Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in Portugal
Portugal: Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) was 41.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in Portugal, 1992–2025
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force with basic education in Portugal is 41.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in Portugal peaked at 64.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 41.6%, in 2025.
Portugal ranks 81st of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % of total working-age population with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 56.4% | — |
| 1993 | 55.6% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 55.3% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 55.2% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 54.8% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 54.8% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 58.7% | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 58.1% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 58.3% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 59.1% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 59.4% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 59.2% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 58.4% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 58.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 64.9% | +11.0% |
| 2007 | 64.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 63.7% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 61.9% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 61.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 59.4% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 57.9% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 55.7% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 53.6% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 52.5% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 51.2% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 50.1% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 48.8% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 46.4% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 43.7% | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 44.3% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 45.2% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 42.8% | -5.5% |
| 2025 | 41.6% | -2.7% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 41.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.5%, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 41.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.5%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.1% | 54.8% | 58.7% | 8 |
| 2000s | 60.8% | 58.3% | 64.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.2% | 48.8% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.0% | 41.6% | 46.4% | 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 with basic education in Portugal?
- Labor force with basic education in Portugal was 41.6% in 2025, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9% in 2006.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.6% in 2025.
- How does Portugal rank for labor force with basic education?
- Portugal ranks 81st out of 125 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).