Employment to population ratio in Portugal
Portugal: Employment to population ratio was 54.58 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
54.58
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
117th
of 186 countries
All-time high
59.23
in 2002
All-time low
49.64
in 2013
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 54.58 for employment to population ratio in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio in Portugal peaked at 59.23 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 49.64, in 2013.
That places Portugal 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 58.59 | — |
| 1992 | 56.61 | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 55.45 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 54.58 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 54.15 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 54.23 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 55.26 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 57.76 | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 57.87 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 58.48 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 59.1 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 59.23 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 58.18 | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 57.62 | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 57.15 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 57.3 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 57.23 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 57.32 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 55.52 | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 54.61 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 52.78 | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 50.8 | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 49.64 | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 50.62 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 51.29 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 51.95 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 53.65 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 54.85 | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 55.19 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 53.64 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 53.02 | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 54.24 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 54.75 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 54.64 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 54.58 | -0.1% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 54.58 is below the median for high income countries, which is 58.89, 93% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 54.58 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.56, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.05 | 54.15 | 58.59 | 9 |
| 2000s | 57.71 | 55.52 | 59.23 | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.54 | 49.64 | 55.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.14 | 53.02 | 54.75 | 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 to population ratio in Portugal?
- Employment to population ratio in Portugal was 54.58 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment to population ratio recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 59.23 in 2002.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.64 in 2013.
- How does Portugal rank for employment to population ratio?
- Portugal ranks 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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