Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Portugal
Portugal: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 59.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
59.4%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
124th
of 199 countries
All-time high
62.3%
in 1979
All-time low
51.5%
in 1960
Years of data
49
1960–2025
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Portugal, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Portugal recorded 59.4% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Portugal peaked at 62.3% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 51.5%, in 1960.
Portugal ranks 124th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 51.5% | — |
| 1970 | 53.3% | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 61.1% | +14.5% |
| 1979 | 62.3% | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 61.6% | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 61.4% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 61.0% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 60.0% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 58.6% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 58.6% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 58.6% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 58.9% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 58.9% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 60.5% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 59.4% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 58.8% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 58.4% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 58.1% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 57.7% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 57.7% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 60.6% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 60.8% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 61.4% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 62.0% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 62.0% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 61.5% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 61.9% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 62.1% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 62.2% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 62.0% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 61.4% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 61.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 60.4% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 60.0% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 59.2% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 58.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 58.5% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 58.3% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 58.8% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 58.9% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.9% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 57.5% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 56.8% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 57.8% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 58.7% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 58.7% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 59.4% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 51.5% | 51.5% | 51.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 58.9% | 53.3% | 62.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 59.7% | 58.5% | 61.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 59.1% | 57.7% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.7% | 60.8% | 62.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.3% | 58.3% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.1% | 56.8% | 59.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 121 Myanmar 60.2% compare
- 122 El Salvador 60.0% compare
- 123 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 59.9% compare
- 125 New Caledonia 59.3% compare
- 126 Serbia 59.0% compare
- 127 Bangladesh 58.9% compare
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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Portugal?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Portugal was 59.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 62.3% in 1979.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.5% in 1960.
- How does Portugal rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Portugal ranks 124th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national 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.