Employment in services (% of total employment) in Portugal
Portugal: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 72.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in services (% of total employment) in Portugal is 72.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in Portugal peaked at 73.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 55.6%, in 1998.
That places Portugal 48th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services (% of total employment) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 58.9% | — |
| 1992 | 59.3% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 60.0% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 60.3% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 60.8% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 61.2% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 60.6% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 55.6% | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 57.4% | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 57.3% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 58.0% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 58.5% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 58.9% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 61.2% | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 62.0% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 62.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 62.4% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 64.0% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 65.2% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 66.0% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 67.2% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 68.6% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 70.5% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 71.6% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 71.9% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 72.2% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 72.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 72.4% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.0% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 72.7% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 72.6% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 72.0% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 71.4% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 72.4% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 72.7% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.3% | 55.6% | 61.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 61.0% | 57.3% | 65.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.5% | 66.0% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.3% | 71.4% | 72.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
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 services (% of total employment) in Portugal?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in Portugal was 72.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 73.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.6% in 1998.
- How does Portugal rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- Portugal ranks 48th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in services (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).