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Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Belgium

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Belgium in 2025 — 24%. Ranked 14 in the world out of 132. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 7.2 pp.

2025 24% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 14of 132
Period maximum 24.2%2020
Period minimum 16.8%1970

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Belgium, 1970–202516182022242619701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 16.8%1971: 17.8%1972: 18.3%1973: 18.6%1974: 18.9%1975: 21.1%1976: 21.3%1977: 21.8%1978: 22.6%1979: 23%1980: 22.9%1981: 24.1%1982: 23.8%1983: 23.4%1984: 23.3%1985: 22.8%1986: 22.7%1987: 22.5%1988: 21.1%1989: 20.5%1990: 20.2%1991: 20.9%1992: 21%1993: 21.3%1994: 21.1%1995: 21.3%1996: 21.7%1997: 21.2%1998: 21.1%1999: 21.3%2000: 21%2001: 21.3%2002: 22.1%2003: 22.5%2004: 22.2%2005: 22.1%2006: 21.9%2007: 21.6%2008: 22.7%2009: 24.1%2010: 23.7%2011: 23.9%2012: 24.2%2013: 24.2%2014: 24.1%2015: 23.7%2016: 23.3%2017: 23.1%2018: 23.2%2019: 23%2020: 24.2%2021: 23.8%2022: 23.4%2023: 23.4%2024: 23.7%2025: 24%
Change over the period: +7.2 pp Annual average: 0.13 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Belgium

Belgium 24%
Europe & Central Asia 20.6%
Western Europe computed 22.5%
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 24 +0.2 pp
2024 23.7 +0.4 pp
2023 23.4 −0 pp
2022 23.4 −0.4 pp
2021 23.8 −0.5 pp
2020 24.2 +1.3 pp
2019 23 −0.2 pp
2018 23.2 +0 pp
2017 23.1 −0.2 pp
2016 23.3 −0.4 pp
2015 23.7 −0.4 pp
2014 24.1 −0.1 pp
2013 24.2 +0 pp
2012 24.2 +0.3 pp
2011 23.9 +0.1 pp
2010 23.7 −0.4 pp
2009 24.1 +1.5 pp
2008 22.7 +1.1 pp
2007 21.6 −0.3 pp
2006 21.9 −0.2 pp
2005 22.1 −0.1 pp
2004 22.2 −0.3 pp
2003 22.5 +0.3 pp
2002 22.1 +0.8 pp
2001 21.3 +0.3 pp
2000 21 −0.2 pp
1999 21.3 +0.2 pp
1998 21.1 −0.1 pp
1997 21.2 −0.6 pp
1996 21.7 +0.4 pp
1995 21.3 +0.2 pp
1994 21.1 −0.2 pp
1993 21.3 +0.3 pp
1992 21 +0.1 pp
1991 20.9 +0.6 pp
1990 20.2 −0.2 pp
1989 20.5 −0.7 pp
1988 21.1 −1.4 pp
1987 22.5 −0.2 pp
1986 22.7 −0.1 pp
1985 22.8 −0.5 pp
1984 23.3 −0.1 pp
1983 23.4 −0.3 pp
1982 23.8 −0.3 pp
1981 24.1 +1.2 pp
1980 22.9 −0.1 pp
1979 23 +0.3 pp
1978 22.6 +0.8 pp
1977 21.8 +0.5 pp
1976 21.3 +0.2 pp
1975 21.1 +2.2 pp
1974 18.9 +0.4 pp
1973 18.6 +0.3 pp
1972 18.3 +0.5 pp
1971 17.8 +1 pp
1970 16.8 —

Western Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NL Netherlands 25.9 FR France 24.4 BE Belgium 24 DE Germany 22.5 AT Austria 21.9 LU Luxembourg 19.8 CH Switzerland 12
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

General government final consumption expenditure as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services for delivering public services, and spending on defense and security. It leaves out public investment and social transfers, so the indicator is lower than the overall size of the budget.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Belgium

Economy Government consumption in US dollars

How much the state spends on running itself: public sector wages, purchases, defense.

Belgium by year Economy Household consumption (% of GDP)

What share of GDP is made up of household final consumption spending.

Belgium by year Public Finance Tax revenue (% of GDP)

Taxes collected as a percent of GDP — the fiscal capacity of the state.

Belgium by year Public Finance Government debt

Gross general government debt as a percent of GDP.

Belgium by year
All indicators for Belgium