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Economy of Belgium vs New Zealand compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a GDP of $665B compared to $260B for New Zealand, ranking 23/197 and 53/197 by economy size, respectively.

Belgium has $694B in government debt (106.4% of GDP), compared to $133B (55.3% of GDP) in New Zealand.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Belgium
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
New Zealand
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Belgium New Zealand
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $11,810,619,368 $107,240,692,072 $5,536,098,360 $42,169,502,939
1961 $12,561,701,694 $112,579,587,419 $5,721,994,864 $43,567,695,918
1962 $13,436,827,167 $118,447,239,466 $6,133,158,532 $44,909,961,496
1963 $14,445,805,381 $123,601,570,921 $6,699,741,645 $47,650,420,052
1964 $16,168,044,450 $132,200,142,536 $7,340,766,415 $50,558,660,811
1965 $17,597,783,297 $136,907,339,919 $5,706,251,400 $53,648,670,594
1966 $18,894,891,312 $141,227,991,789 $5,917,437,693 $57,000,887,530
1967 $20,252,508,995 $146,690,898,042 $6,016,017,227 $54,384,875,095
1968 $21,654,856,965 $152,843,304,454 $5,228,045,415 $54,358,308,884
1969 $24,019,653,475 $162,976,509,540 $5,814,357,709 $59,899,960,124
1970 $26,706,196,047 $173,329,872,814 $6,495,605,331 $59,062,793,729
1971 $29,821,661,870 $180,238,502,024 $7,911,136,757 $61,298,590,947
1972 $37,209,418,019 $189,783,220,556 $9,567,331,065 $64,436,532,490
1973 $47,743,801,490 $201,894,619,758 $12,802,281,898 $69,462,760,982
1974 $56,033,077,879 $211,111,631,065 $13,940,981,798 $73,625,970,474
1975 $65,678,189,097 $206,961,299,090 $12,861,983,284 $72,351,001,836
1976 $71,113,882,968 $218,660,295,777 $13,604,832,424 $73,023,006,890
1977 $82,839,905,459 $220,029,447,216 $15,446,825,318 $70,148,574,828
1978 $101,246,526,194 $226,282,457,073 $18,530,518,395 $70,372,042,491
1979 $116,315,456,797 $231,579,894,682 $20,731,243,113 $71,914,438,834
1980 $126,829,314,388 $241,871,430,006 $23,244,547,385 $72,838,001,601
1981 $104,730,018,470 $241,195,922,804 $24,417,617,184 $76,229,086,932
1982 $92,095,926,188 $242,631,006,628 $24,164,603,059 $76,937,776,426
1983 $87,184,239,053 $243,387,634,461 $24,309,279,706 $79,624,078,134
1984 $83,349,530,159 $249,390,504,367 $21,665,975,319 $83,440,220,877
1985 $86,268,264,148 $253,509,919,187 $24,679,795,396 $84,788,059,636
1986 $120,018,787,249 $258,130,801,745 $30,604,668,357 $87,082,121,111
1987 $149,394,404,106 $264,085,000,894 $40,376,354,070 $87,927,548,030
1988 $162,299,103,675 $276,558,286,707 $45,176,811,594 $87,616,568,095
1989 $164,221,056,511 $286,152,555,458 $43,920,222,525 $87,757,994,040
1990 $205,331,747,948 $295,130,312,078 $45,495,129,385 $87,892,387,206
1991 $210,510,999,409 $300,540,270,315 $42,745,329,732 $86,933,663,001
1992 $234,781,652,447 $305,140,504,243 $41,649,829,860 $87,884,573,621
1993 $224,721,795,709 $302,205,439,886 $46,775,620,817 $93,501,741,195
1994 $244,884,129,491 $311,957,523,164 $55,314,732,279 $98,288,327,599
1995 $288,025,588,396 $319,396,952,810 $63,918,703,507 $102,929,582,187
1996 $279,201,433,225 $323,617,566,813 $70,140,835,299 $106,647,274,008
1997 $252,708,051,421 $335,894,554,717 $66,075,143,415 $108,864,761,861
1998 $258,528,339,631 $342,484,242,937 $56,227,169,851 $109,799,263,892
1999 $258,245,733,221 $354,617,493,818 $58,762,260,626 $115,703,970,647
2000 $236,792,460,312 $367,797,580,320 $52,623,281,957 $119,024,733,715
2001 $236,746,141,604 $371,841,895,843 $53,872,425,917 $123,084,659,196
2002 $258,383,599,375 $378,188,843,981 $66,627,729,311 $128,886,227,124
2003 $318,082,528,507 $382,114,274,684 $88,250,885,550 $134,980,022,138
2004 $369,214,712,443 $395,760,365,337 $103,905,210,084 $140,497,957,985
2005 $385,714,762,230 $404,948,883,847 $114,720,129,550 $145,208,752,801
2006 $408,259,840,869 $415,284,559,725 $111,538,810,713 $149,245,237,528
2007 $470,922,156,309 $430,554,259,966 $137,188,946,866 $153,806,793,429
2008 $517,328,087,920 $432,478,429,045 $133,437,126,590 $152,242,519,171
2009 $485,014,525,992 $424,233,482,719 $121,663,439,315 $152,185,479,818
2010 $481,556,503,720 $435,731,531,599 $146,887,902,524 $154,405,312,545
2011 $527,196,649,049 $444,146,182,963 $168,484,908,960 $157,637,781,921
2012 $498,414,364,945 $445,104,666,469 $176,560,711,239 $161,367,975,233
2013 $524,097,026,599 $446,464,436,962 $191,012,364,177 $165,546,666,710
2014 $537,987,419,164 $454,346,946,886 $201,518,402,787 $171,881,119,397
2015 $461,044,767,545 $461,044,767,545 $178,224,167,088 $178,224,167,088
2016 $474,271,566,740 $466,547,349,432 $189,100,085,275 $184,959,455,627
2017 $500,908,767,352 $473,426,439,011 $206,745,969,246 $191,208,740,301
2018 $542,638,913,428 $482,317,238,282 $211,985,631,173 $197,844,796,499
2019 $536,726,344,405 $494,099,718,081 $213,006,341,102 $202,429,793,154
2020 $529,694,473,502 $470,417,598,102 $213,029,554,654 $201,807,833,898
2021 $598,522,422,242 $499,619,240,041 $253,977,931,815 $210,960,637,813
2022 $593,614,574,326 $520,899,825,783 $249,509,991,440 $218,336,637,843
2023 $644,655,275,112 $527,159,436,182 $255,194,972,673 $221,380,800,380
2024 $664,564,181,487 $532,530,656,429 $260,235,932,559 $221,100,836,866

Economic indicators

Belgium New Zealand
Gross domestic product
$665B
2024
$260B
2024
GDP rank
23/197
2024
53/197
2024
GDP growth
3.09%
2023-2024
1.98%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$55,955
2024
$48,747
2024
GDP per capita rank
17/197
2024
26/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$72,126
2024
$55,094
2024
Government debt
$694B
2024
$133B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
106.4%
2025
55.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$58,455
2024
$24,936
2024
Government debt per person rank
5/185
2024
28/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$34,348
2025
$36,132
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$92.9B
2024
Number of millionaires
564,666
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
5
2025
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.6%
2025
43%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.14%
2023-2024
2.92%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
4.72%
2024
Population
11909960
5406623

GDP per capita in Belgium vs New Zealand

Belgium's GDP per capita is $55,955, ranking 17/197, compared to $48,747 in New Zealand, ranking 26/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Belgium ranks 20th at $72,126, while New Zealand ranks 37th at $55,094.

Belgium
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
New Zealand
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Belgium New Zealand
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $1,290 - $2,334 -
1961 $1,368 - $2,365 -
1962 $1,457 - $2,471 -
1963 $1,555 - $2,646 -
1964 $1,724 - $2,839 -
1965 $1,860 - $2,171 -
1966 $1,983 - $2,211 -
1967 $2,114 - $2,208 -
1968 $2,251 - $1,902 -
1969 $2,490 - $2,097 -
1970 $2,766 - $2,311 -
1971 $3,083 - $2,773 -
1972 $3,832 - $3,295 -
1973 $4,901 - $4,323 -
1974 $5,734 - $4,611 -
1975 $6,701 - $4,172 -
1976 $7,243 - $4,374 -
1977 $8,427 - $4,951 -
1978 $10,290 - $5,937 -
1979 $11,811 - $6,668 -
1980 $12,864 - $7,467 -
1981 $10,623 - $7,814 -
1982 $9,344 - $7,656 -
1983 $8,846 - $7,598 -
1984 $8,457 - $6,714 -
1985 $8,751 - $7,601 -
1986 $12,170 - $9,428 -
1987 $15,136 - $12,331 -
1988 $16,391 - $13,759 -
1989 $16,525 - $13,312 -
1990 $20,600 $18,675 $13,663 $14,871
1991 $21,042 $19,588 $12,230 $14,560
1992 $23,373 $20,259 $11,793 $14,937
1993 $22,284 $20,459 $13,094 $15,964
1994 $24,209 $21,504 $15,280 $17,111
1995 $28,414 $22,431 $17,400 $17,885
1996 $27,490 $22,737 $18,794 $18,442
1997 $24,821 $23,728 $17,474 $19,127
1998 $25,338 $24,369 $14,738 $19,320
1999 $25,253 $25,441 $15,322 $20,579
2000 $23,099 $27,788 $13,641 $21,501
2001 $23,015 $28,797 $13,883 $22,521
2002 $25,006 $30,282 $16,874 $23,306
2003 $30,655 $30,935 $21,914 $23,987
2004 $35,429 $32,064 $25,420 $25,097
2005 $36,810 $33,178 $27,751 $25,677
2006 $38,705 $35,259 $26,655 $27,744
2007 $44,319 $36,800 $32,480 $29,354
2008 $48,303 $37,883 $31,325 $29,896
2009 $44,923 $37,886 $28,277 $30,756
2010 $44,197 $39,844 $33,762 $31,293
2011 $47,761 $41,245 $38,432 $32,739
2012 $44,874 $42,484 $40,054 $33,055
2013 $46,965 $43,864 $43,000 $36,263
2014 $47,996 $45,148 $44,618 $37,331
2015 $40,894 $46,084 $38,665 $37,578
2016 $41,855 $48,415 $40,114 $39,989
2017 $44,035 $50,256 $42,950 $42,244
2018 $47,487 $52,467 $43,257 $42,527
2019 $46,717 $56,712 $42,779 $45,198
2020 $45,906 $56,120 $41,851 $45,354
2021 $51,658 $60,669 $49,689 $47,997
2022 $50,822 $68,158 $48,760 $53,647
2023 $54,690 $69,059 $48,655 $53,854
2024 $55,955 $72,126 $48,747 $55,094

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Belgium's government spending was $361B, accounting for 54.6% of its GDP, while New Zealand's spent $111B, or 43% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 106.4% in Belgium and 55.3% in New Zealand, ranking 17/185 and 95/185, respectively.

Belgium
Government spending

Government debt
New Zealand
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Belgium New Zealand
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1960 23.7% 69.4% 25.3% 68.1%
1961 22.1% 67.8% 21.1% 64.6%
1962 22.5% 65.3% 21.6% 65%
1963 23.1% 64.1% 19.4% 64.5%
1964 22.5% 59.4% 19.4% 61.8%
1965 23.4% 57.6% 24.9% 59.6%
1966 25.1% 55.6% 25% 58.2%
1967 25.5% 54.1% 26% 59.7%
1968 26.7% 54.5% 26.2% 86.5%
1969 26.5% 51.6% 25.9% 85.8%
1970 42.7% 66.6% 24.8% 76.5%
1971 43.9% 63.5% 26.8% 71.3%
1972 45% 64.9% 26.4% 46%
1973 45% 63.7% 27.1% 44%
1974 44.5% 61.8% 27.3% 39.6%
1975 50.2% 59.5% 30.1% 41.4%
1976 50.4% 61.4% 31.6% 47.6%
1977 52.2% 61.6% 30% 44.6%
1978 52.8% 65.2% 36.6% 50%
1979 54.8% 69.2% 38.4% 52%
1980 54.9% 76.8% 38% 52.2%
1981 61.5% 89.7% 39.1% 50.5%
1982 59.6% 99.6% 39.9% 51.5%
1983 62.2% 110.3% 41.4% 59.6%
1984 59.1% 114.6% 40.7% 62.8%
1985 58.4% 119.4% 46.1% 64.1%
1986 57.6% 124.7% 46.9% 68.5%
1987 55.8% 129.2% 46.1% 62.9%
1988 53.9% 129.7% 46.1% 54.7%
1989 52.3% 126.4% 47.9% 55%
1990 54.4% 130.3% 49.6% 55.5%
1991 55.6% 131.8% 53% 58%
1992 55.9% 134.7% 52.5% 58.7%
1993 57.1% 138.9% 46.8% 54.6%
1994 54.7% 137.1% 42.8% 48.9%
1995 52.6% 131.3% 41.6% 43.5%
1996 53.1% 129% 39.9% 37.3%
1997 51.6% 124.3% 39.3% 34.6%
1998 51% 119.2% 40.1% 34.5%
1999 50.5% 115.4% 39.3% 32%
2000 49.4% 109.6% 38.3% 30%
2001 49.4% 108.2% 37.2% 28.2%
2002 49.9% 105.4% 36.8% 26.4%
2003 51% 101.7% 36.7% 24.7%
2004 49.3% 97.2% 36.2% 22.5%
2005 51.9% 95.1% 37.1% 20.8%
2006 48.8% 91.5% 37.9% 18.4%
2007 48.6% 87.3% 37.1% 16.3%
2008 50.8% 93.2% 38.5% 19%
2009 54.5% 99.9% 40.3% 24.3%
2010 53.9% 100.2% 42.9% 29.6%
2011 55% 102.7% 42.4% 34.7%
2012 56.2% 104.3% 39.7% 35.7%
2013 55.9% 105% 38.6% 34.5%
2014 55.4% 106.5% 37.7% 34.2%
2015 53.9% 105.5% 37.2% 34.2%
2016 53.4% 105.4% 36.4% 33.3%
2017 52.3% 102.4% 35.6% 31.1%
2018 52.5% 100% 36.1% 28.1%
2019 51.8% 97.5% 38.8% 31.8%
2020 58.5% 111.1% 42% 43.2%
2021 54.9% 108.4% 41.9% 47.5%
2022 52.2% 102.6% 41.8% 46.9%
2023 53.3% 103.1% 41.3% 47%
2024 54.3% 104.5% 42.7% 51.2%
2025 54.6% 106.4% 43% 55.3%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Belgium's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$29.4B, equivalent to -4.42% of GDP. This compares to New Zealand's deficit of -$11.4B, or -4.38% of GDP.

Over the past 65 years, Belgium recorded a fiscal deficit in 62 of those years, while New Zealand ran a deficit in 36 years. On average, Belgium posted an annual deficit equal to -4.72% of GDP, compared to deficit of -1.25% of GDP for New Zealand.

Deficit/surplus
Belgium

New Zealand
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Belgium New Zealand
1835 0.27% -
1836 0.18% -
1837 -0.11% -
1838 0.23% -
1839 -0.43% -
1840 0.16% -
1841 -0.75% -
1842 -0.89% -
1843 -0.86% -
1844 -4.92% -
1845 -1.17% -
1846 -0.52% -
1847 -0.69% -
1848 -1.41% -
1849 0.11% -
1850 -0.11% -
1851 -0.05% -
1852 -0.44% -
1853 -0.3% -
1854 -0.4% -
1855 -0.28% -
1856 -0.26% -
1857 0% -
1858 0.35% -
1859 0.1% -
1860 -0.13% -
1861 -0.22% -
1862 -0.49% -
1863 -0.72% -
1864 -0.62% -
1865 -0.55% -
1866 -0.87% -
1867 -0.49% -
1868 -0.39% -
1869 -0.35% -
1870 -0.58% -
1871 -0.64% -
1872 -0.7% -
1873 -2.08% -
1874 -1.02% -
1875 -0.88% -
1876 -0.77% -5.28%
1877 -2.52% -2.53%
1878 -1.78% -0.85%
1879 -1.51% -0.55%
1880 0.12% -2.39%
1881 0.08% -2.33%
1882 -0.3% 0.18%
1883 -0.54% 0.38%
1884 -0.26% -0.1%
1885 -0.43% -0.47%
1886 0.54% -0.53%
1887 -0.12% -1.63%
1888 -0.21% -1.64%
1889 0.3% 0.59%
1890 -0.83% 0.05%
1891 -0.005% 0.46%
1892 0.17% 0.09%
1893 0.07% 1.14%
1894 0.06% 0.76%
1895 -0.33% 0.32%
1896 0.94% 0.65%
1897 -0.25% 0.86%
1898 -0.28% 1.38%
1899 -1.64% 1.15%
1900 -0.54% 1.59%
1901 0.55% 1.11%
1902 0.22% 0.63%
1903 0.08% 0.55%
1904 0.004% 1.42%
1905 1.23% 1.41%
1906 -1.35% 0.97%
1907 -0.81% 1.13%
1908 -0.95% 1.26%
1909 0.13% 0.31%
1910 -0.18% 0.36%
1911 -0.92% 1.24%
1912 -1.39% 0.89%
1913 -1.4% 0.79%
1914 -1.4% 0.45%
1915 -1.4% 0.06%
1916 -1.4% 1.46%
1917 -1.4% 3.89%
1918 -1.4% 4.35%
1919 -1.4% 2.9%
1920 -1.4% 1.51%
1921 -1.4% 3.55%
1922 -1.4% -0.2%
1923 -1.4% 0.95%
1924 -5.53% 1.2%
1925 -5.53% 0.78%
1926 -5.53% 0.72%
1927 3.06% 0.4%
1928 3.06% 0.12%
1929 3.06% -0.37%
1930 -2.48% 0.09%
1931 -2.48% -1.12%
1932 -2.48% -1.77%
1933 -1.69% 0.02%
1934 -2.78% -0.55%
1935 -5.94% 1.19%
1936 -4.92% 0.17%
1937 -4.71% 0.23%
1938 -5.17% 0.38%
1939 -6.86% 0.34%
1940 -6.86% 0.13%
1941 -6.86% 0.64%
1942 -6.86% 0.56%
1943 -5.81% 1.24%
1944 -5.81% 0.59%
1945 -5.81% 0.32%
1946 1.87% 0.31%
1947 -14.5% 1.07%
1948 -2.29% 0.36%
1949 -2.05% 0.53%
1950 -2.01% 0.78%
1951 0.59% 1.17%
1952 -0.26% 1.73%
1953 0.14% 0.43%
1954 2.34% 0.22%
1955 -1.05% 0.73%
1956 1.85% 1.33%
1957 -1.27% 0.32%
1958 -4.33% -0.02%
1959 -5.21% 0.03%
1960 -4.89% 0.05%
1961 -2.34% 0.03%
1962 -2.12% 0.02%
1963 -2.8% -0.26%
1964 -2.27% -0.08%
1965 -2.9% 0.26%
1966 -3.08% 0.09%
1967 -2.76% 0.02%
1968 -3.69% 0.03%
1969 -3.34% 0.17%
1970 -3.51% -0.05%
1971 -4.45% 0.09%
1972 -6.07% 0.12%
1973 -5.02% -0.07%
1974 -3.87% 0.03%
1975 -6.45% 0.11%
1976 -6.61% -2.07%
1977 -6.51% -1.09%
1978 -6.51% -3.41%
1979 -8.33% -6.55%
1980 -9.43% -4.9%
1981 -15.5% -6.02%
1982 -12.3% -6.26%
1983 -14.5% -6.64%
1984 -10.8% -8.68%
1985 -10.1% -6.97%
1986 -9.96% -5.33%
1987 -7.89% -3.43%
1988 -7.28% -1.88%
1989 -7.58% -2.16%
1990 -6.99% -2.74%
1991 -7.67% -6.14%
1992 -8.42% -6.27%
1993 -7.71% -1.53%
1994 -5.29% 1.99%
1995 -4.51% 3.7%
1996 -4% 2.58%
1997 -2.15% 1.23%
1998 -1.03% -0.48%
1999 -0.65% -1.11%
2000 -0.08% 0.17%
2001 0.23% 1.29%
2002 -0.04% 2.55%
2003 -1.86% 3.68%
2004 -0.24% 4.49%
2005 -2.72% 5.13%
2006 0.24% 4.62%
2007 0.07% 3.6%
2008 -1.1% 1.47%
2009 -5.45% -1.81%
2010 -4.13% -5.51%
2011 -4.44% -4.96%
2012 -4.35% -2.19%
2013 -3.16% -1.29%
2014 -3.18% -0.34%
2015 -2.48% 0.36%
2016 -2.43% 0.98%
2017 -0.76% 1.36%
2018 -1.05% 1.27%
2019 -2.05% -2.5%
2020 -9.03% -4.35%
2021 -5.4% -3.5%
2022 -3.61% -4.16%
2023 -4.19% -3.54%
2024 -4.42% -4.38%
2025 -5.03% -5.18%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Belgium has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.24%, compared with 2.37% in New Zealand. In 2024, inflation was 3.14% in Belgium and 2.92% in New Zealand.

Inflation
Belgium

New Zealand
Year Inflation
Belgium New Zealand Belgium New Zealand
1996 2.08% 2.29%
1997 1.63% 1.19%
1998 0.95% 1.27%
1999 1.12% -0.11%
2000 2.54% 2.62%
2001 2.47% 2.63%
2002 1.65% 2.68%
2003 1.59% 1.75%
2004 2.1% 2.29%
2005 2.78% 3.04%
2006 1.79% 3.37%
2007 1.82% 2.38%
2008 4.49% 3.96%
2009 -0.05% 2.12%
2010 2.19% 2.3%
2011 3.53% 4.03%
2012 2.84% 1.06%
2013 1.11% 1.13%
2014 0.34% 1.23%
2015 0.56% 0.29%
2016 1.97% 0.65%
2017 2.13% 1.85%
2018 2.05% 1.6%
2019 1.44% 1.62%
2020 0.74% 1.71%
2021 2.44% 3.94%
2022 9.6% 7.17%
2023 4.05% 5.73%
2024 3.14% 2.92%

Top exports between countries

Belgium
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $155M
Chemicals & pharma $84.6M
Business & finance services $56.3M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $24M
Raw materials & minerals $16.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $11.7M
Wood & paper products $9.48M
Raw agricultural goods $8.45M
Transport & tourism services $7.57M
IT & IP services $6.6M
New Zealand
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $129M
Transport & tourism services $26.9M
Chemicals & pharma $12.6M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $10.7M
Machinery & equipment $8.13M
Wood & paper products $7.91M
Metals $2.77M
Raw agricultural goods $2.72M
Textiles & consumer goods $2.15M
IT & IP services $2.1M

Balance of trade

Belgium New Zealand
Current account balance
-$5.68B
2024
-$15.8B
2024
Current account balance ranking
169/189
2024
178/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.85%
2024
-6.09%
2024
Goods imports
$372B
2024
$48.6B
2024
Goods exports
$377B
2024
$43.3B
2024
Service imports
$159B
2024
$19.4B
2024
Service exports
$148B
2024
$18.5B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
79.2%
2024
26.7%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
79.2%
2024
23.7%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Belgium New Zealand
Economic freedom 69 78.1
Economic freedom ranking 40/197 12/197
Property rights 92.8 87.5
Government integrity 79.3 91.3
Judicial effectiveness 93 93.9
Tax burden 50.6 65.4
Government spending 11.8 47.8
Fiscal health 48 77.7
Business freedom 82.3 88.7
Labor freedom 58.6 69.7
Monetary freedom 76.8 74.6
Trade freedom 79.6 90.4
Investment freedom 85 70
Financial freedom 70 80

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Belgium is 69, ranking 40/197, compared to 78.1 for New Zealand, ranking 12/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Belgium
New Zealand
Year Economic freedom index
Belgium New Zealand
1996 66 78.1
1997 64.6 79
1998 64.7 79.2
1999 62.9 81.7
2000 63.5 80.9
2001 63.8 81.1
2002 67.6 80.7
2003 68.1 81.1
2004 68.7 81.5
2005 69 82.3
2006 71.8 82
2007 72.5 81.4
2008 71.7 80.7
2009 72.1 82
2010 70.1 82.1
2011 70.2 82.3
2012 69 82.1
2013 69.2 81.4
2014 69.9 81.2
2015 68.8 82.1
2016 68.4 81.6
2017 67.8 83.7
2018 67.5 84.2
2019 67.3 84.4
2020 68.9 84.1
2021 70.1 83.9
2022 69.6 80.6
2023 67.1 78.9
2024 65.6 77.8
2025 69 78.1

More economic indicators

Belgium New Zealand
Services, % of GDP
72.1%
2024
67.4%
2022
Industry, % of GDP
17.6%
2024
19.6%
2022
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.8%
2024
4.57%
2022
GNI, Atlas method
$651B
2024
$247B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$73,360
2024
$53,160
2024
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$22.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking
49/177
2024
59/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$29.5B
2024
-$1.17B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$35.6B
2024
$3.37B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$6.07B
2024
$2.2B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.3%
2022
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24%
2024
23.8%
2023

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Economy comparisons

Economy vs Belgium vs New Zealand
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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.