
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 2021 was between 256.2 billion and 649.0 billion USD. The highest level of the last years at 649 billion US Dollar was reached in 2021. The budget deficit in the same year was 33.1 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 55,978 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 33,695 USD.
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Gross debt of the last 23 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 | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 256.19 bn USD | 24,905 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 272.44 bn USD | 26,366 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 323.37 bn USD | 31,165 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 358.76 bn USD | 34,427 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 366.98 bn USD | 35,022 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 373.53 bn USD | 35,413 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 411.24 bn USD | 38,702 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 481.96 bn USD | 45,001 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 484.31 bn USD | 44,858 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 482.73 bn USD | 44,305 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 541.64 bn USD | 49,069 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 520.03 bn USD | 46,820 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 550.41 bn USD | 49,322 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 573.09 bn USD | 51,127 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 486.51 bn USD | 43,153 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 499.89 bn USD | 44,115 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 512.93 bn USD | 45,092 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 542.53 bn USD | 47,478 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 523.09 bn USD | 45,530 USD | 27,168 USD |
2020 | 588.56 bn USD | 51,008 USD | 30,783 USD |
2021 | 648.95 bn USD | 55,978 USD | 33,695 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 2021 varied between -47.20 billion euros and +946.11 million euros. In 2021, Belgium reached a balance of -33.08 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 2,853 euros per capita in Belgium in 2021. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 1,787 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 23 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 | -1,462 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 | -852 USD |
2015 | -11,159.13 M USD | -990 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | -11,250.64 M USD | -993 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | -3,438.02 M USD | -302 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | -4,726.72 M USD | -414 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | -10,452.88 M USD | -910 USD | -197 USD |
2020 | -47,195.48 M USD | -4,090 USD | -2,312 USD |
2021 | -33,075.15 M USD | -2,853 USD | -1,787 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)