Portuguese DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Portugal · Southern Europe
Portugal shares most of its deep history with the rest of Iberia. In our model, the Portuguese average is 53.9% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 30.2% steppe, 10.5% Western hunter-gatherer and 5.4% North African hunter-gatherer (Iberomaurusian). Early farmers reached the Atlantic coast of Iberia more than 7,000 years ago, and steppe-related ancestry arrived during the Bronze Age. From Roman times onwards, and especially in the medieval period, contacts with North Africa added ancestry that is stronger in the west and south of the peninsula, which fits the larger North African share here than in our Spanish average (2.6%). The closest ancient group is a High to Late Medieval population from Santarem, at a very close 0.0072, followed by Early Modern people from Montemor-o-Velho. In our panel the closest modern averages are Spanish regional samples, led by Andalusia, Galicia and Castile and Leon, followed by Catalans and Portuguese from Madeira.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Anatolian Neolithic farmers 53.9%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 30.2%, Western hunter-gatherers 10.5%
- Closest modern population in our data: Spanish (Andalusia, Andalusian), distance 0.0091
- Closest ancient group in our data: Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem, distance 0.0072
Where does Portuguese DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Portuguese individuals sampled in Portugal and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Portuguese average
The ancient make-up of the Portuguese average is led by Anatolian Neolithic farmers (53.9%), followed by Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (30.2%) and Western hunter-gatherers (10.5%). The Anatolian Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic farmers of Anatolia, who carried agriculture into Europe from about 6500 BC. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (30.2%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC.
The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.028): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. The model draws on West Eurasian ancient genomes, with modern West African and East Asian stand-ins.
Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Portuguese
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Portuguese average is Spanish (Andalusia, Andalusian), at a distance of 0.009 (very close). Next come Spanish (Galicia, Galician) at 0.010 and Spanish (Castile and Leon, Castilian) at 0.011. By the tenth closest (French (Provence)) the distance grows to 0.032, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish (Andalusia, Andalusian) | 0.0091 | Very close |
| 2 | Spanish (Galicia, Galician) | 0.0097 | Very close |
| 3 | Spanish (Castile and Leon, Castilian) | 0.0111 | Very close |
| 4 | Spanish | 0.0163 | Very close |
| 5 | Catalan | 0.0198 | Very close |
| 6 | Portuguese (Madeira) | 0.0214 | Very close |
| 7 | French Occitan (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur) | 0.0282 | Close |
| 8 | Canary Islander | 0.0301 | Close |
| 9 | French (Catalan Occitanie Pyrenees-Orientales) | 0.0312 | Close |
| 10 | French (Provence) | 0.0315 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Portuguese
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Portuguese, Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem (High to Late Medieval, c. 1000-1500 AD) comes first, at 0.007, with Portugal Early Modern Montemor-o-Velho next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem | High to Late Medieval, c. 1000-1500 AD | 0.0072 |
| 2 | Portugal Early Modern Montemor-o-Velho | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0113 |
| 3 | Portugal Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Visigoth Miroico | Late Antiquity to Early Medieval, c. 250-1000 AD | 0.0142 |
| 4 | Spain Castile and Leon Early Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0173 |
| 5 | Portugal High Medieval Kingdoms of Galicia-Portugal Castro de Avelas | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0174 |
| 6 | Belgium Late Medieval-Early Modern Holy Roman Empire St. Rombout's (Iberian Profile) | Late Medieval to Early Modern, c. 1300-1800 AD | 0.0190 |
| 7 | Portugal High-Late Medieval Almohad-Kingdom of Portugal Sao Miguel de Odrinhas Christian | High to Late Medieval, c. 1000-1500 AD | 0.0199 |
| 8 | Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) | Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD | 0.0200 |
| 9 | Spain Catalonia High Medieval | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0207 |
| 10 | Portugal Early-Late Modern Santarem | Modern era, c. 1500-1950 AD | 0.0211 |
Ancient DNA from Portugal
Our ancient DNA database holds 311 individuals excavated in present-day Portugal, dated from about 7,219 BC to 1850 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are I2a (32), R1b (32) and E1b (10), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are U5 (33), H (32) and H1 (23). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Portuguese population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Most frequent mtDNA haplogroups
| Haplogroup | Individuals | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| U5 | 33 | CMS001 Seba1 Ara7 |
| H | 32 | CALN1424 CALO1174 CALO1436 |
| H1 | 23 | Tol1 CdP4 LugarCanto44 |
| K1 | 14 | Alco1 bomsanto09 DolmenAnsiao96B |
| T2 | 11 | NEO631 GSL2 bomsanto02 |
| J | 8 | GSL3 CDV2 bomsanto04 |
| K | 8 | GSL1 CDV1 CDV3 |
| V | 7 | CALP12130 I11601 PT_22204 |
Ancient DNA studies on Portugal
- Mobility of populations in the transition from Muslim world to Portuguese Kingdom in the Algarve, South Portugal, 11th-13th centuries (2025)
- Direct hydroxyproline radiocarbon dating of the Lapedo child (Abrigo do Lagar Velho, Leiria, Portugal) (2025)
- Shrouded in history: Unveiling the ways of life of an early Muslim population in Santarém, Portugal (8th– 10th century AD) (2024)
- The genetic history of Portugal over the past 5,000 years (2024)
- High status diet and health in Medieval Lisbon: a combined isotopic and osteological analysis of the Islamic population from São Jorge Castle, Portugal (2019)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 311 from Portugal.
Compare yourself with Portuguese
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Portuguese average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Portuguese and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
Keep in mind that a population average is a statistical summary of a limited number of sampled individuals. Real people inside any group vary, some carry more of one ancestry and some less, and no genetic profile decides who is or is not Portuguese. Use these numbers as a map of deep ancestry, not as a label.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Portuguese average. Your own DNA has its own story: Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people with roots in the Iberian Peninsula: ancient regional core (Iberian hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers, Bell Beaker steppe arrival, El Argar and Bronze Age Iberia, Celtiberians and Iberians, Phoenician and...
More populations from Southern Europe
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Portuguese?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Portuguese average is about 53.9% Anatolian Neolithic farmers, 30.2% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 10.5% Western hunter-gatherers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Portuguese?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Portuguese average are Spanish (Andalusia, Andalusian), Spanish (Galicia, Galician) and Spanish (Castile and Leon, Castilian). The closest ancient matches are Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem, Portugal Early Modern Montemor-o-Velho and Portugal Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Visigoth Miroico.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Portuguese?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Portuguese average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Portuguese ancestry?
For the Portuguese average, the regional report to choose is Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.