Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Portugal
Portugal: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 87.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Portugal, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 87.9% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Portugal peaked at 87.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 1990.
Portugal ranks 36th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.1% | — |
| 1991 | 68.7% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 69.0% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 70.4% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 71.4% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 71.7% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 72.4% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 73.5% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 74.0% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 74.8% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 75.7% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 76.2% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 76.5% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 78.4% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 78.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 80.1% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 80.9% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 81.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 82.1% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 83.1% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 81.5% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 82.5% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 83.3% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 83.5% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 83.8% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 83.6% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 83.9% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 84.6% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 85.1% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 84.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 86.3% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 86.4% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 87.0% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 87.9% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 87.9% | +0.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 87.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 83.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 87.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 83.3%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.2% | 66.1% | 74.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.9% | 75.7% | 82.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.5% | 81.5% | 85.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.8% | 84.9% | 87.9% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Portugal?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Portugal was 87.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 87.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 1990.
- How does Portugal rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Portugal ranks 36th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).