There are more than 5.6 million and represent the majority of the resident population in Portugal, but inequalities persist in the job market, reveals Pordata in International Women’s Day.
Portuguese women have never been so qualified nor so present in leadership positions. They represent the majority of the population and dominate higher education. Still, they continue to earn less than men, have less participation in the labor market and face a greater risk of poverty in old age, show data gathered by Pordata for International Women’s Day.
As part of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8, the a statistical database from the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, brings together data on the representation of women in the population, in education and employment and on living conditions, based on family structure, motherhood, health, income and the risk of poverty.
Women are the majority in Portugal
Women today represent the majority of the resident population in Portugal. According to the most recent data, they live in the country more than 5.6 million women, equivalent to 52.2% of the population.
The difference becomes more evident with advancing age. From the age of 35 onwards, women become the majority in all age groups, a trend that becomes more pronounced at older ages. Among centenarians, around 82% are women.
This phenomenon reflects the higher average female life expectancy, which remains higher than that of men.
Women lead in qualifications
One of the biggest social transformations of recent decades took place in education. In 1960, only around 3% of girls aged 15 and 16 were enrolled in secondary education. Today, the female presence at the highest levels of education has become dominant.
In higher education, women currently represent 58% of graduates in Portugal. They are the majority in several areas, such as Education, Health and Social Protection or Social Sciences, Journalism and Information.
Despite this, they remain less represented in traditionally male areas, such as Engineering or Information and Communication Technologies.
More qualified, but still a minority in the job market
Despite having higher levels of qualification, women continue to have a slightly lower presence than men in the job market.
Between 25 and 64 years old, the female participation rate is lower in all age groups. The difference becomes more pronounced after the age of 35.
The data shows, however, that Education makes a big difference.
- Among people with higher education, Female participation in the labor market is very close to male participation.
- Among those who only have the basic educationthe distance can exceed 15 percentage points.
Professions remain very concentrated in some sectors
More than half of the approximately 2.5 million women employed in Portugal work in just four main areas of activity: Health and Social Support, Education, Commerce and Manufacturing Industries.
At the same time, changes are beginning to emerge in professions that have long been dominated by men:
- Nas police forcesthe percentage of women increased from 6% in 2008 to 10% in 2023.
- Already judicial magistrate, the evolution was even more marked: women went from 39% in 2000 to 67% in 2024.
More women in leadership positions
In recent years, the presence of women in decision-making positions has also increased.
In politics, the female presence has also increased. In 2025, women represented 38.8% of members of the Government and 36.5% of deputies in Parliamentvalues above the European Union average.
Motherhood happens later and later
The age at which women have children has also changed significantly in recent decades.
Em 2024, the average age of mothers in Portugal was 31.7 years. Almost a third of women who had children were over 34, while just 12% were under 25.
The data also show an increase in fertility at later ages. In the last decade, the maternity rate among women aged 35 to 39 has risen significantly.
Another recent phenomenon is the increase in babies born to foreign motherswhich went from 13% in 2020 to more than 26% in 2024.
Inequalities in wages and poverty persist
Despite the advances recorded in recent decades, there continue to be differences between men and women in various social indicators.
In 2024, the Women’s wages were, on average, 7% lower than men’s in the industry, construction and services sectors.
Women also present greater risk of poverty or social exclusion, especially at older ages. Among people aged 75 and over, almost 30% of women are in this situation, compared to just over 22% of men.
