Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal

Portugal: Net electricity imports as a share of demand was 15.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
15.4%
Change on year
down 15.1%
World rank
34th
of 213 countries
All-time high
18.1%
in 2023
All-time low
-9.4%
in 2016
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal, 1990–2025

-10010201990200720251990: 0.141 %1991: 0.302 %1992: 4.3 %1993: 0.548 %1994: 2.8 %1995: 2.7 %1996: 3.1 %1997: 7.9 %1998: 0.692 %1999: -2.1 %2000: 2.1 %2001: 0.518 %2002: 4 %2003: 5.7 %2004: 12.7 %2005: 12.9 %2006: 10.1 %2007: 13.8 %2008: 17.2 %2009: 8.8 %2010: 4.7 %2011: 5.1 %2012: 14.8 %2013: 5.2 %2014: 1.7 %2015: 4.3 %2016: -9.4 %2017: -4.9 %2018: -4.8 %2019: 6.2 %2020: 2.8 %2021: 8.8 %2022: 16.6 %2023: 18.1 %2024: 18.1 %2025: 15.4 %

Source: Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal is 15.4%, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.1% on the previous year and up 262.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal peaked at 18.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -9.4%, in 2016.

Portugal ranks 34th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal, 1990 to 2025.
Year % Change
1990 0.1% —
1991 0.3% +114.1%
1992 4.3% +1340.1%
1993 0.5% -87.4%
1994 2.8% +407.2%
1995 2.7% -3.2%
1996 3.1% +16.8%
1997 7.9% +150.8%
1998 0.7% -91.2%
1999 -2.1% -396.8%
2000 2.1% -202.6%
2001 0.5% -75.4%
2002 4.0% +672.5%
2003 5.7% +41.7%
2004 12.7% +123.3%
2005 12.9% +1.9%
2006 10.1% -21.7%
2007 13.8% +36.8%
2008 17.2% +24.6%
2009 8.8% -48.7%
2010 4.7% -47.1%
2011 5.1% +10.2%
2012 14.8% +187.4%
2013 5.2% -64.6%
2014 1.7% -67.4%
2015 4.3% +148.9%
2016 -9.4% -321.9%
2017 -4.9% -48.3%
2018 -4.8% -2.1%
2019 6.2% -229.4%
2020 2.8% -55.3%
2021 8.8% +218.6%
2022 16.6% +89.1%
2023 18.1% +9.0%
2024 18.1% -0.1%
2025 15.4% -15.1%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 15.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.2%, 95.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1992 +1340.1% 0.3% 4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2.0% -2.1% 7.9% 10
2000s 8.8% 0.5% 17.2% 10
2010s 2.3% -9.4% 14.8% 10
2020s 13.3% 2.8% 18.1% 6

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 31 Nicaragua 16.6% compare
  2. 32 Thailand 16.4% compare
  3. 33 Belgium 15.8% compare
  4. 35 Zimbabwe 15.2% compare
  5. 36 Italy 15.1% compare
  6. 37 Burundi 14.0% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More energy & mining data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal?
Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal was 15.4% in 2025, according to Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest net electricity imports as a share of demand recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 2023.
What is the lowest net electricity imports as a share of demand recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was -9.4% in 2016.
How does Portugal rank for net electricity imports as a share of demand?
Portugal ranks 34th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
Is net electricity imports as a share of demand rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 262.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal data come from?
The figures come from Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Net electricity imports as a share of demand. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Net electricity imports as a share of demand in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/electricity-imports-share-demand/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Net electricity imports as a share of demand
Unit
%
Source
Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,693 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Electricity imports minus exports, measured as a percentage of total electricity demand in the country or region.