Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Portugal
Portugal: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 5.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Portugal recorded 5.8% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and down 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Portugal peaked at 16.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1991.
Portugal ranks 77th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.6% | — |
| 1992 | 3.4% | +29.6% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +34.2% |
| 1994 | 5.9% | +29.3% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 6.4% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 5.8% | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | -34.6% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | +9.9% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | -27.3% |
| 2001 | 2.9% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | +31.9% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | +35.4% |
| 2004 | 5.6% | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 6.5% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 8.8% | +36.3% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | +26.5% |
| 2012 | 15.5% | +25.8% |
| 2013 | 16.0% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 13.5% | -15.8% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | -10.1% |
| 2016 | 11.0% | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 8.4% | -23.5% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | -22.0% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 6.6% | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 6.1% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 5.8% | -5.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 5.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 5.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.8%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.8% | 2.6% | 6.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.6% | 2.9% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 5.8% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | 5.7% | 6.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Portugal?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Portugal was 5.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 16.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1991.
- How does Portugal rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Portugal ranks 77th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.