Share of employment outside the formal sector in Portugal
Portugal: Share of employment outside the formal sector was 4.11 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of employment outside the formal sector in Portugal, 2007–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment outside the formal sector in Portugal is 4.11, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is down 40.4% on the previous year and down 54.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment outside the formal sector in Portugal peaked at 10.54 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.11, in 2025.
Portugal ranks 68th of 81 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of employment outside the formal sector in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 7.39 | — |
| 2008 | 7.14 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 4.16 | -41.8% |
| 2010 | 5.27 | +26.7% |
| 2011 | 7.07 | +34.1% |
| 2012 | 8.75 | +23.8% |
| 2013 | 8.8 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 9.47 | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 8.97 | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 8.22 | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 8.75 | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 7.11 | -18.7% |
| 2019 | 6.89 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 6.26 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 10.54 | +68.2% |
| 2022 | 6.76 | -35.8% |
| 2023 | 6.79 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 6.89 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 4.11 | -40.4% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 4.11 is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.33, 77% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 4.11 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.51, 75% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.23 | 4.16 | 7.39 | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.93 | 5.27 | 9.47 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.89 | 4.11 | 10.54 | 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 employment outside the formal sector in Portugal?
- Share of employment outside the formal sector in Portugal was 4.11 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest share of employment outside the formal sector recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 10.54 in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of employment outside the formal sector recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.11 in 2025.
- How does Portugal rank for share of employment outside the formal sector?
- Portugal ranks 68th out of 81 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of employment outside the formal sector rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. This harmonized series for employment outside the formal sector is derived using the same set of criteria across countries to improve comparability. The criteria used are based on employment status, institutional sector, destination of production, bookkeeping, registration, social security contribution, places of work and size. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.