Labor force participation rate in Portugal
Portugal: Labor force participation rate was 58.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
58.2%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
117th
of 186 countries
All-time high
62.2%
in 2007
All-time low
56.8%
in 2021
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Portugal, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 58.2% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Portugal peaked at 62.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 56.8%, in 2021.
That places Portugal 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.7% | — |
| 1991 | 61.0% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 59.0% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 58.6% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 58.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 58.3% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 58.5% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 59.1% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 60.6% | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 60.6% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 60.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 61.5% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 62.0% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 62.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 61.5% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 61.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 62.0% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 62.2% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 62.0% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 61.3% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 61.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 60.5% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 60.1% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 59.3% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 58.8% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 58.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 58.4% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 58.9% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 59.0% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 59.0% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 57.6% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 56.8% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 57.8% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 58.6% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 58.4% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 58.2% | -0.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 58.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 93% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 58.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.4% | 58.3% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.7% | 60.8% | 62.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.4% | 58.4% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.9% | 56.8% | 58.6% | 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 in Portugal?
- Labor force participation rate in Portugal was 58.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 62.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.8% in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for labor force participation rate?
- Portugal ranks 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).