On October 28, 2024, author and entrepreneur Mark Manson posted a surprising video titled 'Understanding the Most Anxious Country in the World.' The surprising reveal? He claims it’s Portugal, the very place many foreigners imagine as a stress-free haven of wine, sunshine, and slow living.
Indeed, according to the Journal of Clinical Medicine, anxiety disorders top the charts as the most common mental health issue, globally and in Portugal. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported around 301 million people worldwide were affected. Portugal had the highest rate: 8,671 cases per 100,000 people. That’s not just a statistical quirk—it’s a serious mental health burden often tied to long-term disability and life disruption.
So, what’s behind the anxiety hiding beneath all that Portuguese charm? Click through this gallery to find out.