Lisbon Region shows economic strength amid quality of life challenges

A new Quality Barometer, developed by NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) and the Portuguese Institute for Quality (IPQ), reveals that the Lisbon Region maintains economic performance significantly above the Portuguese national average, despite facing critical challenges regarding quality of life.

Economically, the region's GDP per capita is approximately 30,439.7 euros, roughly 30% higher than the national average of 23,430.3 euros. The region also benefits from higher higher education enrollment (62.2% vs 43.1%) and lower unemployment among university graduates (4.3% vs 5.9%).

However, several indicators show significant strain. Housing expense burdens in Lisbon are higher than the national average (9.6% compared to 6.9%), and long-term unemployment sits at 3.5%, exceeding the national 2.4%. Healthcare access is also a concern, with only 69.2% of the population having a family doctor, compared to the national average of 84.3%.

Urban living conditions present further contrasts: Lisbon has significantly less green space per inhabitant (40.2 square meters) compared to the national average (104.2 square meters). The region also reports higher rates of street robberies. Conversely, Lisbon excels in waste recycling, broadband internet coverage, museum attendance, and tourism revenue per establishment.