Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — Portugal

Vulnerable employment in Portugal in 2025 — 9.66%. Ranked 38 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 10.01 pp.

2025 9.66% −0.12 pp vs 2024
World rank 38of 182
Period maximum 20.64%1998
Period minimum 9.66%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — Portugal, 1991–202551015202519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 19.67%1992: 18.25%1993: 18.41%1994: 19.51%1995: 19.74%1996: 20.05%1997: 19.92%1998: 20.64%1999: 19.47%2000: 19.11%2001: 19.44%2002: 19%2003: 18.78%2004: 17.9%2005: 17.71%2006: 16.84%2007: 16.83%2008: 16.45%2009: 16.26%2010: 15.64%2011: 14.48%2012: 14.89%2013: 14.8%2014: 13.25%2015: 12.32%2016: 11.9%2017: 11.31%2018: 11%2019: 11.08%2020: 11.1%2021: 10.93%2022: 10.5%2023: 10.22%2024: 9.78%2025: 9.66%
Change over the period: −10.01 pp Annual average: -0.29 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Portugal 9.66%
World 42.38%
Southern Europe computed 13.86%
High-income countries computed 7.92%
Vulnerable employment — Portugal, by year Portugal All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 9.66 −0.12 pp
2024 9.78 −0.44 pp
2023 10.22 −0.29 pp
2022 10.5 −0.42 pp
2021 10.93 −0.18 pp
2020 11.1 +0.02 pp
2019 11.08 +0.07 pp
2018 11 −0.31 pp
2017 11.31 −0.58 pp
2016 11.9 −0.42 pp
2015 12.32 −0.94 pp
2014 13.25 −1.55 pp
2013 14.8 −0.09 pp
2012 14.89 +0.41 pp
2011 14.48 −1.16 pp
2010 15.64 −0.62 pp
2009 16.26 −0.19 pp
2008 16.45 −0.38 pp
2007 16.83 −0.01 pp
2006 16.84 −0.87 pp
2005 17.71 −0.19 pp
2004 17.9 −0.88 pp
2003 18.78 −0.22 pp
2002 19 −0.44 pp
2001 19.44 +0.33 pp
2000 19.11 −0.36 pp
1999 19.47 −1.17 pp
1998 20.64 +0.72 pp
1997 19.92 −0.13 pp
1996 20.05 +0.31 pp
1995 19.74 +0.23 pp
1994 19.51 +1.1 pp
1993 18.41 +0.16 pp
1992 18.25 −1.42 pp
1991 19.67

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

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