Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Portugal instead of Mississippi, you would:

Health

live 9.6 years longer

In Mississippi, the average life expectancy is 72 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Portugal, that number is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

be 10.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mississippi, 18.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Portugal, however, that number is 16.4% as of 2021.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Mississippi, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Portugal, that number is 6.5% as of 2023.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), The World Factbook.

Compare further: Mississippi vs. Portugal
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Portugal is 5.7% cheaper than Mississippi
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Size Comparison · See true size
Mississippi is about 1.3 times bigger than Portugal.
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Portugal: At a glance

Portugal is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 91,470 sq km. Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
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How big is Portugal compared to Mississippi? See an in-depth size comparison.

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