Portugal Military Spending
Portugal spends an estimated 2.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $5.5 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$5.8 billion
Ranked #47 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.3%
Ranked #63 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $5.5B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$5.5 billion
Reached in 2025
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Portugal run to 2025.
Portugal Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Portugal is estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on military and defense, representing 2.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Portugal is the #47 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $5.5 billion to $5.8 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.5% in 1968. The historical average military budget is 2.3% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 2.60% | $6,055M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.30% | $5,780M |
| 2025 | 1.71% | $5,505M |
| 2024 | 1.44% | $4,524M |
| 2023 | 1.21% | $3,621M |
| 2022 | 1.36% | $3,831M |
| 2021 | 1.52% | $4,092M |
| 2020 | 1.44% | $3,646M |
| 2019 | 1.38% | $3,724M |
| 2018 | 1.39% | $3,608M |
| 2017 | 1.46% | $3,651M |
| 2016 | 1.57% | $3,792M |
| 2015 | 1.58% | $3,687M |
| 2014 | 1.50% | $3,395M |
| 2013 | 1.68% | $3,748M |
| 2012 | 1.82% | $4,027M |
| 2011 | 1.57% | $3,725M |
| 2010 | 1.60% | $4,014M |
| 2009 | 1.55% | $3,846M |
| 2008 | 1.42% | $3,562M |
| 2007 | 1.38% | $3,484M |
| 2006 | 1.51% | $3,711M |
| 2005 | 1.59% | $3,846M |
| 2004 | 1.51% | $3,569M |
| 2003 | 1.43% | $3,337M |
| 2002 | 1.46% | $3,435M |
| 2001 | 1.45% | $3,343M |
| 2000 | 1.41% | $3,213M |
| 1999 | 1.43% | $3,120M |
| 1998 | 1.42% | $2,966M |
| 1997 | 1.54% | $3,029M |
| 1996 | 1.60% | $2,969M |
| 1995 | 1.71% | $3,078M |
| 1994 | 1.68% | $2,866M |
| 1993 | 1.79% | $2,946M |
| 1992 | 1.81% | $3,043M |
| 1991 | 1.83% | $2,964M |
| 1990 | 1.84% | $2,875M |
| 1989 | 1.89% | $2,797M |
| 1988 | 1.89% | $2,665M |
| 1987 | 1.86% | $2,400M |
| 1986 | 1.92% | $2,306M |
| 1985 | 1.84% | $2,050M |
| 1984 | 1.86% | $2,027M |
| 1983 | 1.91% | $2,178M |
| 1982 | 2.04% | $2,265M |
| 1981 | 2.00% | $2,261M |
| 1980 | 2.03% | $2,272M |
| 1979 | 2.03% | $2,095M |
| 1978 | 2.09% | $2,062M |
| 1977 | 2.07% | $2,041M |
| 1976 | 2.36% | $2,216M |
| 1975 | 3.10% | $2,767M |
| 1974 | 4.34% | $4,204M |
| 1973 | 3.48% | $3,586M |
| 1972 | 4.06% | $3,794M |
| 1971 | 4.33% | $3,786M |
| 1970 | 4.14% | $3,472M |
| 1969 | 4.14% | $3,120M |
| 1968 | 4.50% | $3,324M |
| 1967 | 4.46% | $3,157M |
| 1966 | 3.85% | $2,572M |
| 1965 | 3.81% | $2,441M |
| 1964 | 4.11% | $2,440M |
| 1963 | 3.96% | $2,238M |
| 1962 | 4.23% | $2,292M |
| 1961 | 3.89% | $2,016M |
| 1960 | 2.56% | $1,257M |
| 1959 | 2.60% | $1,209M |
| 1958 | 2.44% | $1,077M |
| 1957 | 2.47% | $1,053M |
| 1956 | 2.48% | $1,025M |
| 1955 | 2.60% | $1,033M |
| 1954 | 2.58% | $965M |
| 1953 | 2.49% | $918M |
| 1952 | — | $793M |
| 1951 | — | $726M |
| 1950 | 2.34% | $699M |
| 1949 | — | $650M |