Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Portugal
Portugal: Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) was 751.5 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
751.5 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
15th
of 45 countries
All-time high
1,103 Thousand persons
in 2008
All-time low
687.1 Thousand persons
in 2021
Years of data
18
2008–2025
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Portugal, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Portugal is 751.5 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Portugal peaked at 1,103 Thousand persons in 2008 and was at its lowest, 687.1 Thousand persons, in 2021.
Portugal ranks 15th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,103 Thousand persons | — |
| 2009 | 1,061 Thousand persons | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 993 Thousand persons | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 909.9 Thousand persons | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 888.3 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 862.5 Thousand persons | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 796.7 Thousand persons | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 753.8 Thousand persons | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 736.1 Thousand persons | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 734.8 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 736.9 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 764.8 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 743.2 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 687.1 Thousand persons | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 694.9 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 690.4 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 715.9 Thousand persons | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 751.5 Thousand persons | +5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,082 Thousand persons | 1,061 Thousand persons | 1,103 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 817.68 Thousand persons | 734.8 Thousand persons | 993 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 713.83 Thousand persons | 687.1 Thousand persons | 751.5 Thousand persons | 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 self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Portugal?
- Self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Portugal was 751.5 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 1,103 Thousand persons in 2008.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 687.1 Thousand persons in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2)?
- Portugal ranks 15th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. 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 Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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