Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal

Portugal: Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social was 39.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
39.2%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
13th
of 127 countries
All-time high
40.4%
in 2016
All-time low
29.1%
in 2001
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal, 2000–2023

0102030402000201120232000: 29.1 %2001: 29.1 %2002: 30.7 %2003: 31.8 %2004: 31.9 %2005: 32.3 %2006: 33.5 %2007: 33.5 %2008: 33.5 %2009: 34.3 %2010: 33.5 %2011: 35.9 %2012: 37.9 %2013: 39 %2014: 36.9 %2015: 38.5 %2016: 40.4 %2017: 38.1 %2018: 39.3 %2019: 39.9 %2020: 38.6 %2021: 38.3 %2022: 39.8 %2023: 39.2 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

Portugal recorded 39.2% for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal peaked at 40.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 29.1%, in 2001.

That places Portugal 13th out of 127 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) in Portugal, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 29.1%
2001 29.1% -0.1%
2002 30.7% +5.6%
2003 31.8% +3.5%
2004 31.9% +0.3%
2005 32.3% +1.4%
2006 33.5% +3.6%
2007 33.5% +0.1%
2008 33.5% +0.1%
2009 34.3% +2.3%
2010 33.5% -2.3%
2011 35.9% +7.1%
2012 37.9% +5.5%
2013 39.0% +3.0%
2014 36.9% -5.5%
2015 38.5% +4.4%
2016 40.4% +5.0%
2017 38.1% -5.8%
2018 39.3% +3.3%
2019 39.9% +1.4%
2020 38.6% -3.2%
2021 38.3% -0.8%
2022 39.8% +3.9%
2023 39.2% -1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.0% 29.1% 34.3% 10
2010s 38.0% 33.5% 40.4% 10
2020s 39.0% 38.3% 39.8% 4

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 10 Japan 40.4% compare
  2. 11 Switzerland 39.4% compare
  3. 12 Italy 39.3% compare
  4. 14 Poland 38.4% compare
  5. 15 Republic of Moldova 38.2% compare
  6. 15 Republic of Moldova 38.2% compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal was 39.2% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 40.4% in 2016.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 29.1% in 2001.
How does Portugal rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social?
Portugal ranks 13th out of 127 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Portugal data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-social-protection-percent/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
131 places, 2,404 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed