| Order of the Colonial Empire Ordem do Império Colonial | |
| Awarded By: | Portuguese Republic |
| Type: | Colonial order of knighthood |
| Eligibility: | Portuguese citizens; military or civilian |
| For: | Service in the Portuguese colonies in Asia and Africa |
| Status: | Extinct |
| Grades: | Grand Collar Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight |
| Established: | 1932 |
The Order of the Colonial Empire (Portuguese:"Ordem do Império Colonial") was a Portuguese Order (decoration), established on 13 April 1932 as a colonial order of knighthood, to reward services by soldiers and civilians in the Portuguese colonies in Asia and Africa.
The Order consisted of five grades:
The Commander grade was dropped sometime during the 1960s, and the Order was discontinued upon the Carnation Revolution in 1974.
The badge of the Order was an enamel Order of Christ Cross, in silver for Knight and in gilt for higher grades, with the lesser Coat of arms of Portugal in enamel and gilt at the centre.
The star of the Order was an eight-pointed faceted star, in gilt for Grand Cross and Grand Officer, in silver for Commander, with the badge of the Order at the centre.
The ribbon of the Order was red with black central and edge stripes.
Grand Crosses:
See also: List of recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Colonial Empire.