Portuguese among EU’s most pessimistic over future quality of life – Eurobarometer

Portugal has emerged as the second most pessimistic country in the European Union over future living standards, with nearly four in 10 people expecting their quality of life to deteriorate over the next five years, according to the latest Spring Eurobarometer survey.

The poll found that 39% of Portuguese respondents expect their quality of life to worsen over the next five years, second only to France (44%). Another 39% believe their standard of living will remain unchanged.

The findings also show Portuguese citizens are more likely than the EU average to believe their quality of life has already declined. Some 39% said conditions had worsened over the past 12 months, compared with an EU average of 27%. Just 7% reported an improvement, while 54% said their circumstances had remained the same.

Despite the pessimism, 74% of Portuguese respondents said they were satisfied with their current quality of life, although this remains below the EU average of 83%.

Health topped the list of priorities for a good quality of life in Portugal, with 61% identifying physical and mental wellbeing as most important. Half cited the quality and accessibility of healthcare, while 43% pointed to both job security and working conditions, and food quality and safety.

Asked what would most improve their lives, 51% highlighted their financial situation and ability to meet day-to-day living costs, the fourth-highest proportion in the EU. Healthcare (51%) and employment security (38%) were also identified as key concerns.

The survey nevertheless found Portugal to be one of the bloc’s most pro-European countries.

A record 94% of Portuguese respondents agreed that the European Union is “a place of stability in a troubled world”, the highest level of support among the EU’s 27 member states and well above the European average of 75%.

While 55% of Portuguese respondents said they were pessimistic about the future of the world, only 32% expressed the same view about the future of the EU.

Support for a stronger European role was equally pronounced, with 90% of Portuguese respondents saying the EU should play a greater role in protecting citizens against global crises and security threats, compared with 68% across the bloc.

Portugal also ranked among the member states most supportive of EU membership. Nine in 10 respondents said the country had benefited from joining the European Union, the fourth-highest level of approval in the bloc.

Among perceived benefits, 43% said EU membership had given Portugal a stronger voice internationally, 40% credited it with boosting economic growth, and 31% said it had created new employment opportunities.

Across the EU, 58% of respondents said they were pessimistic about the future of the world, up six percentage points from the previous Eurobarometer survey in November 2025. At the same time, 75% described the EU as a source of stability, one of the highest levels recorded over the past decade, while 90% said the bloc should ensure all countries respect international law.

The survey was conducted between April 9 and May 4, interviewing 26,421 people across the EU, including 1,031 face-to-face interviews in Portugal, during a period marked by rising living costs linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

source: LUSA