Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal

Portugal: Unemployed persons by type of employment sought was 354.5 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
354.5
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
15th
of 46 countries
All-time high
857.6
in 2013
All-time low
187.1
in 1992
Years of data
35
1986–2020

Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal, 1986–2020

2004006008001986200320201986: 399.61987: 343.91988: 2831989: 245.51990: 225.21991: 196.41992: 187.11993: 249.81994: 319.21995: 335.71996: 348.81997: 318.21998: 2371999: 236.22000: 198.72001: 203.82002: 243.32003: 333.12004: 341.92005: 414.12006: 420.62007: 440.62008: 4182009: 517.42010: 591.22011: 689.42012: 833.72013: 857.62014: 725.42015: 645.22016: 574.12017: 464.92018: 365.82019: 338.62020: 354.5

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal is 354.5, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal peaked at 857.6 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 187.1, in 1992.

That places Portugal 15th out of 46 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal, 1986 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1986 399.6 —
1987 343.9 -13.9%
1988 283 -17.7%
1989 245.5 -13.3%
1990 225.2 -8.3%
1991 196.4 -12.8%
1992 187.1 -4.7%
1993 249.8 +33.5%
1994 319.2 +27.8%
1995 335.7 +5.2%
1996 348.8 +3.9%
1997 318.2 -8.8%
1998 237 -25.5%
1999 236.2 -0.3%
2000 198.7 -15.9%
2001 203.8 +2.6%
2002 243.3 +19.4%
2003 333.1 +36.9%
2004 341.9 +2.6%
2005 414.1 +21.1%
2006 420.6 +1.6%
2007 440.6 +4.8%
2008 418 -5.1%
2009 517.4 +23.8%
2010 591.2 +14.3%
2011 689.4 +16.6%
2012 833.7 +20.9%
2013 857.6 +2.9%
2014 725.4 -15.4%
2015 645.2 -11.1%
2016 574.1 -11.0%
2017 464.9 -19.0%
2018 365.8 -21.3%
2019 338.6 -7.4%
2020 354.5 +4.7%

Portugal compared with similar countries

  • Portugal's 354.5 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 196.5, 1.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Portugal's 354.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 196.5, 1.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 318 245.5 399.6 4
1990s 265.36 187.1 348.8 10
2000s 353.15 198.7 517.4 10
2010s 608.59 338.6 857.6 10
2020s 354.5 354.5 354.5 1

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 12 Romania 451.8 compare
  2. 13 Netherlands 356.6 compare
  3. 13 Netherlands 356.6 compare
  4. 16 Serbia 286.5 compare
  5. 16 Serbia 286.5 compare
  6. 18 Belgium 282.4 compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More work & labour data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal?
Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal was 354.5 in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by type of employment sought recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 857.6 in 2013.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by type of employment sought recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 187.1 in 1992.
How does Portugal rank for unemployed persons by type of employment sought?
Portugal ranks 15th out of 46 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by type of employment sought rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Portugal data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by type of employment sought. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by type of employment sought in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-type-of-employment-sought/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by type of employment sought
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
48 places, 1,248 data points, 1983–2020
Last refreshed