Labor force participation rate by age in Portugal
Portugal: Labor force participation rate by age was 34.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Portugal, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Portugal stood at 34.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Portugal peaked at 58.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 30.1%, in 2021.
Portugal ranks 118th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.2% | 42.3% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.1% | 38.7% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.0% | 33.3% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.4% | 30.1% | 35.4% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Portugal?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Portugal was 34.7% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 58.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.1% in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Portugal ranks 118th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).