Belgium Military Spending
Military expenditure as % of GDP MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
Belgium's military spending was 1.34% in 2025, ranked 90th globally. This represents a 4.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Belgium's military spending stood at 1.34% in 2025, a rise of +0.06% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.34% by 2025. Belgium ranked 90th globally.
Belgium’s military expenditure has fallen sharply from its all‑time peak of 3.40 % of GDP in 1960 to a trough of 0.89 % in 2017, before a modest rebound to 1.34 % in 2025, placing the country 90th globally. The 66‑year series shows a long‑term downward bias, reflecting post‑Cold War defence cuts and a strategic shift toward European security cooperation. By contrast, Japan’s defence spending stands at 1.36 % of GDP, marginally higher than Belgium’s latest level, while Gabon records 1.32 %, underscoring Belgium’s position near the lower end of the OECD spectrum. The recent uptick aligns with NATO’s 2022 guidance for members to aim for at least 2 % of GDP, suggesting that geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe may be prompting incremental budget adjustments. If Belgium sustains this trajectory and aligns with alliance targets, the share of GDP devoted to defence could continue to rise modestly over the next decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Military Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 1.48% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.41% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.34% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.34% | +0.06% | #90 |
| 2024 | 1.28% | +0.09% | #54 |
| 2023 | 1.18% | +0.02% | #45 |
| 2022 | 1.16% | +0.12% | #48 |
| 2021 | 1.04% | +0.04% | #40 |
| 2020 | 1.01% | +0.12% | #37 |
| 2019 | 0.89% | −0.01% | #33 |
| 2018 | 0.89% | +0.01% | #31 |
| 2017 | 0.89% | −0.01% | #30 |
| 2016 | 0.90% | −0.01% | #27 |
| 2015 | 0.91% | −0.05% | #33 |
| 2014 | 0.97% | −0.04% | #38 |
| 2013 | 1.00% | −0.03% | #44 |
| 2012 | 1.04% | −0.01% | #41 |
| 2011 | 1.04% | −0.05% | #41 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Belgium matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw military spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Belgium's military spending was 1.34% in 2025. Ranked 90th globally. This represents a 4.9% increase from the previous year.
Belgium's military spending peaked at 3.40% in 1960.
The lowest military spending in Belgium was 0.89% in 2017.
Belgium ranks 90th globally in military spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Belgium's military spending is projected to reach 1.34% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The military spending of Belgium in 2025 was 1.34%. This ranks 90th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_belgium_military-spending,
title = {Belgium Military Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/belgium/military-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}