According to the Survey on the Characterisation of People Experiencing Homelessness, as of December 31, 2024, the typical homeless person on the mainland is a single Portuguese man with little schooling.

The document differentiates between those without shelter, who live on the streets, and those without accommodation, who are in places such as temporary resettlement centers.

Of the total number of people experiencing homelessness, 9,403 were without shelter and the remaining 5,073 were homeless.

The Lisbon, Alentejo, and Northern regions had the highest concentration of homeless people, and specifically, there was a high number of cases in the interior Alentejo and the Algarve.

According to the data now released, as of December 31st of last year, the municipalities with the most homeless people per thousand residents were Monforte (87), Mourão (68), Moura (47), and Avis (33). However, the São Paulo metropolitan area had the highest number of homeless couples.

By municipality, Lisbon had by far the most homeless people, with 3,122 a year ago, followed by Moura (634), Porto (553), Aveiro (488), and Beja (369). Of the top 20 municipalities, Braga had the fewest homeless people, with 174.

The research indicates that a typical homeless person is a man, between 45 and 64 years old, single, Portuguese, with little schooling and living on social welfare. The main cause of this situation is related to unemployment or precarious work.

In numbers, 68% of the homeless on the mainland were men, with Alentejo being the region with the most homeless women (46%). In the Lisbon metropolitan area, women represent only 22%.

Regarding age, the "snapshot" of the mainland highlights a large percentage of very young homeless people in Alentejo, 46%, compared to only 21% nationally. However, the highest percentage of single homeless people (60%) is in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. In Alentejo, it is 55%.

Regarding place of origin, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area has the highest percentage of homeless people among Portuguese-speaking African countries (23%), while the Algarve region, although residual (4%), has the highest percentage of homeless people in the European Union.

In terms of education, with a predominance of basic education (2nd or 3rd cycle) nationally, the Alentejo region stands out with 36% of its homeless population having completed no schooling. Conversely, the 4% of homeless people in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region with higher education stands out.

The data also indicate that last year 1,345 people left homelessness and obtained permanent housing, mostly in the North and Central regions. Barcelos was the municipality where the most people ceased to be homeless, followed by Faro, then Loures and Braga.

Last year, data indicated that in 2023 the number of homeless people had reached 13,128, a 23% increase compared to the previous year.