Portugal's 35‑44 Age Group Faces Debt Equal to Nearly Two Years of Income

2026-10-31T13:30:01.731234+00:00 | Haber

Half of Portuguese families aged 35‑44 say they would need to save nearly two years of income to clear their debts.

📌 Key Highlights & Context

1.9 million families in debt, highest burden among 35‑44 year-olds.
Housing accounts for 39% of household spending, while food and transport together exceed 64%.
Half of these families would have to live without spending for two years to repay their loans.

Scale of Debt and Its Impact

The Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos (FFMS) released a report titled "Savings, Expenses and Debt" showing that the 35‑44 age bracket holds the highest debt levels in Portugal, affecting 1.9 million families. According to the study, half of these households would need to accumulate almost two years of income to fully settle their obligations.

Major Items in Household Budgets

Housing consumes 39% of total household expenditure, while food and transport together account for more than 64% of the budget. These two categories dominate the financial picture for most families.

Housing: 39%
Food & Transport: 64%
Other Expenses: remaining share

The findings highlight a looming financial strain for young families, prompting calls for revised housing policies and stronger debt‑relief measures.

Sources

Ter 40 anos em Portugal é dever quase dois anos do que se ganha num ano ao banco