Country

Belgium

EU member state, founding member of the European Economic Community (1958) · world profile (World Bank data)

Best rank in the EU 1st income inequality, of 27

Where it stands out

rank among EU countries

Best ranks

  1. Income inequality 1st of 27
  2. R&D 2nd of 27
  3. Gender pay gap 2nd of 27

Lowest ranks

  1. Renewables 27th of 27
  2. Doctors 26th of 26
  3. Municipal waste 19th of 20

Map

3 regions

 

Boundaries: © NGI, AdminVector, simplified · sources and licences

Over time

6 charts

GDP per capita

€/inh. · 1995-2025

Belgium EU average

10k 20k 30k 40k 50k 60k 1995 Belgium: 21,730 EU average: 14,910 1996 Belgium: 21,660 EU average: 15,600 1997 Belgium: 21,910 EU average: 16,010 1998 Belgium: 22,640 EU average: 16,670 1999 Belgium: 23,690 EU average: 17,420 2000 Belgium: 25,010 EU average: 18,420 2001 Belgium: 25,700 EU average: 19,270 2002 Belgium: 26,450 EU average: 19,930 2003 Belgium: 27,100 EU average: 20,400 2004 Belgium: 28,480 EU average: 21,250 2005 Belgium: 29,590 EU average: 22,110 2006 Belgium: 30,830 EU average: 23,320 2007 Belgium: 32,340 EU average: 24,680 2008 Belgium: 32,840 EU average: 25,390 2009 Belgium: 32,210 EU average: 24,230 2010 Belgium: 33,340 EU average: 25,090 2011 Belgium: 34,310 EU average: 25,880 2012 Belgium: 34,930 EU average: 25,980 2013 Belgium: 35,360 EU average: 26,260 2014 Belgium: 36,130 EU average: 26,860 2015 Belgium: 36,860 EU average: 27,810 2016 Belgium: 37,810 EU average: 28,510 2017 Belgium: 38,980 EU average: 29,680 2018 Belgium: 40,210 EU average: 30,680 2019 Belgium: 41,730 EU average: 31,740 2020 Belgium: 40,190 EU average: 30,560 2021 Belgium: 43,680 EU average: 33,330 2022 Belgium: 48,090 EU average: 36,180 2023 Belgium: 51,090 EU average: 38,450 2024 Belgium: 52,310 EU average: 40,110 2025 Belgium: 53,930 EU average: 41,700 1995 2005 2010 2015 2025

Real GDP growth

% · 1996-2025

Belgium EU average

-10 -5 0 5 10 1996 Belgium: 1.3 EU average: 1.8 1997 Belgium: 3.8 EU average: 2.7 1998 Belgium: 2 EU average: 3 1999 Belgium: 3.5 EU average: 3 2000 Belgium: 3.7 EU average: 3.9 2001 Belgium: 1.1 EU average: 2.1 2002 Belgium: 1.7 EU average: 1 2003 Belgium: 1 EU average: 0.9 2004 Belgium: 3.6 EU average: 2.5 2005 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 1.9 2006 Belgium: 2.6 EU average: 3.5 2007 Belgium: 3.7 EU average: 3.1 2008 Belgium: 0.4 EU average: 0.6 2009 Belgium: -1.9 EU average: -4.3 2010 Belgium: 2.7 EU average: 2.1 2011 Belgium: 1.9 EU average: 1.9 2012 Belgium: 0.2 EU average: -0.8 2013 Belgium: 0.3 EU average: 0 2014 Belgium: 1.8 EU average: 1.6 2015 Belgium: 1.5 EU average: 2.4 2016 Belgium: 1.2 EU average: 1.9 2017 Belgium: 1.5 EU average: 2.8 2018 Belgium: 1.9 EU average: 2.1 2019 Belgium: 2.4 EU average: 1.9 2020 Belgium: -4.8 EU average: -5.5 2021 Belgium: 6.3 EU average: 6.4 2022 Belgium: 4 EU average: 3.6 2023 Belgium: 1.6 EU average: 0.4 2024 Belgium: 1.1 EU average: 1.3 2025 Belgium: 1 EU average: 1.4 1996 2006 2011 2016 2025

HICP inflation rate

% · 1996-2025

Belgium EU average

0 3 5 8 10 13 1996 Belgium: 1.8 EU average: 0 1997 Belgium: 1.5 EU average: 0 1998 Belgium: 0.9 EU average: 0 1999 Belgium: 1.1 EU average: 0 2000 Belgium: 2.7 EU average: 0 2001 Belgium: 2.4 EU average: 3.6 2002 Belgium: 1.5 EU average: 2.7 2003 Belgium: 1.5 EU average: 2.3 2004 Belgium: 1.9 EU average: 2.5 2005 Belgium: 2.5 EU average: 2.3 2006 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 2.3 2007 Belgium: 1.8 EU average: 2.4 2008 Belgium: 4.5 EU average: 3.7 2009 Belgium: 0 EU average: 0.8 2010 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 1.8 2011 Belgium: 3.4 EU average: 2.9 2012 Belgium: 2.6 EU average: 2.6 2013 Belgium: 1.2 EU average: 1.3 2014 Belgium: 0.5 EU average: 0.4 2015 Belgium: 0.6 EU average: 0.1 2016 Belgium: 1.8 EU average: 0.2 2017 Belgium: 2.2 EU average: 1.6 2018 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 1.8 2019 Belgium: 1.2 EU average: 1.4 2020 Belgium: 0.4 EU average: 0.7 2021 Belgium: 3.2 EU average: 2.9 2022 Belgium: 10.3 EU average: 9.2 2023 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 6.4 2024 Belgium: 4.3 EU average: 2.6 2025 Belgium: 3 EU average: 2.5 1996 2006 2011 2016 2025

Annual change in house prices

% · 2006-2025

Belgium EU average

-5 0 5 10 2006 Belgium: 9.8 EU average: 9.9 2007 Belgium: 7.8 EU average: 8.5 2008 Belgium: 4.3 EU average: 1.3 2009 Belgium: -0.4 EU average: -3.7 2010 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 0.5 2011 Belgium: 3.6 EU average: 0.6 2012 Belgium: 2.4 EU average: -2.1 2013 Belgium: 1.5 EU average: -1.7 2014 Belgium: -0.3 EU average: 0.7 2015 Belgium: 1.8 EU average: 2.3 2016 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: 4.3 2017 Belgium: 3.5 EU average: 4.8 2018 Belgium: 3 EU average: 5 2019 Belgium: 3.7 EU average: 4.9 2020 Belgium: 4.3 EU average: 5.6 2021 Belgium: 6.7 EU average: 8.4 2022 Belgium: 5.5 EU average: 8 2023 Belgium: 2.3 EU average: -0.3 2024 Belgium: 3.2 EU average: 3.4 2025 Belgium: 3.2 EU average: 5.5 2006 2012 2015 2018 2025

R&D expenditure

% of GDP · 1995-2024

Belgium EU average

1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 1995 Belgium: 1.65 EU average: 1.73 1996 Belgium: 1.74 EU average: 1.72 1997 Belgium: 1.81 EU average: 1.72 1998 Belgium: 1.84 EU average: 1.73 1999 Belgium: 1.91 EU average: 1.78 2000 Belgium: 1.94 EU average: 1.81 2001 Belgium: 2.03 EU average: 1.82 2002 Belgium: 1.9 EU average: 1.83 2003 Belgium: 1.84 EU average: 1.82 2004 Belgium: 1.82 EU average: 1.79 2005 Belgium: 1.79 EU average: 1.78 2006 Belgium: 1.82 EU average: 1.8 2007 Belgium: 1.85 EU average: 1.79 2008 Belgium: 1.94 EU average: 1.87 2009 Belgium: 1.99 EU average: 1.96 2010 Belgium: 2.06 EU average: 1.96 2011 Belgium: 2.16 EU average: 2 2012 Belgium: 2.27 EU average: 2.06 2013 Belgium: 2.32 EU average: 2.08 2014 Belgium: 2.36 EU average: 2.09 2015 Belgium: 2.43 EU average: 2.1 2016 Belgium: 2.53 EU average: 2.1 2017 Belgium: 2.68 EU average: 2.14 2018 Belgium: 2.86 EU average: 2.17 2019 Belgium: 3.15 EU average: 2.21 2020 Belgium: 3.37 EU average: 2.28 2021 Belgium: 3.41 EU average: 2.24 2022 Belgium: 3.21 EU average: 2.22 2023 Belgium: 3.24 EU average: 2.26 2024 Belgium: 3.36 EU average: 2.24 1995 2005 2010 2015 2024

Electricity price for households

€/kWh · 2007S2-2025S2

Belgium EU average

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 2007S2 Belgium: 0.17 EU average: 0.15 2008S1 Belgium: 0.2 EU average: 0.16 2008S2 Belgium: 0.22 EU average: 0.17 2009S1 Belgium: 0.19 EU average: 0.17 2009S2 Belgium: 0.19 EU average: 0.17 2010S1 Belgium: 0.2 EU average: 0.17 2010S2 Belgium: 0.2 EU average: 0.18 2011S1 Belgium: 0.21 EU average: 0.19 2011S2 Belgium: 0.21 EU average: 0.19 2012S1 Belgium: 0.23 EU average: 0.19 2012S2 Belgium: 0.22 EU average: 0.2 2013S1 Belgium: 0.22 EU average: 0.2 2013S2 Belgium: 0.22 EU average: 0.21 2014S1 Belgium: 0.21 EU average: 0.21 2014S2 Belgium: 0.2 EU average: 0.21 2015S1 Belgium: 0.21 EU average: 0.21 2015S2 Belgium: 0.24 EU average: 0.21 2016S1 Belgium: 0.25 EU average: 0.21 2016S2 Belgium: 0.27 EU average: 0.21 2017S1 Belgium: 0.29 EU average: 0.21 2017S2 Belgium: 0.29 EU average: 0.21 2018S1 Belgium: 0.28 EU average: 0.21 2018S2 Belgium: 0.29 EU average: 0.22 2019S1 Belgium: 0.28 EU average: 0.22 2019S2 Belgium: 0.29 EU average: 0.22 2020S1 Belgium: 0.28 EU average: 0.21 2020S2 Belgium: 0.27 EU average: 0.22 2021S1 Belgium: 0.27 EU average: 0.22 2021S2 Belgium: 0.3 EU average: 0.24 2022S1 Belgium: 0.34 EU average: 0.25 2022S2 Belgium: 0.45 EU average: 0.28 2023S1 Belgium: 0.44 EU average: 0.29 2023S2 Belgium: 0.38 EU average: 0.28 2024S1 Belgium: 0.34 EU average: 0.29 2024S2 Belgium: 0.33 EU average: 0.29 2025S1 Belgium: 0.36 EU average: 0.29 2025S2 Belgium: 0.35 EU average: 0.29 2007S2 2013S2 2016S2 2019S2 2025S2

Economy

11 indicators
GDP per capita
53,930 €/inh.
+1,620 vs 2024
8th of 27 EU countries
EU average 41,700 €/inh.
2025 · country ranking
GDP growth
1.0 %
−0.1 vs 2024
18th of 27 EU countries
EU average 1.4 %
2025 · country ranking
Inflation
3.0 %
−1.3 vs 2024
16th of 27 EU countries
EU average 2.5 %
2025 · country ranking
House prices
3.2 %
0 vs 2024
20th of 26 EU countries
EU average 5.5 %
2025 · country ranking
R&D
3.36 % of GDP
+0.12 vs 2023
2nd of 27 EU countries
EU average 2.24 % of GDP
2024 · country ranking
Electricity price
0.3499 €/kWh
−0.0072 vs 2025S1
25th of 27 EU countries
EU average 0.2896 €/kWh
2025S2 · country ranking
Tax-to-GDP ratio
44.6 % of GDP
−0.5 vs 2024
3rd of 27 EU countries (2024)
2025 · country ranking
Gas price
0.0898 €/kWh
−0.0021 vs 2025S1
11th of 23 EU countries
EU average 0.1228 €/kWh
2025S2 · country ranking
Government debt
107.9 %
+4.0 vs 2024
24th of 27 EU countries
EU average 81.7 %
2025 · country ranking
Price level
118.7
−1.0 vs 2023
8th of 27 EU countries
EU average 100.0
2024 · country ranking
Budget balance
-5.2 %
−0.8 vs 2024
25th of 27 EU countries
EU average -3.1 %
2025 · country ranking

Labour

7 indicators
Employment
72.8 %
+0.5 vs 2024
23rd of 27 EU countries
EU average 76.1 %
2025 · country ranking
Unemployment
6.2 %
+0.5 vs 2024
17th of 27 EU countries
EU average 6.0 %
2025 · country ranking
Minimum wage
2,234 €
+122 vs 2026S1
5th of 22 EU countries
2026S2 · country ranking
Gender pay gap
0.7 %
0 vs 2023
2nd of 27 EU countries
EU average 11.1 %
2024 · country ranking
Long-term unemployment
2.0 %
0 vs 2024
18th of 27 EU countries
EU average 1.9 %
2025 · country ranking
NEET rate
9.8 %
−0.1 vs 2024
12th of 27 EU countries
EU average 11.0 %
2025 · country ranking
Working hours
36.5 h
0 vs 2024
21st of 27 EU countries
EU average 37.3 h
2025 · country ranking

Population

7 indicators
Healthy life expectancy
63.9 years
−0.1 vs 2023
13th of 26 EU countries
EU average 65.2 years
2024 · country ranking
Doctors
334 per 100k
−3 vs 2023
26th of 26 EU countries
2024 · country ranking
Infant mortality
3.5 ‰
+0.4 vs 2023
17th of 27 EU countries
EU average 3.5 ‰
2024 · country ranking
Obesity
15.9 %
+2.2 vs 2014
10th of 26 EU countries
EU average 16.0 %
2019 · country ranking
Population
12 mn
8th of 27 EU countries
2026 · country ranking
Life expectancy
81.7 years
+0.2 vs 2023
10th of 27 EU countries
EU average 80.8 years
2024 · country ranking
Fertility
1.44
−0.03 vs 2023
8th of 27 EU countries
EU average 1.34
2024 · country ranking

Environment

8 indicators
Emissions
8.2 t/inh.
−0.1 vs 2023
19th of 27 EU countries
2024 · country ranking
Energy imports
75.4 %
−0.3 vs 2023
22nd of 27 EU countries
EU average 57.3 %
2024 · country ranking
Municipal waste
699 kg
+11 vs 2023
19th of 20 EU countries
EU average 517 kg
2024 · country ranking
Renewable electricity
34.3 %
+3.0 vs 2024
19th of 27 EU countries
EU average 49.9 %
2025 · country ranking
Organic farming
7.4 %
−0.1 vs 2023
17th of 25 EU countries
2024 · country ranking
Air pollution deaths
25 per 100k
−10 vs 2022
10th of 27 EU countries
EU average 41 per 100k
2023 · country ranking
Renewables
14.9 %
+0.6 vs 2024
27th of 27 EU countries
EU average 26.2 %
2025 · country ranking
Recycling
56.2 %
+0.4 vs 2023
5th of 20 EU countries
EU average 48.1 %
2024 · country ranking

Society

19 indicators
Health spending
11.1 %
+0.3 vs 2023
5th of 25 EU countries
2024 · country ranking
Tertiary educated
47.5 %
+2.5 vs 2024
6th of 27 EU countries
EU average 36.9 %
2025 · country ranking
Adult learning
18.0 %
+3.1 vs 2024
8th of 27 EU countries
EU average 13.7 %
2025 · country ranking
Poverty risk
16.5 %
−1.8 vs 2024
5th of 27 EU countries
EU average 20.9 %
2025 · country ranking
Income inequality
20.6
−1.2 vs 2024
1st of 27 EU countries
EU average 28.6
2025 · country ranking
Internet use
96.5 %
+0.7 vs 2024
7th of 27 EU countries
EU average 93.8 %
2025 · country ranking
Road deaths
4 per mn
0 vs 2023
12th of 27 EU countries
EU average 4 per mn
2024 · country ranking
Housing overcrowding
6.6 %
+0.1 vs 2024
5th of 27 EU countries
EU average 16.8 %
2025 · country ranking
Passenger cars
513 per 1,000
0 vs 2024
19th of 27 EU countries
EU average 584 per 1,000
2025 · country ranking
Early leavers
7.3 %
+0.3 vs 2024
12th of 26 EU countries
EU average 9.1 %
2025 · country ranking
Unable to keep warm
4.2 %
−0.6 vs 2024
8th of 27 EU countries
EU average 8.8 %
2025 · country ranking
Burglaries
407 per 100k
−23 vs 2023
19th of 24 EU countries
2024 · country ranking
Housing overburden
6.7 %
0 vs 2024
18th of 27 EU countries
EU average 7.7 %
2025 · country ranking
Home ownership
70.9 %
+0.6 vs 2024
16th of 27 EU countries
EU average 68.5 %
2025 · country ranking
Travel by car
79.5 %
−0.9 vs 2023
5th of 27 EU countries
EU average 82.5 %
2024 · country ranking
Health expenditure
8.0 % of GDP
+0.2 vs 2023
7th of 27 EU countries
EU average 7.3 % of GDP
2024 · country ranking
Education spending
6.3 % of GDP
0 vs 2023
3rd of 27 EU countries
EU average 4.7 % of GDP
2024 · country ranking
Life satisfaction
7.6 /10
0 vs 2024
10th of 27 EU countries
EU average 7.2 /10
2025 · country ranking
Digital skills
61.2 %
+1.8 vs 2023
14th of 27 EU countries
EU average 60.4 %
2025 · country ranking

Regions

NUTS

NUTS 1 3

NUTS 2 11

NUTS 3 44

Where the data comes from

© European Union, source: Eurostat - datasets, licence and methods.

Ranks are among EU member states. Where less is better (unemployment, debt), the lowest value ranks first.