External balance on goods and services in Belgium
Belgium: External balance on goods and services was -14.64 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Belgium, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Belgium recorded -14.64 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 465.3% on the previous year and down 562.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Belgium peaked at 19.47 billion current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, -14.64 billion current US$, in 2025.
That places Belgium 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Belgium, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 583.60 million current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 581.77 million current US$ | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 1.14 billion current US$ | +95.7% |
| 1973 | 916.58 million current US$ | -19.5% |
| 1974 | 288.93 million current US$ | -68.5% |
| 1975 | 202.50 million current US$ | -29.9% |
| 1976 | 208.37 million current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1977 | -549.25 million current US$ | -363.6% |
| 1978 | -799.15 million current US$ | +45.5% |
| 1979 | -2.01 billion current US$ | +151.5% |
| 1980 | -3.58 billion current US$ | +78.0% |
| 1981 | -2.19 billion current US$ | -38.7% |
| 1982 | -1.58 billion current US$ | -27.8% |
| 1983 | 344.98 million current US$ | -121.8% |
| 1984 | 495.07 million current US$ | +43.5% |
| 1985 | 890.00 million current US$ | +79.8% |
| 1986 | 2.69 billion current US$ | +201.9% |
| 1987 | 2.71 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 3.88 billion current US$ | +43.1% |
| 1989 | 3.61 billion current US$ | -7.1% |
| 1990 | 3.61 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 3.93 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1992 | 5.98 billion current US$ | +52.1% |
| 1993 | 7.20 billion current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1994 | 8.86 billion current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1995 | 11.09 billion current US$ | +25.2% |
| 1996 | 8.86 billion current US$ | -20.1% |
| 1997 | 9.82 billion current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 9.41 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 10.22 billion current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 6.78 billion current US$ | -33.6% |
| 2001 | 8.63 billion current US$ | +27.3% |
| 2002 | 14.41 billion current US$ | +66.9% |
| 2003 | 17.04 billion current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2004 | 18.07 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 15.57 billion current US$ | -13.8% |
| 2006 | 16.50 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 19.47 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2008 | 3.48 billion current US$ | -82.1% |
| 2009 | 9.96 billion current US$ | +186.2% |
| 2010 | 7.19 billion current US$ | -27.8% |
| 2011 | -1.17 billion current US$ | -116.3% |
| 2012 | -1.42 billion current US$ | +21.1% |
| 2013 | 1.31 billion current US$ | -191.8% |
| 2014 | 1.19 billion current US$ | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 3.17 billion current US$ | +165.8% |
| 2016 | 846.89 million current US$ | -73.3% |
| 2017 | -76.48 million current US$ | -109.0% |
| 2018 | -7.12 billion current US$ | +9206.0% |
| 2019 | 2.52 billion current US$ | -135.4% |
| 2020 | 7.65 billion current US$ | +203.5% |
| 2021 | 11.19 billion current US$ | +46.3% |
| 2022 | -13.81 billion current US$ | -223.5% |
| 2023 | -2.35 billion current US$ | -83.0% |
| 2024 | -2.59 billion current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2025 | -14.64 billion current US$ | +465.3% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's -14.64 billion current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.43 billion current US$. (72 countries reporting)
- Belgium's -14.64 billion current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -50.32 million current US$, 290.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | -9206.0% | -76.48 million current US$ | -7.12 billion current US$ |
| 2025 | -465.3% | -2.59 billion current US$ | -14.64 billion current US$ |
| 1977 | -363.6% | 208.37 million current US$ | -549.25 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.20 million current US$ | -2.01 billion current US$ | 1.14 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 726.84 million current US$ | -3.58 billion current US$ | 3.88 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.90 billion current US$ | 3.61 billion current US$ | 11.09 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.99 billion current US$ | 3.48 billion current US$ | 19.47 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 643.41 million current US$ | -7.12 billion current US$ | 7.19 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.43 billion current US$ | -14.64 billion current US$ | 11.19 billion current US$ | 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$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Belgium?
- External balance on goods and services in Belgium was -14.64 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 19.47 billion current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.64 billion current US$ in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Belgium ranks 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 562.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.