Economic Activities in Portugal: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary

Key Economic Insights: The economy of Portugal generates an estimated GDP of $346.6 billion ($32,082 per capita) supporting a population of 10,804,871. Productive output is anchored by 66.6% services, 18.3% industry and manufacturing, and 2.0% agriculture and natural resource extraction.

Portugal, with a population of 10,804,871 (as of 2025), ranks 89th globally, just behind Czechia. Located in Southern Europe, it covers 92,230 square kilometers, ranking 106th worldwide, below Hungary.

As of 2025, Portugal’s economy remains relatively stable, with a GDP of $346.6 billion. Portugal’s GDP per capita stood at $32,082 as of 2025.

Despite facing challenges, Portugal’s economy continues to show resilience and potential for growth in the coming years.

Table of Contents

Portugal Economic Structure & Sector Analysis

Economic Dimension	Figure	Authoritative Source
GDP & Macro Output	Nominal GDP: $346.6 billion \| Per Capita: $32,082	World Bank WDI / IMF
Sector Breakdown	Services: 66.6% \| Industry: 18.3% \| Agriculture: 2.0%	World Bank National Accounts
Demographics & Labor	Population: 10,804,871	ILO / UN Population Division

Primary activities: 2.0% of gross value added (as of 2025).
Secondary activities: 18.3% of gross value added (as of 2025).
Tertiary activities: 66.6% of gross value added (as of 2025).

Portugal economy by sector

Share of GDP, 2025, compared with the world average

Services make up the largest part of the economy, at 66.6% of GDP in 2025. Agriculture’s share is below the world average of 4.1%, and industry’s share is below the world’s 25.4%. Data: World Bank, World Development Indicators (value added by sector, % of GDP). The three shares do not add up to exactly 100% because GDP also includes taxes on products minus subsidies.

Primary Sector of Portugal

With 43.25% of the land dedicated to agriculture, the country produces a variety of products such as milk, tomatoes, grapes, olives, maize, oranges, pork, potatoes, chicken, and apples.

Agriculture contributes about 2.0% of gross value added (as of 2025) but remains important to the economy. The sector’s significance lies in the wide range of crops and animal products it produces, ensuring food security and sustainability for the country.

The country’s diverse geology provides a rich array of natural resources. These include fish, cork forests, iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, and hydropower. These resources support industries such as mining, agriculture, and energy production.

Secondary Sector of Portugal

In Portugal, main industrial products include textiles, clothing, footwear, wood, cork, paper, chemicals, fuels, automobiles, base metals, minerals, ceramics, glassware, technology, dairy products, wine, food, ship construction, plastics, and optics.Manufactures accounted for 74.86% of Portugal’s total exports in 2023. This highlights the significant contribution of the manufacturing sector to the country’s economy and export performance.

Tertiary sector of Portugal

Lisbon illustrating Portugal's tertiary service sector

The tertiary sector in Portugal encompasses a wide range of services where individuals provide knowledge and time to enhance productivity and meet various needs. This sector includes intangible offerings such as advice, expertise, and attention. Key tertiary activities in Portugal are restaurants, healthcare and medical care, education and training, banking and finance, communication and information exchange, and tourism and hospitality. These services help drive the country’s economy and improve the quality of life for its residents.Tourism is a major part of Portugal’s economy, contributing significantly to its GDP and employment. With an impressive 29.0 million non-resident tourist arrivals in 2024 and a tourist-to-population ratio of about 2.7, the country attracts visitors from around the globe. Lisbon, with its iconic architecture and vibrant culture, and the Algarve region, renowned for its pristine beaches and breathtaking coastal scenery, are among the most popular destinations.Another example of tertiary economic activity is the mobile cellular sector, with approximately 12.8 million subscriptions, which supports technological growth by improving connectivity across industries.

Military Activities and Economic Sectors of Portugal

In the primary sector, resources are extracted for military use. The secondary sector includes the manufacturing of military equipment, while the tertiary sector covers the services provided by the military. The quaternary sector focuses on military research and development, and the quinary sector involves high-level military decision-making and strategy.

As of 2024, Portugal’s military expenditure was about 4.6 billion US dollars, roughly 1.6% of its GDP. The active military force consists of approximately 24,000 personnel, giving a ratio of about 2.2 active military members for every 1,000 people in the country.

International Trade of Portugal

Import Activities of Portugal

Portugal’s high import activities, with imports of goods and services of about 126.6 billion euros (roughly 44% of GDP) as of 2024, reflect its reliance on foreign goods and services for economic growth and development.Portugal’s key import activities include crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, natural gas, and vehicle parts/accessories. Its main import partners are Spain (31%), Germany (11%), France (6%), China (5%), and Italy (5%).

Exports Activities of Portugal

As of 2024, Portugal’s total exports of goods and services reached a record 133.1 billion euros, equivalent to roughly 46.5% of GDP. With such high export dependence, the country’s economy relies heavily on these activities.Portugal’s export activities are diversified, with key partners including Spain, France, Germany, US, and UK. Major export commodities are cars, garments, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, and plastic products.

Portugal economy challenges in 2024

In 2024, Portugal faces economic challenges despite a strong services sector. High public debt and a tight labor market hinder growth. The EU Recovery and Resilience Plan offers hope for public investment, but the country struggles to improve its fiscal position.

Sources

Last updated: October 2026

Share These Resources:

imports of Portugal crude petroleum cars refined petroleum natural gas vehicle parts accessories

Post Author

Juan David Montoya

Economist & Senior Economic Researcher. Editorial Director of EconomicActivity.org. Specializes in macroeconomic indicators, international trade flows, and economic sector taxonomy (ISIC Rev. 4). Analyzes multilateral data from the World Bank, IMF, UN Comtrade, and OECD.