In 2023, general government expenditure in European Union (EU) countries on defence totalled 227 billion euros, representing 2.7% of total general government expenditure, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, according to data recently released by Eurostat. Portugal is below the European average. According to the European Statistical Office, in the EU, the percentage of total expenditure on defence decreased from 3% in 1995 to 2.7% in 2023. However, compared to 2021 and 2022, the percentage increased from 2.4% of total expenditure in 2021 to 2.5% in 2022 and 2.7% in 2023. It should be noted that the ratio of government expenditure on defence to GDP is highest in Latvia (3.1%) and lowest in Ireland (0.2%). Portugal is the fifth country on the list, among the 27 Member States, where the percentage is lowest, not reaching 1%. In 2023, the highest levels of total defence expenditure among EU countries were observed in Latvia (3.1% of GDP), Estonia (2.7% of GDP), Lithuania (2.5% of GDP), Greece (2.2% of GDP), Poland (2.1% of GDP), Cyprus and Hungary (both 1.9% of GDP), as well as France, Denmark and Sweden (each 1.8% of GDP).
Finanças, Economia