Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Portugal
Portugal: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 4.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Military expenditure in Portugal, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Portugal is 4.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 16.0% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Portugal peaked at 4.4% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2023.
That places Portugal 118th out of 164 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 4.4% | — |
| 1989 | 4.4% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | -8.5% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | -5.2% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 3.9% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | -7.2% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 3.2% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | +19.0% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +12.8% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +18.9% |
| 2025 | 4.0% | +16.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 4.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 83% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 4.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.8%, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More public sector data for Portugal
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 90.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 5.7 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0002 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -8.96 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Portugal?
- Military expenditure in Portugal was 4.0% in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 1989.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2023.
- How does Portugal rank for military expenditure?
- Portugal ranks 118th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure