Porous Pb-0.99(Zr5.95Ti0.05)(0.98)Nb0.02O3 ferroelectric ceramics with different pore size were prepared by solid-state sintering in air. The microstructural effect on the properties has been systematically investigated by SEM, ferroelectric hysteresis, strain-electric field curves and breakdown strength measurements. The results demonstrate that the microgeometry has a subtle effect on the ferroelectric and dielectric properties. However, the results also demonstrate that the electric field induced strain and the dielectric breakdown strength decreases with the increase of pore size. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.