Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal
Portugal: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 17.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal, 1978–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal is 17.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.0% on the previous year and down 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal peaked at 37.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2000.
That places Portugal 43rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 13.3% | — |
| 1979 | 11.9% | -10.4% |
| 1980 | 8.8% | -25.8% |
| 1981 | 8.7% | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 8.1% | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 16.6% | +106.7% |
| 1985 | 15.3% | -7.8% |
| 1986 | 16.3% | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 14.0% | -14.2% |
| 1988 | 10.2% | -27.0% |
| 1989 | 8.2% | -19.4% |
| 1990 | 7.9% | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 6.2% | -21.6% |
| 1992 | 8.7% | +40.9% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | +13.6% |
| 1994 | 12.5% | +26.4% |
| 1995 | 15.1% | +20.3% |
| 1996 | 14.6% | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 11.0% | -24.1% |
| 1998 | 8.4% | -23.5% |
| 1999 | 7.7% | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | -28.6% |
| 2001 | 6.5% | +19.5% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | +40.2% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | +17.5% |
| 2004 | 12.6% | +16.7% |
| 2005 | 13.9% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 14.9% | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 13.8% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 13.6% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 19.1% | +40.3% |
| 2010 | 21.6% | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 29.1% | +34.6% |
| 2012 | 36.9% | +26.7% |
| 2013 | 37.1% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 34.3% | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 29.6% | -13.7% |
| 2016 | 27.1% | -8.6% |
| 2017 | 22.4% | -17.2% |
| 2018 | 20.0% | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 15.7% | -21.5% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | +34.8% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 18.1% | -13.6% |
| 2023 | 20.8% | +15.3% |
| 2024 | 20.9% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 17.6% | -16.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 17.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 1.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 17.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.3%, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.6% | 11.9% | 13.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.8% | 8.1% | 16.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 10.2% | 6.2% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.0% | 5.5% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 15.7% | 37.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 17.6% | 21.2% | 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 unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Portugal was 17.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2000.
- How does Portugal rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Portugal ranks 43rd out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.