Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal
Portugal: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 98.7% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal, 1820–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal is 98.7%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal peaked at 100.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1820.
That places Portugal 27th out of 190 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.4% | — |
| 1825 | 0.5% | +25.6% |
| 1830 | 0.7% | +27.8% |
| 1835 | 0.9% | +27.5% |
| 1840 | 1.1% | +27.3% |
| 1845 | 1.4% | +27.7% |
| 1850 | 1.8% | +26.6% |
| 1855 | 2.3% | +27.1% |
| 1860 | 2.9% | +27.0% |
| 1865 | 3.7% | +26.4% |
| 1870 | 7.1% | +92.7% |
| 1875 | 10.5% | +48.1% |
| 1880 | 13.9% | +32.4% |
| 1885 | 17.4% | +24.5% |
| 1890 | 20.8% | +19.7% |
| 1895 | 24.9% | +20.0% |
| 1900 | 29.1% | +16.7% |
| 1905 | 33.3% | +14.3% |
| 1910 | 37.4% | +12.5% |
| 1915 | 41.6% | +11.1% |
| 1920 | 45.8% | +10.0% |
| 1925 | 49.9% | +9.1% |
| 1930 | 54.1% | +8.4% |
| 1935 | 58.2% | +7.7% |
| 1940 | 62.4% | +7.1% |
| 1945 | 66.6% | +6.7% |
| 1950 | 70.7% | +6.2% |
| 1955 | 86.2% | +21.8% |
| 1960 | 100.0% | +16.0% |
| 1965 | 77.0% | -23.0% |
| 1970 | 82.0% | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 88.0% | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 97.0% | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 99.2% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 98.0% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 97.3% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 97.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 97.7% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 98.7% | +1.1% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 98.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 98.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1840s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1850s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 2 |
| 1860s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 1870s | 8.8% | 7.1% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 1880s | 15.6% | 13.9% | 17.4% | 2 |
| 1890s | 22.9% | 20.8% | 24.9% | 2 |
| 1900s | 31.2% | 29.1% | 33.3% | 2 |
| 1910s | 39.5% | 37.4% | 41.6% | 2 |
| 1920s | 47.8% | 45.8% | 49.9% | 2 |
| 1930s | 56.2% | 54.1% | 58.2% | 2 |
| 1940s | 64.5% | 62.4% | 66.6% | 2 |
| 1950s | 78.5% | 70.7% | 86.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 88.5% | 77.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 85.0% | 82.0% | 88.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 98.0% | 97.1% | 99.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.73 (2019)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.49 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Portugal was 98.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1820.
- How does Portugal rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Portugal ranks 27th out of 190 countries with data for 2019.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.