135K
The population employed in the cultural and creative sector is estimated at 135,000 people, representing 3.0% of total employment.
78K
According to data from the Integrated Business Accounts System, there were 75,370 companies in the cultural and creative sector (2023 data). The main activities were performing arts (26.2%), architecture (13.7%), design (12.4%), and artistic and literary creation (8.8%).
48K
Number of higher education students enrolled in education and training areas considered cultural.
8.6M
The turnover of cultural and creative companies totalled €8.6 billion in 2023.
5M
In 2024, museums and monuments managed by Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, E.P.E. (MMP) received more than 5 million visitors (5,065,228).
The most visited sites were Jerónimos Monastery (946,014), Sagres Fortress (443,691), Belém Tower (387,379), and the Paço dos Duques (376,331).
11K
According to provisional data, 11,615 printed books were published in 2024, representing a 14.3% decrease compared to 2023. Most publications were original works (74.4%), while translations accounted for 25.5% of the total.
11.8M
In 2024, Portuguese cinema showed mixed performance: total cinema attendance fell by about 3.8% to 11.8 million spectators, but national films increased their market share to around 4% (double that of 2023), with nearly 500,000 viewers.
206M
According to the annual Culture Statistics Report, in 2024 live performances generated €206.4 million in box office revenue, an increase of €17.2 million (9%) compared to 2023.
Music was the category that attracted the most spectators (57.8%) and generated the highest box office revenue (79%) in 2024, particularly pop/rock concerts, with 2,762 concerts, 4.6 million spectators, and €88.4 million in ticket revenue.
Theatre was the second-largest category by number of performances, accounting for 35.7% of all live events, with 2.3 million spectators and €23 million in box office revenue.
Photo: Ricardo Santos
