Employment in Portugal
Portugal: Employment was 4,960 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Employment in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 4,960 for employment in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Portugal peaked at 5,172 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 4,424, in 2013.
Portugal ranks 83rd of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Employment in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4,689 | — |
| 1992 | 4,563 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 4,501 | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 4,465 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 4,467 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4,510 | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 4,633 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 4,882 | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 4,930 | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 5,029 | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 5,127 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 5,172 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5,104 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 5,072 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 5,047 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 5,078 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 5,091 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 5,117 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 4,970 | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 4,900 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 4,734 | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 4,543 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 4,424 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 4,501 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 4,558 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 4,618 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 4,772 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 4,886 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 4,936 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 4,821 | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 4,785 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 4,915 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 4,974 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 4,968 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 4,960 | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,627 | 4,465 | 4,930 | 9 |
| 2000s | 5,081 | 4,970 | 5,172 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,687 | 4,424 | 4,936 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,904 | 4,785 | 4,974 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 80 Dominican Republic 5,232 compare
- 81 Rwanda 5,179 compare
- 82 Belgium 5,062 compare
- 84 Azerbaijan 4,902 compare
- 85 Switzerland 4,846 compare
- 86 Hungary 4,772 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 employment in Portugal?
- Employment in Portugal was 4,960 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 5,172 in 2002.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,424 in 2013.
- How does Portugal rank for employment?
- Portugal ranks 83rd out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.