Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal

Portugal: Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data was 780.1 Thousand persons in 2026. ▼ Falling

Latest (2026)
780.1 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
15th
of 47 countries
All-time high
1,237 Thousand persons
in 2001
All-time low
676.7 Thousand persons
in 2023
Years of data
29
1998–2026

Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal, 1998–2026

02505007501.0k1.2k1998201220261998: 1.2k Thousand persons1999: 1.1k Thousand persons2000: 1.1k Thousand persons2001: 1.2k Thousand persons2002: 1.2k Thousand persons2003: 1.2k Thousand persons2004: 1.2k Thousand persons2005: 1.1k Thousand persons2006: 1.1k Thousand persons2007: 1.1k Thousand persons2008: 1.1k Thousand persons2009: 1.1k Thousand persons2010: 971.1 Thousand persons2011: 879.7 Thousand persons2012: 877.5 Thousand persons2013: 855.8 Thousand persons2014: 753.2 Thousand persons2015: 745 Thousand persons2016: 730.9 Thousand persons2017: 725.3 Thousand persons2018: 746.5 Thousand persons2019: 764.3 Thousand persons2020: 750.9 Thousand persons2021: 708.1 Thousand persons2022: 682.2 Thousand persons2023: 676.7 Thousand persons2024: 733.3 Thousand persons2025: 766.4 Thousand persons2026: 780.1 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

In 2026, self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal stood at 780.1 Thousand persons.

That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal peaked at 1,237 Thousand persons in 2001 and was at its lowest, 676.7 Thousand persons, in 2023.

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 29 years of available data.

Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal, 1998 to 2026.
Year Thousand persons Change
1998 1,184 Thousand persons —
1999 1,147 Thousand persons -3.1%
2000 1,117 Thousand persons -2.6%
2001 1,237 Thousand persons +10.8%
2002 1,192 Thousand persons -3.6%
2003 1,216 Thousand persons +2.0%
2004 1,166 Thousand persons -4.1%
2005 1,131 Thousand persons -3.0%
2006 1,095 Thousand persons -3.2%
2007 1,131 Thousand persons +3.3%
2008 1,084 Thousand persons -4.1%
2009 1,052 Thousand persons -3.0%
2010 971.1 Thousand persons -7.7%
2011 879.7 Thousand persons -9.4%
2012 877.5 Thousand persons -0.3%
2013 855.8 Thousand persons -2.5%
2014 753.2 Thousand persons -12.0%
2015 745 Thousand persons -1.1%
2016 730.9 Thousand persons -1.9%
2017 725.3 Thousand persons -0.8%
2018 746.5 Thousand persons +2.9%
2019 764.3 Thousand persons +2.4%
2020 750.9 Thousand persons -1.8%
2021 708.1 Thousand persons -5.7%
2022 682.2 Thousand persons -3.7%
2023 676.7 Thousand persons -0.8%
2024 733.3 Thousand persons +8.4%
2025 766.4 Thousand persons +4.5%
2026 780.1 Thousand persons +1.8%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 780.1 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 434.7 Thousand persons, 1.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Portugal's 780.1 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 472.3 Thousand persons, 1.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1,165 Thousand persons 1,147 Thousand persons 1,184 Thousand persons 2
2000s 1,142 Thousand persons 1,052 Thousand persons 1,237 Thousand persons 10
2010s 804.93 Thousand persons 725.3 Thousand persons 971.1 Thousand persons 10
2020s 728.24 Thousand persons 676.7 Thousand persons 780.1 Thousand persons 7

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 12 Greece 1,089 Thousand persons compare
  2. 13 Romania 851.5 Thousand persons compare
  3. 14 Czechia 830.9 Thousand persons compare
  4. 16 Belgium 747 Thousand persons compare
  5. 17 Switzerland 663.1 Thousand persons compare
  6. 18 Hungary 541.8 Thousand persons 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 educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal?
Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal was 780.1 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 1,237 Thousand persons in 2001.
What is the lowest self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 676.7 Thousand persons in 2023.
How does Portugal rank for self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data?
Portugal ranks 15th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
Is self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. 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 educational attainment level - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/self-employed-persons-by-educational-attainment-level-quarterly-data/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
49 places, 1,297 data points, 1998–2026
Last refreshed