Provisional results of the 2020 Doctoral Survey

According to the provisional results of the 2020 Doctorate Survey conducted by DGEEC, between 2015 and 2020 Portugal saw a 17% increase in the number of doctorate holders residing in the country (from 30,807 to 37,113). For the first time, the number of women with doctorates residing in Portugal (51%) exceeded the number of men (49%), while the percentage of foreign doctorate holders residing in Portugal in 2020 remained very close to the 2015 percentage.

The survey also revealed an increase in the number of PhDs in employment and, consequently, a decrease in the number of unemployed PhDs (representing 2% in 2020), with the percentage of inactive individuals (retired and other inactive individuals) remaining at 3%.

In terms of distribution by employment sector, 2020 saw an increase in the number of PhD holders working in the public sector and in the business sector, with a decrease in the higher education sector.

The number of PhD holders residing in Portugal who started a business increased between 2012 and 2020 (from 1% in 2012 to 4% in 2015 and 6% in 2020). Among the resident population, the number of PhD holders has been rising steadily since 2012, from 24 to 36 PhD holders per 10,000 inhabitants and from 50 to 75 PhD holders per 10,000 inhabitants in the working population.

Graph – Evolution of doctoral students residing in Portugal

For further information, see Doctoral Survey – CDH20 – Provisional Results.