Trade as a share of GDP in Belgium
Belgium: Trade as a share of GDP was 152.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Trade as a share of 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 152.9% for trade as a share of gdp in 2025.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trade as a share of gdp in Belgium peaked at 191.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 85.2%, in 1972.
That places Belgium 22nd out of 191 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.
Trade as a share of GDP in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 87.7% | — |
| 1971 | 85.6% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 85.2% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 94.1% | +10.5% |
| 1974 | 105.3% | +11.8% |
| 1975 | 91.5% | -13.1% |
| 1976 | 96.8% | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 95.7% | -1.2% |
| 1978 | 92.3% | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 101.6% | +10.0% |
| 1980 | 103.1% | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 110.2% | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 117.9% | +7.0% |
| 1983 | 120.4% | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 128.2% | +6.5% |
| 1985 | 123.9% | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 112.3% | -9.3% |
| 1987 | 109.9% | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 116.4% | +5.9% |
| 1989 | 124.9% | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 121.5% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 118.6% | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 115.1% | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 109.0% | -5.3% |
| 1994 | 113.2% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 116.4% | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 119.2% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 125.7% | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 124.7% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 125.2% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 142.2% | +13.6% |
| 2001 | 139.6% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 136.1% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 132.7% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 136.9% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 144.5% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 149.6% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 152.5% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 161.1% | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 135.1% | -16.1% |
| 2010 | 150.2% | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 160.8% | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 160.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 157.6% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 158.6% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 155.1% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 159.1% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 166.9% | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 168.3% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 165.5% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 156.9% | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 177.4% | +13.0% |
| 2022 | 191.1% | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 166.0% | -13.1% |
| 2024 | 159.0% | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 152.9% | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 93.6% | 85.2% | 105.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 116.7% | 103.1% | 128.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 118.9% | 109.0% | 125.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 143.0% | 132.7% | 161.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 160.2% | 150.2% | 168.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 167.2% | 152.9% | 191.1% | 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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.8015 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 48,692 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 0.9109 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.6675 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 40,548 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 0.9108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 0.6585 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trade as a share of gdp in Belgium?
- Trade as a share of gdp in Belgium was 152.9% 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 trade as a share of gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 191.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest trade as a share of gdp recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.2% in 1972.
- How does Belgium rank for trade as a share of gdp?
- Belgium ranks 22nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is trade as a share of gdp rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. 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 Trade as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Trade in goods and services as a share of GDP, shown as a percentage.