Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Belgium
Belgium: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 11.3% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
11.3%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
70th
of 123 countries
All-time high
12.0%
in 2017
All-time low
11.0%
in 2005
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Belgium, 2000–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 11.3% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Belgium peaked at 12.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2005.
Belgium ranks 70th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Belgium, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.2% | — |
| 2001 | 11.5% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 11.6% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 11.5% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 11.4% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 11.0% | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 11.5% | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 11.4% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 11.3% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 11.1% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 11.2% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 11.4% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 11.3% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 11.7% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 11.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 12.0% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 11.3% | +1.5% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 11.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 11.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.6%, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.4% | 11.0% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 11.1% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Belgium?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Belgium was 11.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2017.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2005.
- How does Belgium rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Belgium ranks 70th out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (IMF calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release