Portugal — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Portugal, 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Portugal was 6.16% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 16.24% in 2013. The lowest was 3.81% in 2000 (about 1.6× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.34% per year.
Portugal ranks 75 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 40%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 5.58%, so Portugal sits above it. It peaked in 2013 and has fallen 62% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 50%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 22 of 49 economies; Romania (5.99%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 36% in 2003. That is 20% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1991 level: doubled by 2007. Doubling roughly every 52 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 117th of 187 in 1991 → 142nd of 187 in 2000 → 50th of 187 in 2010 → 86th of 187 in 2020 → 70th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6.16% | -0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 6.5% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 6.5% | +0.4 pp |
| 2022 | 6.14% | -0.6 pp |
| 2021 | 6.71% | -0.1 pp |
| 2020 | 6.85% | +0.4 pp |
| 2019 | 6.42% | -0.5 pp |
| 2018 | 6.97% | -1.9 pp |
| 2017 | 8.88% | -2.2 pp |
| 2016 | 11.06% | -1.3 pp |
| 2015 | 12.41% | -1.5 pp |
| 2014 | 13.88% | -2.4 pp |
| 2013 | 16.24% | +0.7 pp |
| 2012 | 15.51% | +2.8 pp |
| 2011 | 12.72% | +1.9 pp |
| 2010 | 10.77% | +1.3 pp |
| 2009 | 9.43% | +1.9 pp |
| 2008 | 7.55% | -0.4 pp |
| 2007 | 7.97% | +0.3 pp |
| 2006 | 7.65% | +0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 7.58% | +1.3 pp |
| 2004 | 6.32% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 6.13% | +1.6 pp |
| 2002 | 4.5% | +0.7 pp |
| 2001 | 3.83% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 3.81% | -0.8 pp |
| 1999 | 4.58% | -0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 4.64% | -1.9 pp |
| 1997 | 6.57% | -0.7 pp |
| 1996 | 7.3% | +0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 7.06% | +0.4 pp |
| 1994 | 6.71% | +1.4 pp |
| 1993 | 5.3% | +1.3 pp |
| 1992 | 3.99% | +0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 3.92% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Portugal’s Unemployment in 1992?
3.99% (1992). 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 total labor force, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Portugal’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +57.3% in total — about 1.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.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: 6.16%; 2024: 6.5%; 2023: 6.5%; 2022: 6.14%; 2021: 6.71%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS — Unemployment 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.