Central government spending as share of GDP in Belize
Belize: Central government spending as share of GDP was 22.3% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Belize, 1990–2017
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Belize recorded 22.3% for central government spending as share of gdp in 2017. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Belize peaked at 22.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 1990.
That places Belize 101st out of 157 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Belize, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.6% | — |
| 1991 | 12.6% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 13.6% | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 14.7% | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 15.9% | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 14.1% | -11.0% |
| 1996 | 14.1% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 14.5% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 14.3% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 14.6% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 13.1% | -10.3% |
| 2001 | 14.4% | +10.4% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 16.2% | +14.5% |
| 2004 | 19.2% | +18.5% |
| 2005 | 18.6% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 17.9% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 19.7% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 19.9% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 18.3% | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 20.6% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 21.3% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 22.3% | +5.0% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 22.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Belize's 22.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 24.4%, 92% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.1% | 12.6% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.1% | 13.1% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.1% | 18.3% | 22.3% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More economy & growth data for Belize
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.27 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.54 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.40 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0004 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 3.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 240,004 BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -99.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.5675 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 12.32 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government spending as share of gdp in Belize?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Belize was 22.3% in 2017, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 22.3% in 2017.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 1990.
- How does Belize rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Belize ranks 101st out of 157 countries with data for 2017.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.