Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Belgium

Government expense in Belgium in 2022 — 39.71%. Ranked 17 in the world out of 111. Since 1995, the indicator has fallen by 5.86 pp.

2022 39.71% −1.7 pp vs 2021
World rank 17of 111
Period maximum 45.94%1996
Period minimum 39.4%2019

Trend over time

1995–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Belgium, 1995–2022384042444619951998200120042007201020132016201920221995: 45.57%1996: 45.94%1997: 44.7%1998: 44.42%1999: 43.81%2000: 42.63%2001: 43.04%2002: 41.44%2003: 42.56%2004: 40.9%2005: 43.53%2006: 40.59%2007: 40.29%2008: 42.1%2009: 44.24%2010: 43.57%2011: 44.51%2012: 45.7%2013: 45.34%2014: 44.95%2015: 41.71%2016: 41.16%2017: 40.1%2018: 39.94%2019: 39.4%2020: 43.66%2021: 41.41%2022: 39.71%
Change over the period: −5.86 pp Annual average: -0.22 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Belgium 39.71%
World 28.49%
Western Europe computed 36.99%
Government expense — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 39.71 −1.7 pp
2021 41.41 −2.24 pp
2020 43.66 +4.25 pp
2019 39.4 −0.54 pp
2018 39.94 −0.16 pp
2017 40.1 −1.06 pp
2016 41.16 −0.55 pp
2015 41.71 −3.24 pp
2014 44.95 −0.39 pp
2013 45.34 −0.36 pp
2012 45.7 +1.19 pp
2011 44.51 +0.94 pp
2010 43.57 −0.67 pp
2009 44.24 +2.14 pp
2008 42.1 +1.81 pp
2007 40.29 −0.3 pp
2006 40.59 −2.94 pp
2005 43.53 +2.63 pp
2004 40.9 −1.66 pp
2003 42.56 +1.11 pp
2002 41.44 −1.59 pp
2001 43.04 +0.4 pp
2000 42.63 −1.18 pp
1999 43.81 −0.61 pp
1998 44.42 −0.28 pp
1997 44.7 −1.24 pp
1996 45.94 +0.36 pp
1995 45.57

Western Europe, 2022

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

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

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