Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data (occupation) in Portugal
Portugal: Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data (occupation) 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 occupation - quarterly data in Portugal, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data in Portugal is 780.1 Thousand persons, measured in 2026.
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 occupation - 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 occupation - quarterly data (occupation) in Portugal, year by year
| 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
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 occupation - quarterly data in Portugal?
- Self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data in Portugal was 780.1 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation - quarterly data recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 1,237 Thousand persons in 2001.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation - 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 occupation - quarterly data?
- Portugal ranks 15th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation - 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 occupation - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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