
Gross debt in Belgium
The government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. Not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones.The gross debt in Belgium in the period from 1998 to 2022 was between 256.2 billion and 648.6 billion USD. The hightest level within the past 24 years was reached in 2021. However, the liabilities in 2022 have been only 608 billion USD The budget deficit in the same year was 22.5 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 52,468 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 31,253 USD.
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Gross debt of the last 24 years in billion USD
Year | Belgium total | Belgium per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 299.68 bn USD | 29,371 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 289.15 bn USD | 28,275 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 259.49 bn USD | 25,313 USD | 11,241 USD |
2001 | 256.19 bn USD | 24,905 USD | 11,263 USD |
2002 | 272.44 bn USD | 26,366 USD | 12,266 USD |
2003 | 323.37 bn USD | 31,165 USD | 15,295 USD |
2004 | 358.76 bn USD | 34,427 USD | 17,606 USD |
2005 | 366.98 bn USD | 35,022 USD | 18,337 USD |
2006 | 373.53 bn USD | 35,413 USD | 18,887 USD |
2007 | 411.24 bn USD | 38,702 USD | 20,910 USD |
2008 | 481.96 bn USD | 45,001 USD | 24,100 USD |
2009 | 484.31 bn USD | 44,858 USD | 25,376 USD |
2010 | 482.73 bn USD | 44,305 USD | 26,515 USD |
2011 | 541.64 bn USD | 49,069 USD | 29,254 USD |
2012 | 520.03 bn USD | 46,820 USD | 28,198 USD |
2013 | 550.41 bn USD | 49,322 USD | 30,008 USD |
2014 | 573.09 bn USD | 51,128 USD | 30,677 USD |
2015 | 486.52 bn USD | 43,154 USD | 25,944 USD |
2016 | 499.90 bn USD | 44,116 USD | 26,287 USD |
2017 | 512.94 bn USD | 45,093 USD | 27,108 USD |
2018 | 542.54 bn USD | 47,478 USD | 28,543 USD |
2019 | 523.06 bn USD | 45,528 USD | 27,264 USD |
2020 | 588.44 bn USD | 50,997 USD | 30,919 USD |
2021 | 648.65 bn USD | 55,952 USD | 33,827 USD |
2022 | 608.25 bn USD | 52,468 USD | 31,253 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in Belgium

The budget balance in Belgium in the period between 1998 and 2022 varied between -47.26 billion euros and +946.11 million euros. In 2022, Belgium reached a balance of -22 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 1,939 euros per capita in Belgium in 2022. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 1,254 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 24 years
Year | Belgium total | Belgium per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | -2,375.28 M USD | -233 USD | -398 USD |
1999 | -1,637.81 M USD | -160 USD | -204 USD |
2000 | -84.42 M USD | -8 USD | 112 USD |
2001 | 946.11 M USD | 92 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | -219.28 M USD | -21 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | -328.95 M USD | -32 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | -588.24 M USD | -56 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | -10,686.45 M USD | -1,020 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | 900.14 M USD | 85 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | 308.91 M USD | 29 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | -5,666.70 M USD | -529 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -26,245.95 M USD | -2,431 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -19,679.09 M USD | -1,806 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -22,661.48 M USD | -2,053 USD | -1,463 USD |
2012 | -21,425.58 M USD | -1,929 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | -16,328.86 M USD | -1,463 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | -16,358.88 M USD | -1,459 USD | -851 USD |
2015 | -11,159.13 M USD | -990 USD | -574 USD |
2016 | -11,250.64 M USD | -993 USD | -421 USD |
2017 | -3,438.02 M USD | -302 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | -4,726.60 M USD | -414 USD | -134 USD |
2019 | -10,632.79 M USD | -925 USD | -191 USD |
2020 | -47,259.78 M USD | -4,096 USD | -2,317 USD |
2021 | -32,586.58 M USD | -2,811 USD | -1,852 USD |
2022 | -22,475.76 M USD | -1,939 USD | -1,254 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)