Female labor force participation rate in Portugal
Portugal: Female labor force participation rate was 55.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Portugal, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Portugal is 55.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Portugal peaked at 56.0% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 17.0%, in 1960.
Portugal ranks 92nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 38.7% | 24.6% | 46.9% | 3 |
| 1980s | 46.5% | 45.5% | 47.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 49.8% | 47.5% | 52.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.8% | 52.7% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.2% | 53.4% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.2% | 52.8% | 55.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More work & labour data for Portugal
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 62.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 54.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 77.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Portugal?
- Female labor force participation rate in Portugal was 55.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 56.0% in 2007.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.0% in 1960.
- How does Portugal rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Portugal ranks 92nd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.