Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal
Portugal: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 39.96 Hours per week per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal, 1986–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.
Analysis
In 2025, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal stood at 39.96 Hours per week per person.
The figure is down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal peaked at 44.33 Hours per week per person in 1986 and was at its lowest, 39.26 Hours per week per person, in 2007.
That places Portugal 8th out of 39 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Hours per week per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 44.33 Hours per week per person | — |
| 1987 | 44.25 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 43.97 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 43.74 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 43.33 Hours per week per person | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 42.48 Hours per week per person | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 42.7 Hours per week per person | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 42.48 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 42.09 Hours per week per person | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 42.36 Hours per week per person | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 42.25 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 41.37 Hours per week per person | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 40.75 Hours per week per person | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 40.25 Hours per week per person | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 39.92 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 39.74 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 39.76 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 39.45 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 39.44 Hours per week per person | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 39.45 Hours per week per person | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 39.35 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 39.26 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 39.32 Hours per week per person | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 39.64 Hours per week per person | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 39.6 Hours per week per person | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 39.72 Hours per week per person | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 39.75 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 40.18 Hours per week per person | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 40.53 Hours per week per person | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 40.26 Hours per week per person | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 40.29 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 40.33 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 40.24 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 40.16 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 39.85 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 40.31 Hours per week per person | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 40.18 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 40.11 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 39.98 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 39.96 Hours per week per person | -0.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 39.96 Hours per week per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 37.42 Hours per week per person, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 39.96 Hours per week per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.27 Hours per week per person, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 44.07 Hours per week per person | 43.74 Hours per week per person | 44.33 Hours per week per person | 4 |
| 1990s | 42.01 Hours per week per person | 40.25 Hours per week per person | 43.33 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.54 Hours per week per person | 39.26 Hours per week per person | 39.92 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.11 Hours per week per person | 39.6 Hours per week per person | 40.53 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.06 Hours per week per person | 39.85 Hours per week per person | 40.31 Hours per week per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 5 Latvia 38.56 Hours per week per person compare
- 5 Greece 40.96 Hours per week per person compare
- 6 North Macedonia 40.69 Hours per week per person compare
- 6 Estonia 37.42 Hours per week per person compare
- 7 Israel 40.16 Hours per week per person compare
- 9 Romania 39.95 Hours per week per person compare
- 10 Bulgaria 39.86 Hours per week per person compare
- 11 Chile 39.84 Hours per week per person compare
- 11 Netherlands 31.3 Hours per week per person compare
More work & labour data for Portugal
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.055 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0528 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1795 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,134 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,861 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,504 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,250 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 8,754 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal?
- Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Portugal was 39.96 Hours per week per person in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 44.33 Hours per week per person in 1986.
- What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.26 Hours per week per person in 2007.
- How does Portugal rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
- Portugal ranks 8th out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on average usual weekly hours worked in the main job broken down by total employment, full-time employment and part-time employment. Actual hours of work, instead of usual hours of work, are only available in some countries (Mexico and Korea). Data are further broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and standardised age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+ and total) . Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at: OECD Ratification Dates.