Estimates published today by NATO suggest that Portugal is set to reach the goal of allocating 2% of its GDP to defense this year, following the government’s revision of this target for 2025, an increase from 1.58% in 2024 and 1.33% in 2023.
Although these figures are provisional, Portugal is among the countries with the lowest percentages, at 2%, along with Luxembourg, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, North Macedonia, and Germany.
Among the NATO allies, the average is 2.76% of GDP (based on 2021 prices), compared to 2.61% in 2024 and 2.44% in 2023.
Poland leads in spending at 4.48%, followed by Lithuania (4%), Latvia (3.73%), Estonia (3.38%), Norway (3.35%), the United States, and Denmark (both at 3.22%).
For this year, NATO’s goal was precisely 2% of GDP.
NATO anticipates that all 32 members of the Atlantic Alliance will meet or exceed this year’s spending target of 2% of their GDP on defense, including countries with lower spending such as Portugal.
Lusa | 06:20 – 28/08/2025
At the NATO summit held in June, the 32 allies committed to spending 3.5% of GDP on traditional military expenses (armed forces, equipment, and training) and an additional 1.5% of GDP on cybersecurity infrastructure, readiness, and strategic resilience by 2035, an increase from the current goal of 2%.
The report released today was based on data collected up to June this year.
Tonight in Copenhagen, a dinner will precede Friday’s informal meeting of European Union Defense Ministers in the Danish capital, hosted by Denmark’s presidency of the Council.
