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Portugal Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation rate  SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

58.16% −0.28pp (-0.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #115 Global Peak 62.18% (2007) Source World Bank

Portugal Labor Force Participation (1990–2025)

Overview

Portugal's labor force participation stood at 58.16% in 2025, a decline of +0.28pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 58.95% by 2026. Portugal ranked 115th globally.

Data & projection

Year Labor Force Participation YoY change Rank
2028* trend 59.61% - -
2027* trend 59.28% - -
2026* trend 58.95% - -
2025 58.16% −0.28pp #115
2024 58.44% −0.11pp #114
2023 58.56% +0.77pp #116
2022 57.79% +0.95pp #122
2021 56.83% −0.76pp #124
2020 57.59% −1.39pp #112
2019 58.98% +0.02pp #115
2018 58.95% +0.07pp #116
2017 58.88% +0.47pp #116
2016 58.41% −0.14pp #119
2015 58.56% −0.22pp #122
2014 58.78% −0.48pp #119
2013 59.26% −0.87pp #111
2012 60.13% −0.34pp #103
2011 60.47% −0.73pp #101
Show all years (1990-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +20.4% GDP growth 2.1% C/A balance 2.1%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Portugal matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Portugal's labor force participation?

Portugal's labor force participation was 58.16% in 2025. Ranked 115th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest labor force participation in Portugal?

Portugal's labor force participation peaked at 62.18% in 2007.

What was the lowest labor force participation in Portugal?

The lowest labor force participation in Portugal was 56.83% in 2021.

How does Portugal rank in labor force participation?

Portugal ranks 115th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for labor force participation?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected labor force participation of Portugal in 2026?

Portugal's labor force participation is projected to reach 58.95% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the labor force participation of Portugal in 2025?

The labor force participation of Portugal in 2025 was 58.16%. This ranks 115th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Portugal Labor Force Participation. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/portugal/labor-force-participation
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_portugal_labor-force-participation, title = {Portugal Labor Force Participation}, url = {https://historysaid.com/portugal/labor-force-participation}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }