Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Portugal, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Portugal in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Portugal rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Portugal, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Lisboa, Porto and Setúbal. Out of the three regions, Porto does not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Porto followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Portugal fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Portugal was the 69th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Portugal has become more disconnected. Portugal ranked 89th in 1975, 76th in 1976-1990, 77th in 1991-2005 and 69th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Portugal is Lisbon, with a population of 1858900 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Lisbon as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.11, which is moderately connected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Lisbon rose steadily.
Portugal in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Portugal is Funchal with an SNDi of 3.81, which is relatively sprawly. Conversely, the most connected city is Póvoa de Varzim with an SNDi of 2.28, which is well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Póvoa de Varzim, Funchal.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Portugal rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Portugal, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Lisboa, Porto and Setúbal. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Portugal follow the same country trend.
To date, Portugal is the 84th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Portugal has become more disconnected. Portugal ranked 89th in 1975, 85th in 1976-1990, 90th in 1991-2005 and 84th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Portugal is Lisbon, with a population of 1858900 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Lisbon as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.11, which is moderately connected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Lisbon rose steadily.