Information on the Roma in the case of Portugal

The number of Romani people in Portugal is difficult to estimate, since it is forbidden to collect statistics about race or ethnic categories in the country. According to data from Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance there are about 40,000 to 50,000 spread all over the country. According to the Portuguese branch of Amnesty International, there are about 30,000 to 50,000. The national High Commissioner for Migrations places the number at around 37,000.

The native Portuguese Roma belong to the Iberian Kale group. Their presence in the country in and around Minho goes back to the second half of the 15th century when they crossed the border from neighbouring Spain. Early on, due to their sociocultural differences and nomadic lifestyle, the Roma were the object of fierce discrimination and persecution.

Key problems:

The available information about Roma communities shows that they are still a minority exposed to poverty, exclusion and discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes. In general, they live in precarious housing conditions, have low educational and professional qualifications, and face problems in accessing most public services, including health care, employment, education and training

Roma Civil Monitor Coordinators:

NGO coalition members:

Roma Civil Monitor (2017) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategies in Portugal: Focusing on structural and horizontal preconditions for successful implementation of the strategyENGLISHPORTUGUESE

Roma Civil Monitor (2018) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategy in Portugal: Assessing the progress in four key policy areas of the strategy ENGLISHPORTUGUESE

Roma Civil Monitor (2020) Civil society monitoring report on implementation of the national Roma integration strategy in Portugal: Identifying blind spots in Roma inclusion policy  ENGLISHPORTUGUESE

Roma Civil Monitor 2017-2020 country fiche: Portugal