External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Belgium
Belgium: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -2.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Belgium, 1970–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belgium stood at -2.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 422.8% on the previous year and down 393.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belgium peaked at 5.6% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 1980.
Belgium ranks 93rd of 191 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.2% | — |
| 1971 | 2.0% | -10.7% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | +56.9% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | -37.3% |
| 1974 | 0.5% | -73.1% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | -40.2% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -5.0% |
| 1977 | -0.7% | -326.3% |
| 1978 | -0.8% | +19.0% |
| 1979 | -1.7% | +118.9% |
| 1980 | -2.8% | +63.2% |
| 1981 | -2.1% | -25.8% |
| 1982 | -1.7% | -17.9% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | -123.0% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | +50.1% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +73.7% |
| 1986 | 2.2% | +117.0% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | -18.9% |
| 1988 | 2.4% | +31.8% |
| 1989 | 2.2% | -8.2% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | -19.9% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | +6.2% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | +36.3% |
| 1993 | 3.2% | +25.7% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +13.0% |
| 1995 | 3.9% | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 3.2% | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +22.5% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -27.6% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | +27.3% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +52.9% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | -17.5% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | -83.7% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | +205.3% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | -27.3% |
| 2011 | -0.2% | -114.9% |
| 2012 | -0.3% | +28.1% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -187.3% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -11.1% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +210.2% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -74.0% |
| 2017 | -0.0% | -108.6% |
| 2018 | -1.3% | +8490.3% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -135.8% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | +207.6% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | +29.5% |
| 2022 | -2.3% | -224.9% |
| 2023 | -0.4% | -84.5% |
| 2024 | -0.4% | +6.9% |
| 2025 | -2.0% | +422.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7% | -1.7% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | -2.8% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 1.8% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 0.7% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | -1.3% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3% | -2.3% | 1.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More economy & growth data for Belgium
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0266 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1,617 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 30.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2,411 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belgium?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Belgium was -2.0% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2002.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 1980.
- How does Belgium rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Belgium ranks 93rd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 393.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.