Portugal has the 9th Cleanest Air Quality in Europe

Portugal continues to demonstrate why it is truly the ideal destination for those considering a lifestyle change, as of now it is ranked as having the 9th Cleanest Air Quality in Europe.

IQAir, a Swiss air quality company specialised in air pollution and quality, have published their yearly World Air Quality Report for 2025. IQAir examined air quality data from almost 9,446 cities across 143 countries, collected from more than 40,000 monitoring stations. 

The World Air Quality Report, promoted by IQAir, explains the air quality measured in Particulate Matter (PM), which are the solid particles and liquid droplets present in the air.

PMs become airborne via dirt, soot, smoke, dust, or through other harmful substances, that usually come from car engines, industrial machines, power generation, etc., but also originate from natural sources, including storms and fires, for instance.

Since PMs are microscopic, they are easily inhalable and can lead to aggravated health problems. The 2025 World Air Quality Report examined PMs of the size 2.5 micrometres, or smaller, in diameter, which are the most harmful type.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that every year, 7 million people lose their lives prematurely due to air pollution. The report also followed the most up-to-date WHO’s PM2.5 guidelines when it comes to air quality, which sets the “ideal” PM2.5 concentration at 0.5 micrograms or fewer per cubic metre.

Overall, out of the 43 studied countries, only 13 countries met the WHO’s target, earning the Report’s blue band, which determines the countries with the cleanest air quality.

Out of the 13, only 3 are in Europe, namely Iceland, Andorra, and Estonia. The remaining blue-band countries, starting from the lowest PM2.5 concentration, are French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, New Caledonia, Bermuda, Réunion, Australia, Grenada, and Panama.

Portugal is featured in the 2025 World Air Quality Report’s green band, the second-best category, which places the PM2.5 level between 5,1 to 10 micrograms per cubic meter. It is important to note that the European Union, of which Portugal is a member, now limits the presence of PM2.5 in the air to 10 micrograms.

According to the 2025 World Air Quality Report, Portugal only had 7.9 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre, meaning that Portugal is already 2.1 micrograms below the EU’s officially required levels, well ahead of the deadline to achieve this level of 2030.

Among the countries of Europe, besides the previously mentioned countries in the blue band, only Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and Luxembourg are ahead of Portugal in the green band, which means Portugal has the 9th Cleanest Air in Europe.

In comparison, Bosnia and Herzegovina holds the title of the most polluted European country, with 23.4 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre, though it is not part of the European Union.

In the EU, that dubious honour goes to Romania, which is in the Report’s orange band, with 15.4 micrograms of PM2.5. 

To put it into perspective, Portugal’s air quality is cleaner than other countries like China, France, Germany, Israel, India, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Portugal also features three locations in the Least Polluted European Cities ranking, with Faro taking the Portuguese crown in 9th place with 2.7 micrograms. Salão follows next in 15th position, with 3.1 micrograms, and Portugal rounds out its presence with Santana, in the 17th place, with 3.2 micrograms of PM2.5.

Portugal offers more than just some of the best air quality in Europe. The country presents a compelling destination for expats looking to discover the westernmost point of the European continent. Portugal truly has at least something for anyone looking to move abroad.

Europe leads not only in air quality but also in security, as it is the safest region in the world. According to the 2025 Global Peace Index, Portugal ranks as the 7th safest country in the world and 4^th in Europe. The Index scores countries on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 representing the most peaceful and 5 the least. Portugal achieved an overall score of 1.371.

Portugal has one of Europe’s sunniest climates, enjoying more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. The capital, Lisbon, averages 320 hours of sunlight per month, and the Algarve region is a summer hotspot for beach lovers.

Another advantage of living in Portugal is the Portuguese's high proficiency in English, which is crucial for expats looking for seamless communication without significant language barriers. The 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, which assesses English fluency in non-native countries, ranks Portugal 6^th worldwide.

For families, especially for parents concerned with their children’s education, Portugal is also an excellent choice. The country places a deep focus on education across all levels, from elementary to superior. Portugal positions itself as an excellent country to raise children, having some of Europe’s best international schools which follow diverse curriculums, like the IB, British, and American. Portugal even consistently features in Europe’s Top Business Universities and has extremely accessible and low tuition costs.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to move abroad, Portugal has the answer.

Want to find out more? Check out our dedicated guide on everything you need to know about Moving to Portugal, created and curated by Portugal Homes' experts.