The information is contained in the 2023 PhD Survey - carried out between April and July - which gathers statistics on PhD holders under the age of 70 who reside permanently or temporarily in Portugal and have obtained their PhD anywhere in the world.

In 2023, as in 2020, there were more women with doctorates (51%) than men (49%), contrary to the trend seen in 2012 and 2015 of more men with doctorates than women, although in the latter year, the number of women with doctorates (49%) began to approach that of men (51%).

The majority of doctorate holders were employed (95%) and worked in universities and polytechnic institutes (77%), with the remainder concentrated in the State (11%), companies (10%) and Private Non-Profit Institutions (3%).

The Doctorate Survey, which is normally conducted every three years, is registered in the National Statistical System and aims to "collect and disseminate official statistical information on the academic and professional careers of doctorate holders".