Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Portugal

Self-employed in Portugal in 2025 — 14.4%. Ranked 142 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 11.5 pp.

2025 14.4% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 142of 182
Period maximum 27.9%1998
Period minimum 14.4%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Portugal, 1991–2025101520253019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 25.9%1992: 24.3%1993: 24.6%1994: 26%1995: 26.5%1996: 27.1%1997: 27.1%1998: 27.9%1999: 26.5%2000: 26%2001: 26.6%2002: 26.2%2003: 26%2004: 24.8%2005: 24.5%2006: 23.4%2007: 23.5%2008: 23%2009: 22.7%2010: 21.8%2011: 20.3%2012: 20.8%2013: 20.6%2014: 18.5%2015: 17.2%2016: 16.5%2017: 15.8%2018: 15.5%2019: 15.8%2020: 15.7%2021: 15.6%2022: 15.2%2023: 14.9%2024: 14.5%2025: 14.4%
Change over the period: −11.5 pp Annual average: -0.34 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Portugal

Portugal 14.4%
World 46.4%
Southern Europe computed 19.3%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — Portugal, by year Portugal All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 14.4 −0.1 pp
2024 14.5 −0.4 pp
2023 14.9 −0.3 pp
2022 15.2 −0.4 pp
2021 15.6 −0.1 pp
2020 15.7 −0.1 pp
2019 15.8 +0.2 pp
2018 15.5 −0.3 pp
2017 15.8 −0.7 pp
2016 16.5 −0.6 pp
2015 17.2 −1.3 pp
2014 18.5 −2.2 pp
2013 20.6 −0.2 pp
2012 20.8 +0.5 pp
2011 20.3 −1.5 pp
2010 21.8 −0.9 pp
2009 22.7 −0.3 pp
2008 23 −0.5 pp
2007 23.5 +0.1 pp
2006 23.4 −1.1 pp
2005 24.5 −0.3 pp
2004 24.8 −1.2 pp
2003 26 −0.2 pp
2002 26.2 −0.4 pp
2001 26.6 +0.6 pp
2000 26 −0.5 pp
1999 26.5 −1.4 pp
1998 27.9 +0.8 pp
1997 27.1 −0 pp
1996 27.1 +0.7 pp
1995 26.5 +0.4 pp
1994 26 +1.5 pp
1993 24.6 +0.2 pp
1992 24.3 −1.6 pp
1991 25.9

About the indicator

The share of total employment that is self-employed: employers, own-account workers, members of producers cooperatives and contributing family workers. High values in low-income countries reflect not developed entrepreneurship but the absence of wage jobs and informal work in agriculture and small-scale trade.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.