Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal
Portugal: Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private was 31.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
31.4%
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
24th
of 45 countries
All-time high
38.5%
in 1996
All-time low
31.4%
in 2025
Years of data
40
1986–2025
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal, 1986–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal is 31.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal peaked at 38.5% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 31.4%, in 2025.
Portugal ranks 24th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 37.9% | — |
| 1987 | 37.7% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 37.5% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 37.0% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 37.0% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 35.3% | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 36.8% | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 37.7% | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 38.2% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 38.3% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 38.5% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 38.1% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 35.2% | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 35.1% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 34.8% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 34.1% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 33.4% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 33.3% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 33.6% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 33.1% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 32.7% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 32.4% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 32.5% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 33.0% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 32.9% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 33.3% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 33.5% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 34.2% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 34.4% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 34.5% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 34.5% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 33.8% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 33.6% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 33.4% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 34.8% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 35.0% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 33.8% | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 32.6% | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 32.3% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 31.4% | -2.8% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 31.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.8%, 99% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 31.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.8%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.5% | 37.0% | 37.9% | 4 |
| 1990s | 37.0% | 35.1% | 38.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 32.9% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.3% | 31.4% | 35.0% | 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 persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal?
- Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Portugal was 31.4% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 1996.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.4% in 2025.
- How does Portugal rank for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private?
- Portugal ranks 24th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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