Belgium — Health spending
Health Spending (% of GDP) for Belgium, 2000–2023.
Health spending for Belgium was 10.80% in 2023, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 24 years, from 2000 to 2023. The highest recorded value was 11.46% in 2020. The lowest was 8.00% in 2000 (about 1.4× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.32% per year.
Belgium ranks 18 of 189 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 10%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 7.92%, so Belgium sits above it. It peaked in 2020 and has fallen 6% since. Over the last decade (2013–2023) the figure moved up 2%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 7 of 51 economies; Finland (10.47%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 10% in 2003.
Data highlights
Doubling roughly every 53 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 24th of 184 in 2000 → 16th of 188 in 2010 → 18th of 189 in 2020 → 18th of 188 in 2023.
Key figures
Full history — 2000 to 2023
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10.8% | +0.1 pp |
| 2022 | 10.74% | -0.5 pp |
| 2021 | 11.29% | -0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 11.46% | +0.6 pp |
| 2019 | 10.86% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 10.99% | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 10.94% | +0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 10.9% | +0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 10.88% | +0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 10.62% | -0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 10.64% | +0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 10.59% | +0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 10.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 10.41% | -0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 10.54% | +0.9 pp |
| 2008 | 9.6% | +0.5 pp |
| 2007 | 9.14% | +0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 9.13% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 9.25% | -0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 9.35% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 9.19% | +0.9 pp |
| 2002 | 8.32% | +0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 8.15% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 8% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Belgium’s Health spending in 2001?
8.15% (2001). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of GDP, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Belgium’s Health spending growing or shrinking?
Between 2000 and 2023 the series was growing overall: +35.1% in total — about 1.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2023: 10.8%; 2022: 10.74%; 2021: 11.29%; 2020: 11.46%; 2019: 10.86%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS — Health Spending (% of GDP). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.