Real Estate and Construction Bolster Portugal's Business Creation in 2025
A statistical announcement from business intelligence firm Informa D&B has revealed that the real estate and construction sectors are the primary drivers of new company creation in Portugal. According to the data, which covers the period from January to July 2025, a total of 32,422 new businesses were established, marking a 0.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The findings underscore the resilience and dynamism of the property-related industries in the current economic climate.
The source of the data, Informa D&B, utilized its comprehensive registry of commercial activity to conduct the analysis. The methodology involved tracking new company registrations across all sectors and regions of Portugal. The report provides a detailed breakdown of these figures, showing that the real estate sector experienced a 22% surge in new entities, which translates to 697 new businesses. The construction sector also showed robust growth, with a rise of 11%, corresponding to 410 new companies. These two sectors alone were responsible for a significant portion of the net growth in business creation nationwide.
The specific numerical findings highlight a targeted economic expansion. While sectors like transportation saw a substantial 24% decrease in new companies, and retail dropped by 10%, the property market's expansionary trend held firm. Other growth areas included agriculture and livestock, which saw a 26% increase. The report also noted a continued decline in business closures, which fell by 14% over the past 12 months, and a welcome 8.3% drop in corporate insolvencies in the first seven months of the year, suggesting a more stable business environment overall.
A geographic breakdown of the data shows varied performance across the country. The North, West and Tejo Valley, and Center regions recorded the most significant increases in new business formations. However, the Greater Lisbon area registered a 2.8% decrease, and the Algarve saw a 6.9% drop. According to the report, these declines were primarily influenced by the sharp downturn in the creation of new transportation companies, rather than a weakness in the property sector itself.
In terms of time period comparisons, the 0.8% overall increase in business creation year-over-year is modest, but the double-digit growth in real estate and construction is a powerful signal. This performance is particularly noteworthy when compared to the declines in other major sectors. The market segment analysis indicates that both residential and commercial property activities are contributing to this positive trend, reflecting sustained investor and consumer interest.
Industry expert commentary suggests that these statistical trends reflect a concentration of investment and entrepreneurial activity in tangible assets. An economist from a leading Lisbon-based bank stated, "In a mixed economic landscape, the consistent growth in real estate and construction points to strong underlying confidence in property as a stable asset class." The government has not yet issued a formal response to the data, but the figures will likely be welcomed as a sign of strength in a critical area of the economy. Historically, Portugal's property market has been a reliable indicator of broader economic health, and these current numbers continue that trend. Future data collection will be closely watched to see if this momentum is sustained through the second half of the year. Stay informed on Lisbon property market developments at realestate-lisbon.com.
