Research: One in five people in Portugal has difficulty meeting the energy needs of their home

Energy poverty in Portugal continues to be one of the important social problems in Europe. According to a European survey involving the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), 19 percent of respondents in Portugal stated that they had difficulty or were unable to meet the energy needs of their households.

The research included a total of 17,889 responses from six countries: Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden.

Therefore, the rate of 19 percent should not be read as a directly measured rate of the entire population of Portugal, but as a result of the answers given by the Portuguese participants in the survey.

Among the six countries, Portugal ranks highest

In the research, France recorded the highest rate with 25 percent, followed by Portugal with 19 percent.

The rate was determined as 18 percent in Italy and Poland, 13 percent in Germany and 10 percent in Sweden.

Energy poverty does not only mean not being able to pay the electricity or natural gas bill. The inability of a household to adequately meet its heating, cooling and other basic energy needs is also considered within this concept.

Women are more affected in Portugal

There is also a significant difference between men and women in the Portuguese results of the research.

Approximately 22 percent of female respondents reported that they had difficulty meeting the necessary energy costs, while this rate was 15 percent for men.

In the research, health status, education It seems that the level and the region of residence are also related to energy poverty.

In Portugal, the rate rises to 33 percent among women who report mental health problems and live in rural areas or medium-sized cities.

On the other hand, the rate drops to 7 percent among participants who do not report any health problems, have a high level of education and live in big cities.

The risk increases in rural areas

When the results of the six countries are evaluated together, 22 percent of those living in rural areas report that they are affected by energy poverty, while this rate is 14 percent in urban areas.

For Portugal, the findings show that, in addition to energy prices, the energy efficiency of housing, income level and individual needs of the household determine the extent of the problem.

Resources

RTP / Friedrich Ebert Stiftung survey, September 19, 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/economia/estudo-revela-que-um-quinto-dos-portugueses-vive-em-situacao-de-pobreza-energetica_n1766360