Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal
Portugal: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 9.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal stood at 9.7%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal peaked at 20.6% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 2025.
That places Portugal 150th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.7% | — |
| 1992 | 18.2% | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 18.4% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 19.5% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 19.7% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 20.1% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 20.6% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 19.5% | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 19.1% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 19.4% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 19.0% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 18.8% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 17.9% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 16.8% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 16.5% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 16.3% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 15.6% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 14.5% | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 14.9% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 14.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 13.3% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 12.3% | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 11.9% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 11.3% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 11.0% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 9.8% | -4.3% |
| 2025 | 9.7% | -1.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 9.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 9.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.5% | 18.2% | 20.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 17.8% | 16.3% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.1% | 11.0% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.4% | 9.7% | 11.1% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Portugal was 9.7% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 1998.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 2025.
- How does Portugal rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Portugal ranks 150th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).