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

Portugal: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 28.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
28.6%
Change on year
down 20.1%
World rank
39th
of 44 countries
All-time high
64.8%
in 2009
All-time low
28.6%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

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

02040601998200920201998: 50.6 Percentage1999: 49.5 Percentage2000: 47.4 Percentage2001: 50.1 Percentage2002: 53.6 Percentage2003: 56.7 Percentage2004: 57.4 Percentage2005: 59.3 Percentage2006: 61.2 Percentage2007: 60.7 Percentage2008: 60.3 Percentage2009: 64.8 Percentage2010: 64.8 Percentage2011: 48.6 Percentage2012: 47.7 Percentage2013: 43.1 Percentage2014: 41.7 Percentage2015: 42.8 Percentage2016: 39.6 Percentage2017: 35.8 Percentage2018: 36.7 Percentage2019: 35.8 Percentage2020: 28.6 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal is 28.6%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 20.1% on the previous year and down 55.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Portugal peaked at 64.8% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 28.6%, in 2020.

Portugal ranks 39th of 44 countries on this measure, 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 - quarterly data in Portugal, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 50.6%
1999 49.5% -2.2%
2000 47.4% -4.2%
2001 50.1% +5.7%
2002 53.6% +7.0%
2003 56.7% +5.8%
2004 57.4% +1.2%
2005 59.3% +3.3%
2006 61.2% +3.2%
2007 60.7% -0.8%
2008 60.3% -0.7%
2009 64.8% +7.5%
2010 64.8% +0.0%
2011 48.6% -25.0%
2012 47.7% -1.9%
2013 43.1% -9.6%
2014 41.7% -3.2%
2015 42.8% +2.6%
2016 39.6% -7.5%
2017 35.8% -9.6%
2018 36.7% +2.5%
2019 35.8% -2.5%
2020 28.6% -20.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 50.0% 49.5% 50.6% 2
2000s 57.1% 47.4% 64.8% 10
2010s 43.7% 35.8% 64.8% 10
2020s 28.6% 28.6% 28.6% 1

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 36 Türkiye 34.1% compare
  2. 37 Netherlands 31.5% compare
  3. 37 Netherlands 31.5% compare
  4. 40 Spain 23.3% compare
  5. 41 Romania 21.9% compare
  6. 42 Italy 17.8% compare

See the full ranking of 46 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 28.6% 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 64.8% in 2009.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 28.6% in 2020.
How does Portugal rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Portugal ranks 39th out of 44 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 55.9%. 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 - quarterly data. 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 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed