Government spending vs. GDP in Belgium
Belgium: Government spending vs. GDP was 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
128.43 billion constant 2015 US$
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
20th
of 166 countries
All-time high
128.43 billion constant 2015 US$
in 2025
All-time low
45.19 billion constant 2015 US$
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Government spending vs. 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 constant 2015 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending vs. gdp in Belgium is 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp in Belgium peaked at 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45.19 billion constant 2015 US$, in 1970.
That places Belgium 20th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Government spending vs. GDP in Belgium, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 45.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | — |
| 1971 | 47.69 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 50.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 53.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 55.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 57.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 59.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 60.95 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 64.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 66.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 67.52 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 69.64 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 69.17 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 69.60 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 69.76 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 71.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 72.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 74.67 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 74.15 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 75.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 74.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 77.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 78.63 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 78.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 79.59 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 80.79 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 82.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 83.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 84.45 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 86.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 88.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 90.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 93.36 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 95.10 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 97.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 97.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 98.47 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 100.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 103.48 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 105.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 105.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 105.92 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 107.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 107.37 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 108.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 109.14 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 109.04 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 109.44 billion constant 2015 US$ | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 111.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 113.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 113.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 117.72 billion constant 2015 US$ | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 121.29 billion constant 2015 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 124.49 billion constant 2015 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 126.39 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | +1.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.36 billion constant 2015 US$, 3.1× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.68 billion constant 2015 US$, 6.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.05 billion constant 2015 US$ | 45.19 billion constant 2015 US$ | 66.24 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 71.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 67.52 billion constant 2015 US$ | 75.03 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 80.56 billion constant 2015 US$ | 74.74 billion constant 2015 US$ | 86.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 97.00 billion constant 2015 US$ | 88.50 billion constant 2015 US$ | 105.20 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 108.65 billion constant 2015 US$ | 105.46 billion constant 2015 US$ | 113.25 billion constant 2015 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 121.89 billion constant 2015 US$ | 113.01 billion constant 2015 US$ | 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 17 Mexico 162.10 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 18 Sweden 143.54 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 19 Poland 130.79 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 21 Norway 110.32 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 22 Argentina 107.06 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
- 23 Indonesia 106.29 billion constant 2015 US$ compare
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$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending vs. gdp in Belgium?
- Government spending vs. gdp in Belgium was 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ 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 government spending vs. gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 128.43 billion constant 2015 US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.19 billion constant 2015 US$ in 1970.
- How does Belgium rank for government spending vs. gdp?
- Belgium ranks 20th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.