Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal

Portugal: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 29.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
29.6%
Change on year
down 16.1%
World rank
38th
of 43 countries
All-time high
66.5%
in 2010
All-time low
29.6%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal, 1998–2020

02040601998200920201998: 50.4 Percentage1999: 48.7 Percentage2000: 52.2 Percentage2001: 50.3 Percentage2002: 50.7 Percentage2003: 58.1 Percentage2004: 61.7 Percentage2005: 58.6 Percentage2006: 61 Percentage2007: 60.3 Percentage2008: 60.3 Percentage2009: 64.7 Percentage2010: 66.5 Percentage2011: 49.2 Percentage2012: 48.5 Percentage2013: 44.3 Percentage2014: 40.5 Percentage2015: 40.7 Percentage2016: 39.9 Percentage2017: 36.7 Percentage2018: 34.7 Percentage2019: 35.3 Percentage2020: 29.6 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Portugal recorded 29.6% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 16.1% on the previous year and down 55.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal peaked at 66.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 29.6%, in 2020.

That places Portugal 38th out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in Portugal, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 50.4%
1999 48.7% -3.4%
2000 52.2% +7.2%
2001 50.3% -3.6%
2002 50.7% +0.8%
2003 58.1% +14.6%
2004 61.7% +6.2%
2005 58.6% -5.0%
2006 61.0% +4.1%
2007 60.3% -1.1%
2008 60.3% +0.0%
2009 64.7% +7.3%
2010 66.5% +2.8%
2011 49.2% -26.0%
2012 48.5% -1.4%
2013 44.3% -8.7%
2014 40.5% -8.6%
2015 40.7% +0.5%
2016 39.9% -2.0%
2017 36.7% -8.0%
2018 34.7% -5.4%
2019 35.3% +1.7%
2020 29.6% -16.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 49.5% 48.7% 50.4% 2
2000s 57.8% 50.3% 64.7% 10
2010s 43.6% 34.7% 66.5% 10
2020s 29.6% 29.6% 29.6% 1

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 35 Türkiye 35.0% compare
  2. 36 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 29.9% compare
  3. 36 United Kingdom 29.9% compare
  4. 39 Netherlands 29.1% compare
  5. 39 Netherlands 29.1% compare
  6. 41 Spain 25.3% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal was 29.6% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 2010.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 29.6% in 2020.
How does Portugal rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Portugal ranks 38th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is down 55.5%. 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 Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed