Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Belgium
Belgium: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 84.3% in 2014. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2014)
84.3%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
25th
of 193 countries
All-time high
90.1%
in 2008
All-time low
9.7%
in 1839
Years of data
168
1835–2014
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Belgium, 1835–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 84.3% for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in 2014.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Belgium peaked at 90.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 1839.
That places Belgium 25th out of 193 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1835 | 11.1% | — |
| 1836 | 11.2% | +1.6% |
| 1837 | 11.5% | +2.1% |
| 1838 | 11.4% | -1.0% |
| 1839 | 9.7% | -14.8% |
| 1840 | 11.2% | +15.2% |
| 1841 | 11.2% | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 12.8% | +13.8% |
| 1843 | 12.1% | -5.1% |
| 1844 | 11.5% | -5.6% |
| 1845 | 12.9% | +12.4% |
| 1846 | 11.3% | -12.1% |
| 1847 | 11.0% | -2.5% |
| 1848 | 9.9% | -10.2% |
| 1849 | 11.1% | +12.6% |
| 1850 | 11.8% | +6.0% |
| 1851 | 11.3% | -4.2% |
| 1852 | 13.0% | +14.5% |
| 1853 | 12.8% | -1.7% |
| 1854 | 12.5% | -2.4% |
| 1855 | 13.5% | +8.3% |
| 1856 | 14.2% | +5.6% |
| 1857 | 14.6% | +2.2% |
| 1858 | 15.4% | +5.6% |
| 1859 | 15.7% | +2.1% |
| 1860 | 16.4% | +4.3% |
| 1861 | 17.3% | +5.8% |
| 1862 | 18.0% | +3.7% |
| 1863 | 18.5% | +3.0% |
| 1864 | 19.4% | +4.7% |
| 1865 | 20.9% | +8.0% |
| 1866 | 19.2% | -8.4% |
| 1867 | 19.9% | +3.8% |
| 1868 | 21.3% | +7.2% |
| 1869 | 21.2% | -0.4% |
| 1870 | 20.4% | -4.1% |
| 1871 | 27.0% | +32.4% |
| 1872 | 22.7% | -15.9% |
| 1873 | 23.8% | +5.0% |
| 1874 | 22.3% | -6.3% |
| 1875 | 25.1% | +12.5% |
| 1876 | 28.5% | +13.7% |
| 1877 | 28.1% | -1.7% |
| 1878 | 29.5% | +5.0% |
| 1879 | 31.2% | +5.8% |
| 1880 | 30.8% | -1.0% |
| 1881 | 29.4% | -4.6% |
| 1882 | 28.9% | -1.8% |
| 1883 | 28.2% | -2.3% |
| 1884 | 28.2% | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 27.3% | -3.1% |
| 1886 | 28.0% | +2.4% |
| 1887 | 28.4% | +1.4% |
| 1888 | 29.8% | +5.0% |
| 1889 | 28.9% | -3.1% |
| 1890 | 29.9% | +3.6% |
| 1891 | 32.5% | +8.5% |
| 1892 | 28.6% | -11.9% |
| 1893 | 29.4% | +2.8% |
| 1894 | 30.2% | +2.6% |
| 1895 | 31.5% | +4.2% |
| 1896 | 32.7% | +3.8% |
| 1897 | 31.7% | -3.0% |
| 1898 | 35.4% | +11.5% |
| 1899 | 37.1% | +4.9% |
| 1900 | 35.0% | -5.6% |
| 1901 | 36.2% | +3.5% |
| 1902 | 38.0% | +4.9% |
| 1903 | 41.2% | +8.4% |
| 1904 | 41.8% | +1.4% |
| 1905 | 44.6% | +6.6% |
| 1906 | 47.1% | +5.7% |
| 1907 | 49.3% | +4.6% |
| 1908 | 45.6% | -7.4% |
| 1909 | 50.7% | +11.0% |
| 1910 | 55.1% | +8.8% |
| 1911 | 56.5% | +2.4% |
| 1912 | 59.0% | +4.5% |
| 1913 | 58.3% | -1.2% |
| 1920 | 45.4% | -22.2% |
| 1921 | 35.8% | -21.1% |
| 1922 | 33.4% | -6.8% |
| 1923 | 37.5% | +12.3% |
| 1924 | 41.6% | +11.0% |
| 1925 | 40.0% | -3.9% |
| 1926 | 41.8% | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 41.6% | -0.5% |
| 1928 | 40.2% | -3.2% |
| 1929 | 39.8% | -1.0% |
| 1930 | 34.3% | -13.8% |
| 1931 | 29.1% | -15.1% |
| 1932 | 23.1% | -20.6% |
| 1933 | 22.1% | -4.3% |
| 1934 | 21.0% | -4.9% |
| 1935 | 26.7% | +26.9% |
| 1936 | 30.4% | +13.8% |
| 1937 | 32.6% | +7.3% |
| 1938 | 27.8% | -14.7% |
| 1939 | 24.2% | -13.0% |
| 1946 | 26.6% | +9.9% |
| 1947 | 32.7% | +23.0% |
| 1948 | 26.3% | -19.7% |
| 1949 | 25.3% | -3.7% |
| 1950 | 28.8% | +13.8% |
| 1951 | 31.9% | +10.9% |
| 1952 | 30.4% | -4.7% |
| 1953 | 31.4% | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 30.1% | -4.3% |
| 1955 | 31.1% | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 33.7% | +8.5% |
| 1957 | 33.1% | -1.8% |
| 1958 | 30.1% | -9.1% |
| 1959 | 32.1% | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 33.8% | +5.1% |
| 1961 | 33.9% | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 34.2% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 35.6% | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 37.2% | +4.3% |
| 1965 | 37.0% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 38.4% | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 36.0% | -6.4% |
| 1968 | 39.3% | +9.2% |
| 1969 | 42.3% | +7.6% |
| 1970 | 42.6% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 43.0% | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 41.4% | -3.7% |
| 1973 | 45.9% | +11.0% |
| 1974 | 53.1% | +15.5% |
| 1975 | 46.4% | -12.6% |
| 1976 | 49.5% | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 48.5% | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 47.9% | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 52.1% | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 56.3% | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 58.9% | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 62.7% | +6.4% |
| 1983 | 62.7% | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 66.1% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 64.8% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 58.6% | -9.6% |
| 1987 | 57.1% | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 59.9% | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 63.1% | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 60.9% | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 59.8% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 57.0% | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 50.3% | -11.8% |
| 1994 | 53.8% | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 54.7% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 57.0% | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 61.7% | +8.2% |
| 1998 | 62.7% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 60.8% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 73.6% | +21.0% |
| 2001 | 75.0% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 76.3% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 70.5% | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 77.1% | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 82.2% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 85.8% | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 87.3% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 90.1% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 72.9% | -19.1% |
| 2010 | 80.3% | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 87.9% | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 87.6% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 85.8% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 84.3% | -1.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 84.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 38.0%, 2.2× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 84.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39.4%, 2.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 11.0% | 9.7% | 11.5% | 5 |
| 1840s | 11.5% | 9.9% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1850s | 13.5% | 11.3% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 1860s | 19.2% | 16.4% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 1870s | 25.9% | 20.4% | 31.2% | 10 |
| 1880s | 28.8% | 27.3% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 1890s | 31.9% | 28.6% | 37.1% | 10 |
| 1900s | 43.0% | 35.0% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 1910s | 57.2% | 55.1% | 59.0% | 4 |
| 1920s | 39.7% | 33.4% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 1930s | 27.1% | 21.0% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 1940s | 27.7% | 25.3% | 32.7% | 4 |
| 1950s | 31.3% | 28.8% | 33.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 36.8% | 33.8% | 42.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.0% | 41.4% | 53.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.0% | 56.3% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 57.9% | 50.3% | 62.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.1% | 70.5% | 90.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.2% | 80.3% | 87.9% | 5 |
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 value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Belgium?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Belgium was 84.3% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 90.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 1839.
- How does Belgium rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Belgium ranks 25th out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 168 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.