Military spending in Belgium
Belgium: Military spending was 8.46 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Military spending in Belgium, 1830–2023
Source: Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Belgium stood at 8.46 billion constant 2022 US$.
The figure is up 8.0% on the previous year and up 46.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Belgium peaked at 10.06 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1979 and was at its lowest, 168.65 million constant 2022 US$, in 1865.
That places Belgium 35th out of 172 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 238.24 million constant 2022 US$ | 187.45 million constant 2022 US$ | 333.96 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 179.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 170.72 million constant 2022 US$ | 193.07 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 205.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 179.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 220.17 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 194.05 million constant 2022 US$ | 168.65 million constant 2022 US$ | 221.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 211.62 million constant 2022 US$ | 185.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 244.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 230.73 million constant 2022 US$ | 216.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 247.05 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 275.70 million constant 2022 US$ | 240.55 million constant 2022 US$ | 310.20 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 324.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 308.51 million constant 2022 US$ | 337.50 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 365.48 million constant 2022 US$ | 191.88 million constant 2022 US$ | 518.34 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 386.81 million constant 2022 US$ | 303.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 471.03 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 807.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 502.58 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 7.14 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6 |
| 1950s | 3.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.87 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.51 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.90 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.96 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.88 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.91 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | 8.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 3.25 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0177 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4336 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.84 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 145.66 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Belgium?
- Military spending in Belgium was 8.46 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 10.06 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1979.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 168.65 million constant 2022 US$ in 1865.
- How does Belgium rank for military spending?
- Belgium ranks 35th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. - Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.