Last year, 578 people died on Portugal’s roads. By European standards, that is a high toll: measured per capita, only Latvia, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria fared worse. The European Commission published its final figures for 2025 on 27 October, RTP reports. Sweden and Denmark have the safest roads, with almost three times fewer road deaths than Portugal.
The number of people killed on the roads is falling, both in Portugal and across Europe, but progress is painfully slow. The EU aims to halve the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. So far, only five countries are on track to meet that target: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland and Romania. Portugal is lagging well behind.
More than half of fatal road accidents in Europe happen outside urban areas, on ordinary roads connecting towns and villages. Older people and the very young are among the most frequent victims, particularly pedestrians and cyclists.
The situation has worsened this year. According to ANSR, Portugal’s National Road Safety Authority, around 25% more people died on the roads in the first half of the year than during the same period a year earlier.
Portuguese figures tend to look less alarming than European ones because ANSR counts people who die at the scene or on the way to hospital, while the European Commission includes everyone who dies within 30 days of a crash.
Speeding, alcohol and drivers using their phones are among the main causes of fatal accidents. If you are walking or cycling outside urban areas, where there are no pavements or streetlights, take extra care. And wear something reflective after dark: it helps drivers spot you much sooner.
