PORTUGAL WITH MORE HIGH GROWTH COMPANYIES

Portugal had 5.855 High Growth Companies, in 2017, which means, average annual worker growth is higher than 20% over 3 years. They are 14.15% of the companies with more than ten workers. 

Portugal is among the European Union countries with the largest representation of High Growth Companies (ECE). According to Eurostat, in 2017 the country was in third place in the ranking of countries in the region with the largest proportion of this type of companies, and still among the fastest growing countries in terms of additions.

According to the European statistics office, in 2017 there were 5.855 High Growth Companies in Portugal, corresponding to 14.15% of companies with more than ten workers.

The High Growth Companies have, at least, 10 workers and have an average annual organic worker growth higher than 20% over three consecutive years. 

Given the Eurostat’s accounting, Portugal ranks the third position in the ranking of the European Union, just behind Ireland and Spain, which have ratios of 16.5% and 15.02%, respectively. These figures are well above the EU average, where globally there were, in 2017, 190 100 High Growth Companies, corresponding to 11.3% of the total number of companies with more than ten employees.

Portugal is not only on the European podium, but also is the country of the European Union that between 2014 and 2017 saw the representation of High Growth Companies grow. The weight increased by 5.6 percentage points from 8.6% in 2014. This is followed by Spain and Slovenia with the highest growth.

In data recently released, Eurostat highlights the "significant impact on employment" generated by High Growth Companies, particularly referring to Portugal, along with Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands.

In 2017, these companies employed 466,300 people in Portugal, 23.1% of the total jobs in companies with more than ten workers. In Ireland, the proportion is 24.74%, while in Spain and the Netherlands is 22.3% and 21.8%.