External balance on goods and services in Belgium
Belgium: External balance on goods and services was -2.0% 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
Belgium recorded -2.0% for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
The figure 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 in Belgium peaked at 5.6% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 1980.
That places Belgium 93rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 4.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 0.463 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 28,127 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.3781 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 22,972 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 8.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7627 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Belgium?
- External balance on goods and services in Belgium was -2.0% 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 5.6% in 2002.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 1980.
- How does Belgium rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Belgium ranks 93rd 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 393.8%. 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 (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.