Portugal Census

Census (Censo)
Research use: Quickly identifies family groups and provides leads for further research.

Record type: Population enumerations compiled by the government.

General: General censuses were conducted in 1864, 1878, 1890 and every tenth year thereafter. Local census records may exist in Portugal as they do in Spain but this needs to be investigated.

Time period: 1700-present.

Contents: Generally includes names of household members; relationship to head of household; sex; sometimes place of birth, race, and civil status. Other details will vary from census to census.

Location: The disposition of the census returns that include names and other personal information is not clear and needs to be investigated.

Population coverage: Probably 90% coverage of the population.

Reliability: Very good.