INE: Number of buildings licensed for construction works rises 4.3% in the 2nd quarter

The number of buildings licensed for construction rose 4.3% to 6,500 in the second quarter, compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), while the number of completed buildings fell.

In a note released on Friday, regarding licensed and completed works, the INE points out that between April and June "6,500 buildings were licensed, an increase of 4.3% compared to the same period last year", although "significantly below the 27.6% variation recorded in the first quarter of 2025".

Among new construction, licensing rose 4.4% year-on-year, also slowing compared to the 31.6% increase seen in the first three months of the year.

In terms of rehabilitation, the increase was 6.1% year-on-year, slowing down compared to 20.4% up to March.

Between April and June, 3,900 buildings were completed, a 15% decrease year-on-year, and a worsening compared to the 10.5% drop in the first three months.

According to the same information, among family housing, the number of licensed homes in new constructions "increased by 17.9%, below the 39.1% growth recorded in the previous quarter", while the number of completed homes "showed a reduction of 4.4%, after the positive variation of 16.1% in the first quarter of 2025".

Thus, compared to the previous quarter, “the number of licensed buildings decreased by 9.3%, while the number of completed buildings fell by 0.6%”.

According to the INE, "most regions in the country recorded increases in the number of licensed buildings, with the exception of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (-26.3%), the Algarve (-5.6%) and the Alentejo (-2.8%)".

The Setúbal Peninsula (17.3%), West and Tagus Valley (10.2%), Center (+8.2%) and North (+4.8%) had the most significant growth, while the Autonomous Region of Madeira had no variation.

As regards completed buildings, only the Autonomous Region of Madeira saw growth (26.2%), contrasting with the declines in Greater Lisbon (-27.4%), West and Tagus Valley (-25.8%), Autonomous Region of the Azores (-23.0%), Algarve (-22.2%) and Setúbal Peninsula (-20.7%).

Photo: Bruno Filipe Pires