"Portugal was the country in the European Union where the most children died before the age of one, and in 2022, the country was in the 'top' 10 countries with the lowest infant mortality rate", says the report "50 years of democracy in numbers" by Pordata. According to the statistical database of the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, in 1974, 38 children under the age of one died in the country for every 1,000 births, while the average in the European Union was 21 for this indicator. "In 2022, Portugal was in the 'top' 10 countries with the lowest infant mortality rate, 2.6, while the European average was 3.3", says the Pordata document that illustrates the "profound changes that have occurred" in the country in various areas, such as health, demographics, modernization, education, transport, work and social protection, over the last half century. The data released today also indicate that, in 1970, only 38% of births occurred in health establishments, but five years later, this figure was already 61% and, currently, "practically all children are born" in Portuguese hospitals. Between 1974 and 2022, the number of births in Portugal fell significantly, from almost 172 thousand to around 83 thousand. The transformations in the health system "are also associated with the modernization of services and the growth in the number of professionals", also highlights Pordata, by stating that, in the last five decades, the number of doctors has increased almost fivefold and the number of nurses has increased almost fourfold. In 1975, 11 thousand professionals were registered with the Medical Association and, in 2022, there were around 60 thousand. The number of nurses was almost 19 thousand and is now around 82 thousand, says Pordata. As for living conditions, the statistical report indicates that, 50 years ago, 53% of homes in Portugal did not have piped water, 42% did not have sanitary facilities, 40% did not have sewage and 36% did not have electricity, while currently, at least 98% of homes already have these facilities. "It is also worth mentioning that the 1981 census counted more than 46 thousand non-traditional family dwellings, such as shacks, where around 126 thousand people lived. In the 2021 census, four thousand non-traditional family dwellings were registered, where 11 thousand people lived", indicates Pordata. In 50 years, the number of permanent homes has also doubled and there are 15 times more second homes, highlights the report, by warning that, "in recent years, the increase in house prices has relaunched the debate on housing" in the country. Read also: Experts suggest vaccination against bronchiolitis virus and changes to the bulletin (Portuguese version)