The Regional Statistical Yearbooks provide a wide range of statistical data at regional and municipal levels. Of the subset of topics chosen for analysis in this press release, the following are highlighted:

• Population: in 2023 there was a 1.16% increase in the resident population compared to the previous year, with an increase in population in 251 of the country's 308 (81%) municipalities. In 2023, except for Grande Lisboa, in all NUTS 3 regions the population ageing ratio was higher in predominantly rural areas than in predominantly urban areas.

• Education: in the 2023/2024 school year, the number of students enrolled in tertiary education increased by 0.5% compared to the previous school year. This increase was also observed in 17 of the 26 NUTS 3 sub-regions, with Alto Tâmega e Barroso recording the highest rate of change (10.1%).

• International Trade: in 2023, 16 of the country's 26 NUTS 3 recorded a coverage rate of imports by exports above 100%, with the Baixo Alentejo (427.8%), Alentejo Litoral (229.5%), Tâmega e Sousa (217.9%), Alentejo Central (197.2%) and Ave (160.0%) recording the highest values.

• Political Participation: the autonomous regions of the Açores and Madeira recorded the highest abstention rates in the 2024 election for the Parliament (53.8% and 41.1% respectively). The municipality of Ribeira Grande (61.5%) recorded the highest abstention rate in the country and, with rates above 55%, Vila Franca do Campo, Lagoa, Vila do Porto, Povoação, Melgaço, Vimioso and Montalegre also stood out.