Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Portugal

Portugal: Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) was 751.5 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
751.5
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
15th
of 47 countries
All-time high
1,103
in 2008
All-time low
687.1
in 2021
Years of data
18
2008–2025

Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Portugal, 2008–2025

02505007501.0k2008201620252008: 1.1k2009: 1.1k2010: 9932011: 909.92012: 888.32013: 862.52014: 796.72015: 753.82016: 736.12017: 734.82018: 736.92019: 764.82020: 743.22021: 687.12022: 694.92023: 690.42024: 715.92025: 751.5

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

The most recent figure for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Portugal is 751.5, 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 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 687.1, in 2021.

Portugal ranks 15th of 47 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) (2008-2026) in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Portugal, 2008 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2008 1,103 —
2009 1,061 -3.8%
2010 993 -6.4%
2011 909.9 -8.4%
2012 888.3 -2.4%
2013 862.5 -2.9%
2014 796.7 -7.6%
2015 753.8 -5.4%
2016 736.1 -2.3%
2017 734.8 -0.2%
2018 736.9 +0.3%
2019 764.8 +3.8%
2020 743.2 -2.8%
2021 687.1 -7.5%
2022 694.9 +1.1%
2023 690.4 -0.6%
2024 715.9 +3.7%
2025 751.5 +5.0%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 751.5 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95, 1.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Portugal's 751.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1,082 1,061 1,103 2
2010s 817.68 734.8 993 10
2020s 713.83 687.1 751.5 6

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 12 Greece 1,088 compare
  2. 13 Romania 834.2 compare
  3. 14 Czechia 806.7 compare
  4. 16 Belgium 736.7 compare
  5. 17 Switzerland 658.9 compare
  6. 18 Hungary 557.6 compare

See the full ranking of 49 places →

More work & labour data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

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 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 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 in 2021.
How does Portugal rank for self-employed persons by economic activity (nace rev. 2)?
Portugal ranks 15th out of 47 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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Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/self-employed-persons-by-economic-activity-nace-rev-2-2008-2026/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Self-employed persons by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
49 places, 845 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed