THE WORLD, CONNECTEDGeopolitical Relationship Atlas
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

Italy and Portugal

Italy and Portugal seek to expand cooperation in the blue economy, space, defence and energy. Their foreign ministers discussed connections between European and African policies in January 2025, alongside migration, Ukraine and Middle East humanitarian responses.

Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08

Bilateral context

Antonio Tajani and Paulo Rangel met in Rome on 24 January 2025.

What merchandise trade shows

In 2025, goods trade between Italy and Portugal totalled 11,188.8 million current USD.

Documented trade sectors

Within the selected chapters, machinery and mechanical appliances stands out in shipments from Italy to Portugal, at 1,175.2 million USD in 2025.

Bilateral indicators

Blank cells: data unavailable.

Indicators of the relationship between Italy and Portugal
IndicatorValuePeriod
Goods trade11,188.84 M USD2025 · Comtrade
Goods: Italy to Portugal6,713.86 M USD2025 · Comtrade
Goods: Portugal to Italy4,474.98 M USD2025 · Comtrade
Services trade
Export share: Italy to Portugal
Export share: Portugal to Italy
Investment stock: Italy in Portugal
Investment stock: Portugal in Italy
Definitions and sources

Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.

Goods trade
2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter ITA. Both directions come from the same verified customs document, not from adding mirror declarations together. Exports generally FOB; imports generally CIF.
Goods: Italy to Portugal
2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter ITA. Both directions come from the same verified customs document, not from adding mirror declarations together. Exports generally FOB; imports generally CIF.
Goods: Portugal to Italy
2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter ITA. Both directions come from the same verified customs document, not from adding mirror declarations together. Exports generally FOB; imports generally CIF.

Country comparison

Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.

Economic and demographic comparison of Italy and Portugal
IndicatorItalyPortugal
Nominal GDP2.55 trillion USD2025 · WB346.64 billion USD2025 · WB
GDP per capita43,308.64 USD2025 · WB32,081.81 USD2025 · WB
GDP growth0.54 %2025 · WB1.86 %2025 · WB
Policy interest rate2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE
Inflation · annual average1.53 %Annual average · 2025 · WB2.34 %Annual average · 2025 · WB
Inflation · latest year-on-year figure3.6 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · INE PT
Unemployment6.39 %ILO est.2025 · WB6.16 %ILO est.2025 · WB
Budget balance (% of GDP)-3.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF0.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Gross public debt (% of GDP)137.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF89.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Current account balance (% of GDP)1.15 %2025 · WB1.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF
Population58,915,656World Bank est.2025 · WB10,804,871World Bank est.2025 · WB
Area302,070 km²2023 · WB92,230 km²2023 · WB
Military expenditure
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Definitions, dates and sources

Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.

Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0

Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.

Nominal GDP
Current USDItaly: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2025 · World Bank
GDP per capita
Current USD per personItaly: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2025 · World Bank
GDP growth
Annual real change (%)Italy: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2025 · World Bank
Policy interest rate
Central bank instrument (%)Italy: 2026-09-16 · ECB: deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank · ECB deposit facility rate, shared by euro-area members; not an independent national rate.Portugal: 2026-09-16 · ECB: deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
Inflation · annual average
Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Italy: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank
Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedPortugal: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Portugal INE · Published: 2026-09-30 · provisional · Provisional · National headline CPI, year-on-year, not monthly inflation or an annual average. Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
Unemployment
% of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionItaly: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.
Budget balance
General government (% of GDP)Italy: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Portugal: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
Gross public debt
General government (% of GDP)Italy: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Portugal: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
Current account balance
% of GDPItaly: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · Current-account balance as a percentage of GDP; IMF WEO estimate for PRT.
Population
PeopleItaly: 2025 · World Bank · World Bank est. · Extrapolated estimate identified by the World Bank; not a census for the reference year.Portugal: 2025 · World Bank · World Bank est. · Extrapolated estimate identified by the World Bank; not a census count for 2025.
Area
Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceItaly: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Portugal: 2023 · Area according to the series' coverage; does not determine sovereignty or effective control · World Bank
Military expenditure
Current USD per year; SIPRI series
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship

What they buy and sell

Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.

Italy to Portugal

2025

Selected products exported from Italy to Portugal
Product or sectorValue / share
Machinery and mechanical appliances1,175.2 M USD2025 · Source
Electrical and electronic equipment532.7 M USD2025 · Source
Vehicles and components400.3 M USD2025 · Source
Pharmaceutical products220.9 M USD2025 · Source
Mineral fuels and oils169.9 M USD2025 · Source
Meat and edible offal51.4 M USD2025 · Source
Dairy products, eggs and honey50.5 M USD2025 · Source
Metal ores0.0437 M USD2025 · Source

Selection of eight chapters, not an exhaustive ranking. Same reporter, year and coverage as the total. Unpublished chapters are not imputed. UN Comtrade

Portugal to Italy

2025

Selected products exported from Portugal to Italy
Product or sectorValue / share
Vehicles and components996.6 M USD2025 · Source
Electrical and electronic equipment307.2 M USD2025 · Source
Machinery and mechanical appliances218.7 M USD2025 · Source
Pharmaceutical products64.3 M USD2025 · Source
Dairy products, eggs and honey17.9 M USD2025 · Source
Meat and edible offal16.3 M USD2025 · Source
Metal ores4 M USD2025 · Source
Mineral fuels and oils1.1 M USD2025 · Source

Selection of eight chapters, not an exhaustive ranking. Same reporter, year and coverage as the total. Unpublished chapters are not imputed. UN Comtrade

How trade has changed

Billions of current USD · full calendar years

TotalItaly to PortugalPortugal to Italy
Goods trade between Italy and PortugalGoods; full calendar years 2021–2025; same reporter ITA; current USD without inflation adjustment. Complete data in the table following the chart.0510152020212022202320242025

Goods; full calendar years 2021–2025; same reporter ITA; current USD without inflation adjustment. UN Comtrade · Accessed: 2026-10-08.

View chart figures
Millions of current USD
PeriodTotalItaly to PortugalPortugal to Italy
20218,323.35,232.43,090.9
20229,608.26,060.83,547.5
20239,853.16,017.53,835.6
202410,1486,133.14,015
202511,188.86,713.94,475

Connections between people

They proposed new economic, military, cultural and language actions and coordinating Global Gateway with the Mattei Plan and Portugal's cooperation strategy. On migration, they advocated agreements with source and transit countries, implementing the European pact and legal channels, balancing solidarity and responsibility. [1]

Residents, study and travel

Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.

Indicators of human connections between Italy and Portugal
IndicatorValuePeriod / source
Residents from Italy living in Portugal
Residents from Portugal living in Italy
Study and training: Italy in Portugal
Study and training: Portugal in Italy
Academic stays: Italy in Portugal
Academic stays: Portugal in Italy
Travel: Italy to Portugal
Travel: Portugal to Italy
What each figure measures

Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.

Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.

Underlying ties

History, institutions and long-standing issues.

The scale of both economies

Nominal GDP for Italy is 2,551.6 billion USD (2025), compared with 346.6 for Portugal (2025). The reference populations are 58.92 and 10.8 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Italy was 7.36 times that of Portugal in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Recent developments

Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08

Bilateral context

Antonio Tajani and Paulo Rangel met in Rome on 24 January 2025. They proposed new economic, military, cultural and language actions and coordinating Global Gateway with the Mattei Plan and Portugal's cooperation strategy. [1]

Cooperation and bilateral issues

They discussed Mozambique's stability and Gaza humanitarian support, including Food for Gaza, alongside dialogue with new Syrian authorities. On European affairs, they proposed strengthening competitiveness and a common industrial strategy. On migration, they advocated agreements with source and transit countries, implementing the European pact and legal channels, balancing solidarity and responsibility. They reaffirmed support for Ukraine and collaboration with Africa and Latin America. The conversation identifies shared priorities without itself announcing a contracted industrial alliance or new bilateral convention. [1]

What merchandise trade shows

In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Italy and Portugal) totalled 11,188.8 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 6,713.9 million; those in the opposite direction, 4,475 million. The difference between the two flows was 2,238.9 million, in favour of Italy. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]

Five years of trade trends

The consistent series shows 8,323.3 million USD in 2021 and 11,188.8 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +34.4 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 11,188.8 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [2]

Documented trade sectors

Within the selected chapters, machinery and mechanical appliances stands out in shipments from Italy to Portugal, at 1,175.2 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Portugal to Italy, at 996.6 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [3]

Sources and data

Periods and scope of the figures

Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.

  1. Bilateral relations — ITA-PRT

    www.esteri.it · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  2. UN Comtrade annual data; reused verified primary payload, not re-downloaded

    UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  3. Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record

    UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08

  4. NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  5. Official statistics

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  6. SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

  7. Official statistics

    World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07

Additional sources on products and human connections
  • UN Comtrade

    2026-10-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-08 · Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record.