Portugal — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Portugal, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Portugal was 58.16% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 62.18% in 2007. The lowest was 56.83% in 2021 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.08% per year.
Portugal ranks 117 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 63%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 60.12%, so Portugal sits below it. It peaked in 2007 and has fallen 6% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 1%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 30 of 49 economies; Montenegro (57.97%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 102nd of 187 in 1990 → 95th of 187 in 2000 → 90th of 187 in 2010 → 113th of 187 in 2020 → 116th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58.16% | -0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 58.44% | -0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 58.56% | +0.8 pp |
| 2022 | 57.79% | +1.0 pp |
| 2021 | 56.83% | -0.8 pp |
| 2020 | 57.59% | -1.4 pp |
| 2019 | 58.98% | +0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 58.95% | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 58.88% | +0.5 pp |
| 2016 | 58.41% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 58.56% | -0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 58.78% | -0.5 pp |
| 2013 | 59.26% | -0.9 pp |
| 2012 | 60.13% | -0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 60.47% | -0.7 pp |
| 2010 | 61.2% | -0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 61.3% | -0.7 pp |
| 2008 | 62% | -0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 62.18% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 62.05% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 61.84% | +0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 61.51% | -0.5 pp |
| 2003 | 61.98% | -0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 62.02% | +0.6 pp |
| 2001 | 61.45% | +0.7 pp |
| 2000 | 60.8% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 60.65% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 60.57% | +1.4 pp |
| 1997 | 59.14% | +0.6 pp |
| 1996 | 58.5% | +0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 58.26% | -0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 58.51% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 58.55% | -0.4 pp |
| 1992 | 58.96% | -2.0 pp |
| 1991 | 60.98% | +1.3 pp |
| 1990 | 59.72% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Portugal’s Labor participation in 1991?
60.98% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Portugal’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -2.6% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 58.16%; 2024: 58.44%; 2023: 58.56%; 2022: 57.79%; 2021: 56.83%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.