Information on the Roma in the case of Portugal

The number of Romani people in Portugal is difficult to estimate, since it is forbidden to collect statistics about race or ethnic categories in the country. According to data from Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance there are about 40,000 to 50,000 spread all over the country. According to the Portuguese branch of Amnesty International, there are about 30,000 to 50,000. The national High Commissioner for Migrations places the number at around 37,000.

The native Portuguese Roma belong to the Iberian Kale group. Their presence in the country in and around Minho goes back to the second half of the 15th century when they crossed the border from neighbouring Spain. Early on, due to their sociocultural differences and nomadic lifestyle, the Roma were the object of fierce discrimination and persecution.

Key problems:

Roma in Portugal face entrenched poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination, exacerbated by precarious housing, low educational attainment, and limited access to stable employment. Many live in marginalised settlements with inadequate utilities and poor integration into urban areas. Educational dropout remains high, especially after primary levels, and adult illiteracy is still prevalent. Employment opportunities are scarce, with many relying on informal street vending. Discrimination persists across health, education, and public services, reinforcing marginalisation. Despite strategies and programmes, local implementation is inconsistent and lacks sustained funding. There is also a deficit in political commitment and robust governance structures to drive lasting inclusion.

Portugal currently lacks an updated National Roma Strategic Framework, following the 2020 EU Roma Strategic framework on Equality, Inclusion and Participation, leaving a policy gap that weakens coordinated efforts to address persistent Roma exclusion. The previous strategy, in place since 2013, expired at the end of 2023 without a clear successor. This delay reflects limited political commitment and hampers funding, local planning, and accountability for inclusion measures.

Portugal’s National Roma Communities Integration Strategy 2013-2023 (in English)

Roma Civil Monitor Coordinator:

NGO coalition members:

RCM 2 (2021-2025) report:

Roma Civil Monitor (2025) Civil society’s reflection on the National Roma Strategy 2013-2023 and recommendations for the new National Roma Strategic Framework in Portugal.
ENGLISH – PORTUGUESE

RCM 1 (2017-2020) reports:

Roma Civil Monitor (2020) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategy in Portugal: Identifying blind spots in Roma inclusion policy.
ENGLISH – PORTUGUESE

Roma Civil Monitor (2019) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategy in Portugal: Assessing the progress in four key policy areas of the strategy. ENGLISH – PORTUGUESE

Roma Civil Monitor (2018) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategies in Portugal: Focusing on structural and horizontal preconditions for successful implementation of the strategy. ENGLISH – PORTUGUESE

Roma Civil Monitor 2017-2020 country fiche: Portugal