Military expenditure (current USD) in Belgium
Belgium: Military expenditure was 8.56 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8.56 billion current USD
Change on year
up 12.2%
World rank
33rd
of 168 countries
All-time high
8.56 billion current USD
in 2024
All-time low
383.22 million current USD
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Military expenditure in Belgium, 1960–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Belgium stood at 8.56 billion current USD. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.2% on the previous year and up 64.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Belgium peaked at 8.56 billion current USD in 2024 and was at its lowest, 383.22 million current USD, in 1960.
That places Belgium 33rd out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Belgium, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 383.22 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 391.22 million current USD | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 422.22 million current USD | +7.9% |
| 1963 | 444.60 million current USD | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 497.06 million current USD | +11.8% |
| 1965 | 500.72 million current USD | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 563.38 million current USD | +12.5% |
| 1967 | 607.92 million current USD | +7.9% |
| 1968 | 646.38 million current USD | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 675.08 million current USD | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 747.75 million current USD | +10.8% |
| 1971 | 828.72 million current USD | +10.8% |
| 1972 | 1.03 billion current USD | +23.9% |
| 1973 | 1.30 billion current USD | +26.3% |
| 1974 | 1.48 billion current USD | +14.3% |
| 1975 | 1.93 billion current USD | +30.0% |
| 1976 | 2.11 billion current USD | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 2.50 billion current USD | +18.3% |
| 1978 | 3.17 billion current USD | +26.8% |
| 1979 | 3.63 billion current USD | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 3.96 billion current USD | +9.0% |
| 1981 | 3.39 billion current USD | -14.5% |
| 1982 | 2.89 billion current USD | -14.6% |
| 1983 | 2.67 billion current USD | -7.6% |
| 1984 | 2.41 billion current USD | -9.9% |
| 1985 | 2.43 billion current USD | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 3.40 billion current USD | +40.2% |
| 1987 | 4.16 billion current USD | +22.3% |
| 1988 | 4.10 billion current USD | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 3.88 billion current USD | -5.3% |
| 1990 | 4.64 billion current USD | +19.7% |
| 1991 | 4.62 billion current USD | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 4.13 billion current USD | -10.7% |
| 1993 | 3.75 billion current USD | -9.3% |
| 1994 | 3.94 billion current USD | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 4.45 billion current USD | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 4.24 billion current USD | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 3.68 billion current USD | -13.1% |
| 1998 | 3.66 billion current USD | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 3.60 billion current USD | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 3.19 billion current USD | -11.3% |
| 2001 | 3.04 billion current USD | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 3.15 billion current USD | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 3.88 billion current USD | +23.1% |
| 2004 | 4.26 billion current USD | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 4.23 billion current USD | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 4.31 billion current USD | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 5.16 billion current USD | +19.9% |
| 2008 | 6.30 billion current USD | +21.9% |
| 2009 | 5.62 billion current USD | -10.7% |
| 2010 | 5.24 billion current USD | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 5.50 billion current USD | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 5.17 billion current USD | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 5.26 billion current USD | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 5.19 billion current USD | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 4.20 billion current USD | -19.1% |
| 2016 | 4.26 billion current USD | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 4.43 billion current USD | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 4.84 billion current USD | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 4.76 billion current USD | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 5.32 billion current USD | +11.7% |
| 2021 | 6.24 billion current USD | +17.3% |
| 2022 | 6.89 billion current USD | +10.4% |
| 2023 | 7.63 billion current USD | +10.7% |
| 2024 | 8.56 billion current USD | +12.2% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 8.56 billion current USD is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 1.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 8.56 billion current USD is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 billion current USD, 3.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 513.18 million current USD | 383.22 million current USD | 675.08 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.87 billion current USD | 747.75 million current USD | 3.63 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.33 billion current USD | 2.41 billion current USD | 4.16 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.07 billion current USD | 3.60 billion current USD | 4.64 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.31 billion current USD | 3.04 billion current USD | 6.30 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.89 billion current USD | 4.20 billion current USD | 5.50 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.93 billion current USD | 5.32 billion current USD | 8.56 billion current USD | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More public sector data for Belgium
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Belgium?
- Military expenditure in Belgium was 8.56 billion current USD in 2024, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 8.56 billion current USD in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 383.22 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Belgium rank for military expenditure?
- Belgium ranks 33rd out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)