Social spending as share of GDP in Portugal
Portugal: Social spending as share of GDP was 0.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Social spending as share of GDP in Portugal, 1980–2021
Source: OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, social spending as share of gdp in Portugal stood at 0.2%.
That represents a change of down 5.6% on the previous year and down 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social spending as share of gdp in Portugal peaked at 0.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1989.
Portugal ranks 29th of 42 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Social spending as share of GDP in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -7.5% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | +56.8% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -47.2% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -10.7% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -32.0% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -17.6% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -7.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | +146.2% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | +40.6% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +17.8% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | +14.3% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | +58.9% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +139.3% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | +27.2% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -8.9% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -9.7% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | +35.9% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -37.9% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +21.1% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -18.0% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | +11.6% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +13.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More economy & growth data for Portugal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.9 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 6.84 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0218 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 639.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 13.49 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 16.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.043 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,261 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 62.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social spending as share of gdp in Portugal?
- Social spending as share of gdp in Portugal was 0.2% in 2021, according to OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social spending as share of gdp recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest social spending as share of gdp recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1989.
- How does Portugal rank for social spending as share of gdp?
- Portugal ranks 29th out of 42 countries with data for 2021.
- Is social spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Social spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Public social expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage. Includes both in-cash and in-kind benefits in other social policy programs.