Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Portugal
Portugal: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 62.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Portugal, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Portugal recorded 62.1% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Portugal peaked at 73.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 61.3%, in 2021.
That places Portugal 154th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 72.7% | — |
| 1991 | 73.0% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 70.4% | -3.5% |
| 1993 | 69.3% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 68.9% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 68.4% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 68.4% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 68.7% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 70.1% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 69.8% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 69.7% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 70.2% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 70.7% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 69.9% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 69.5% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 69.1% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 69.3% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 68.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 67.7% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 67.2% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 67.0% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 66.3% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 65.0% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 64.4% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 64.1% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 64.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 64.4% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 64.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 64.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 62.6% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 61.3% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 62.3% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 62.9% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 62.4% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 62.1% | -0.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 62.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 90% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 62.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.0% | 68.4% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.4% | 67.7% | 70.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.1% | 64.0% | 67.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.3% | 61.3% | 62.9% | 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Portugal?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Portugal was 62.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 73.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.3% in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Portugal ranks 154th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.