Portugal
Lisbon
UMR Index Rank
#41
Score: 49%
Sustainable Mobility
#20
Score: 59.0%
Public Transit
#34
Score: 49.7%
Technology Adoption
#44
Score: 30.7%
| Population | 2.9 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 951 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 3,074 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 36,466 |
UMR Index Rank
#41
Score: 49%
Sustainable Mobility
#20
Score: 59.0%
Public Transit
#34
Score: 49.7%
Technology Adoption
#44
Score: 30.7%
What Lisbon Does Well In Urban Mobility
Lisbon, one of five new cities in this edition of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index, boasts strong adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The government provides numerous EV incentives, with funding available not just for electric cars but also for e-vans, e-motorbikes, e-bikes, and e-cargo bikes. EVs are exempt from both registration and vehicle taxes. Parking is cheap for EVs, averaging €1 a month for unlimited parking at all of Lisbon’s public parking lots
Lisbon also performs well on sustainability indicators, with high-quality air and low levels of noise and light pollution. The city also has lower carbon-intensive electricity production than many of its European peers. The electricity footprint in Lisbon is similar to that of Copenhagen. Lisbon aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 and has steadily rolled out sustainability initiatives to reach this goal, including using 100% renewable energy for the city metro.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Lisbon’s Transportation System
Lisbon is a tech hub, but does not have many top universities or labs with a mobility focus. There are fewer mobility companies headquartered there than in other top- performing cities. As a result, innovation in the mobility ecosystem is more muted. Still, some European Union-backed open innovation programs, such as VoxPop and Smart Open Lisboa, have launched local mobility startups.
Lisbon’s traffic management system is less advanced than other leading cities, and residents own more cars per capita than their counterparts in many other European localities. Lisbon is trying to change traveler behavior. A Low Emission Zone, in force from 7 AM to 9 PM on workdays, restricts access to the city center for the most polluting vehicles. Lisbon also trialed a no-through-traffic zone for cars for three months in 2023.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Lisbon Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Lisbon has subpar biking infrastructure. While its plan for 2030 includes doubling the size of the cycling network to 200 kilometers (124 miles), it can accelerate implementation and increase the project size. The city also can incorporate safety features like buffers and cyclist-friendly traffic lights to encourage cycling adoption. The authorities also can focus on linking existing paths and increasing the number of stations in Gira, the city’s bike- share program.
Lisbon’s road quality is lagging, with infrastructure investment among the lowest of all European cities. To improve road quality, Lisbon can spend more to repair potholes and surface defects and use advanced materials to reduce the frequency of repairs and extend road surface lifetime. More broadly, Lisbon can apply for more EU funding and create more private-public partnerships to improve its transport infrastructure.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley