Portugal Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Portugal's agriculture employment was 2.78% in 2025, ranked 38th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Portugal's agriculture employment stood at 2.78% in 2025, a decline of +0.08% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.83% by 2026. Portugal ranked 38th globally.
Portugal's agricultural employment rate has undergone a significant decline over the past three and a half decades, from its peak of 7.76% in 1998 to a current rate of 2.78% as of 2025. This represents a notable decrease in the sector's share of the country's workforce, with a corresponding increase in the proportion of workers employed in other sectors. Portugal's agricultural employment rate now ranks 38th globally, a position closely matched by Austria with a rate of 2.77%. The period since 1998 has seen a steady decline in the sector's contribution to employment, a trend also observed in other European countries such as the Czech Republic, which has an agricultural employment rate of 2.71%. The decline in agricultural employment in Portugal is likely to continue, potentially driven by increased mechanization and automation in the sector, as well as shifts in government policies and agricultural practices. A significant increase in agricultural productivity or a boost to the sector's competitiveness could potentially alter this trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 2.76% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 2.80% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.83% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.78% | −0.08% | #38 |
| 2024 | 2.86% | −0.25% | #38 |
| 2023 | 3.11% | +0.01% | #38 |
| 2022 | 3.10% | +0.27% | #39 |
| 2021 | 2.83% | −0.04% | #35 |
| 2020 | 2.87% | −0.01% | #34 |
| 2019 | 2.88% | −0.27% | #35 |
| 2018 | 3.14% | −0.21% | #37 |
| 2017 | 3.35% | −0.26% | #35 |
| 2016 | 3.62% | −0.34% | #36 |
| 2015 | 3.95% | −0.61% | #39 |
| 2014 | 4.56% | −0.94% | #45 |
| 2013 | 5.50% | −0.35% | #52 |
| 2012 | 5.85% | +0.39% | #54 |
| 2011 | 5.46% | −0.60% | #50 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Portugal matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Portugal's agriculture employment was 2.78% in 2025. Ranked 38th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from the previous year.
Portugal's agriculture employment peaked at 7.76% in 1998.
The lowest agriculture employment in Portugal was 2.78% in 2025.
Portugal ranks 38th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Portugal's agriculture employment is projected to reach 2.83% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Portugal in 2025 was 2.78%. This ranks 38th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_portugal_agriculture-employment,
title = {Portugal Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/portugal/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}