Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal
Portugal: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 6.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal stood at 6.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 50.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal peaked at 16.2% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2000.
Portugal ranks 75th 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, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.9% | — |
| 1992 | 4.0% | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | +33.0% |
| 1994 | 6.7% | +26.6% |
| 1995 | 7.1% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 4.6% | -29.4% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | -16.9% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | +36.4% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | +20.0% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +24.9% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | +14.2% |
| 2011 | 12.7% | +18.0% |
| 2012 | 15.5% | +22.0% |
| 2013 | 16.2% | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 13.9% | -14.5% |
| 2015 | 12.4% | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 11.1% | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | -19.7% |
| 2018 | 7.0% | -21.5% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 6.7% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 6.5% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 6.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 6.2% | -5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.6% | 3.9% | 7.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 3.8% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 6.4% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 72 Luxembourg 6.3% compare
- 73 Central African Republic 6.3% compare
- 74 Channel Islands 6.2% compare
- 76 Romania 6.0% compare
- 77 Puerto Rico 6.0% compare
- 78 Eritrea 6.0% compare
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, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Portugal was 6.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2000.
- How does Portugal rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Portugal ranks 75th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.3%. 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, total (% of total 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.