres (km²): 42
- Budget of the city in 2024 (GBP): 354 300 000 GBP
- Percentage of population of the country living in the city: 2.40%
- GDP PER PERSON: 24939
- REAL GDB - GROWTH: 1.9
- Percentage of all employed individuals in public administration: 13.70%
Education & Innovation
- The highest ranking position of university in global educational indexes: 251-300
- Percentage of citizens taking part in formal education - lifelong learning: 5.00%
- The percentage of income that should be allocated to cover the cost of studies: 7.60%
- Percentage of the population who knew at least one foreign language: 69.00%
- Percentage of population with digital skills: 63.00%
- Patent granted per 10,000 residents: 0.13
Governance & Transparency
- Voter turnout in the last local elections (%): 48.80%
- City have its own open data website, or does it regularly report and publish its data on the national open data platform managed by a government agency: yes
- Datasets containing information about the city and its residents which are available on the open data portal managed by the city or a government agency to which the city provides information: 18136
- E-services: fault reporting system, electronic payments, on-line appointment schedulin: yes
- Existence of up-to-date and officially adopted development strategy: yes
- Number of valid and currently in-force sectoral (thematic) strategies: 2
Health & Well-being
- Percentage of population with medical insurance: 100.00%
- Number of doctors per 1,000 residents: 5.6
- Life Expectancy Rate (at birth): 81.17
- Obesity rate: 23.20%
- Average number of working hours: 40
- Percentage of the adult population receiving support and coordinated mental health care: 25.00%
- The number of suicide attempts per 1,000 residents: 0.11
Mobility & Transport
- Green Mobility Share (%): 32.40%
- Existence of electronic payment system for transportation services, such as payments by card at terminals or via a mobile app: yes
- Payment via the city's mobile application: yes
- Payment via a special payment card at a terminal in the public transport vehicle: yes
- Payment via a debit or credit card at a terminal in the public transport vehicle: yes
- Existence of intelligent traffic management system (ITS): yes
- Distance to the nearest airport offering international flights: 0
- Number of traffic-related fatalities per 10000 residents: 2.37
- City provide data on public transportation (e.g., departure times, real-time location of public transport vehicles) through an open data portal managed by the city or a government entity: yes
- City provide on its website, mobile app, or through collaboration with other entities the ability to plan a journey using public transportation, known as a journey planner: yes
Environment & Sustainability
- Efficient use of electricity (per GDP): 0.2
- Average PM10 value in the city: 31
- Existence of biodiversity protection strategy in the city: yes
- Recycling rate: 43.00%
- Number of parks per square kilometre: 0.48
- Existence of any documents or municipal legal solutions promoting the use of renewable energy: yes
- Existance of information about CO2 emissions: yes
Economy & Business
- Number of businesses per 1,000 residents: 9.04
- Number of new businesses per 1,000 residents: 34.01
- Number of foreign affiliates per 10,000 residents: 3.4
- Percentage deviation in earnings relative to the national average: 36.00%
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Rank:
GOLD
Points:
879
Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, is a dynamic and historic urban centre where tradition and progress intertwine. Home to nearly 249,000 residents and spanning just 42 square kilometres, Porto is a compact yet influential city. Despite its relatively small size, it plays a significant role in Portugal’s economy, accounting for 2.4% of the national population and boasting a GDP per capita of 24,939 GBP. With a city budget of 354.3 million GBP in 2024 and a steady economic growth rate of 1.9%, Porto continues to evolve as a hub of business, culture, and innovation.
Education and innovation form the foundation of Porto’s intellectual landscape. While the city's highest-ranked university falls within the 251-300 range globally, its residents are highly adaptable, with 69% speaking at least one foreign language. Digital skills are present among 63% of the population, reflecting a strong drive toward technological advancement. Although Porto has a modest patent registration rate of 0.13 patents per 10,000 residents, its emphasis on education and lifelong learning—embraced by 5% of citizens—ensures that it remains competitive in an evolving world.
Governance and transparency are integral to Porto’s administration. With a voter turnout of 48.8% in the last local elections, civic participation remains active. The city leads in data transparency, providing access to an impressive 18,136 datasets via its open data portal. Porto embraces digital governance, offering e-services such as fault reporting, electronic payments, and online appointment scheduling. While the city currently operates under two main sectoral strategies, its up-to-date development plan ensures that it remains on a path of sustainable growth.
Health and well-being are priorities in Porto’s urban life. With universal medical insurance and 5.6 doctors per 1,000 residents, the city offers comprehensive healthcare services. Life expectancy stands at 81.17 years, while 23.2% of the population faces obesity-related health challenges. Mental health is also a focus, with 25% of the adult population receiving coordinated care. The city maintains a low suicide attempt rate of 0.11 per 1,000 residents, highlighting its efforts in public health and well-being.
Porto’s mobility and transport system balances tradition with modern solutions. Green mobility accounts for 32.4% of travel, and an intelligent traffic management system optimizes urban flow. The city provides multiple digital payment options, including mobile apps, transport cards, and debit or credit card transactions for public transport. Porto’s international airport ensures global connectivity, while its public transport infrastructure remains accessible through real-time data and journey planning services. However, the city faces road safety challenges, with traffic-related fatalities recorded at 2.37 per 10,000 residents.
Sustainability is embedded in Porto’s urban policies. The city has an active biodiversity protection strategy and promotes renewable energy through municipal policies. Porto efficiently uses electricity at a rate of 0.2 per GDP while maintaining a recycling rate of 43%. However, air quality remains a concern, with an average PM10 pollution level of 31. Green spaces are relatively limited, with 0.48 parks per square kilometre, indicating an area for potential improvement in urban planning.
Porto’s economy is driven by entrepreneurship and international connectivity. The city supports 9.04 businesses per 1,000 residents, with an impressive 34.01 new businesses emerging annually per 1,000 residents. Porto continues to strengthen its global economic ties. While the city's earnings deviation from the national average is 36%, highlighting potential wage disparities, its economic resilience makes it a competitive and attractive place for business and investment.
Education and innovation form the foundation of Porto’s intellectual landscape. While the city's highest-ranked university falls within the 251-300 range globally, its residents are highly adaptable, with 69% speaking at least one foreign language. Digital skills are present among 63% of the population, reflecting a strong drive toward technological advancement. Although Porto has a modest patent registration rate of 0.13 patents per 10,000 residents, its emphasis on education and lifelong learning—embraced by 5% of citizens—ensures that it remains competitive in an evolving world.
Governance and transparency are integral to Porto’s administration. With a voter turnout of 48.8% in the last local elections, civic participation remains active. The city leads in data transparency, providing access to an impressive 18,136 datasets via its open data portal. Porto embraces digital governance, offering e-services such as fault reporting, electronic payments, and online appointment scheduling. While the city currently operates under two main sectoral strategies, its up-to-date development plan ensures that it remains on a path of sustainable growth.
Health and well-being are priorities in Porto’s urban life. With universal medical insurance and 5.6 doctors per 1,000 residents, the city offers comprehensive healthcare services. Life expectancy stands at 81.17 years, while 23.2% of the population faces obesity-related health challenges. Mental health is also a focus, with 25% of the adult population receiving coordinated care. The city maintains a low suicide attempt rate of 0.11 per 1,000 residents, highlighting its efforts in public health and well-being.
Porto’s mobility and transport system balances tradition with modern solutions. Green mobility accounts for 32.4% of travel, and an intelligent traffic management system optimizes urban flow. The city provides multiple digital payment options, including mobile apps, transport cards, and debit or credit card transactions for public transport. Porto’s international airport ensures global connectivity, while its public transport infrastructure remains accessible through real-time data and journey planning services. However, the city faces road safety challenges, with traffic-related fatalities recorded at 2.37 per 10,000 residents.
Sustainability is embedded in Porto’s urban policies. The city has an active biodiversity protection strategy and promotes renewable energy through municipal policies. Porto efficiently uses electricity at a rate of 0.2 per GDP while maintaining a recycling rate of 43%. However, air quality remains a concern, with an average PM10 pollution level of 31. Green spaces are relatively limited, with 0.48 parks per square kilometre, indicating an area for potential improvement in urban planning.
Porto’s economy is driven by entrepreneurship and international connectivity. The city supports 9.04 businesses per 1,000 residents, with an impressive 34.01 new businesses emerging annually per 1,000 residents. Porto continues to strengthen its global economic ties. While the city's earnings deviation from the national average is 36%, highlighting potential wage disparities, its economic resilience makes it a competitive and attractive place for business and investment.