Female employment rate in Portugal
Portugal: Female employment rate was 51.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female employment rate in Portugal stood at 51.1%.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in Portugal peaked at 51.2% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 45.3%, in 2013.
Portugal ranks 84th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female employment rate in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.3% | — |
| 1992 | 46.3% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 45.7% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 45.3% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 45.3% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 45.3% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 46.7% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 48.9% | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 49.6% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 50.2% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 50.8% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 51.2% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 50.8% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 50.4% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 50.5% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 50.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 50.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 50.9% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 50.0% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 49.2% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 47.5% | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 45.3% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 46.1% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 46.9% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 47.5% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 49.0% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 50.3% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 50.7% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 49.4% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 49.2% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 50.3% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 51.0% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 51.1% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 51.1% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.7% | 45.3% | 49.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 50.6% | 50.0% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.9% | 45.3% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.3% | 49.2% | 51.1% | 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 female employment rate in Portugal?
- Female employment rate in Portugal was 51.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 51.2% in 2002.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.3% in 2013.
- How does Portugal rank for female employment rate?
- Portugal ranks 84th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.