Belgium Military Spending
Belgium spends an estimated 2.1% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $13.6 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1949–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$14.3 billion
Ranked #30 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.1%
Ranked #76 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $13.6B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$13.6 billion
Reached in 2025
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Belgium run to 2025.
Belgium Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Belgium is estimated to have spent $14.3 billion on military and defense, representing 2.1% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Belgium is the #30 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $13.6 billion to $14.3 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.9% in 1954. The historical average military budget is 2.3% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 2.30% | $14,953M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.10% | $14,273M |
| 2025 | 2.01% | $13,594M |
| 2024 | 1.28% | $8,567M |
| 2023 | 1.17% | $7,884M |
| 2022 | 1.17% | $7,610M |
| 2021 | 1.04% | $6,717M |
| 2020 | 1.01% | $6,084M |
| 2019 | 0.89% | $5,587M |
| 2018 | 0.89% | $5,465M |
| 2017 | 0.89% | $5,348M |
| 2016 | 0.90% | $5,345M |
| 2015 | 0.91% | $5,367M |
| 2014 | 0.97% | $5,573M |
| 2013 | 1.00% | $5,665M |
| 2012 | 1.04% | $5,814M |
| 2011 | 1.04% | $5,879M |
| 2010 | 1.09% | $6,093M |
| 2009 | 1.16% | $6,362M |
| 2008 | 1.22% | $6,754M |
| 2007 | 1.10% | $6,195M |
| 2006 | 1.06% | $5,742M |
| 2005 | 1.10% | $5,786M |
| 2004 | 1.16% | $6,005M |
| 2003 | 1.22% | $6,133M |
| 2002 | 1.22% | $6,067M |
| 2001 | 1.28% | $6,257M |
| 2000 | 1.35% | $6,545M |
| 1999 | 1.39% | $6,545M |
| 1998 | 1.42% | $6,461M |
| 1997 | 1.46% | $6,463M |
| 1996 | 1.52% | $6,545M |
| 1995 | 1.54% | $6,672M |
| 1994 | 1.68% | $6,811M |
| 1993 | 1.74% | $6,848M |
| 1992 | 1.83% | $7,212M |
| 1991 | 2.29% | $8,783M |
| 1990 | 2.36% | $8,909M |
| 1989 | 2.46% | $9,081M |
| 1988 | 2.63% | $9,224M |
| 1987 | 2.90% | $9,627M |
| 1986 | 2.95% | $9,566M |
| 1985 | 2.93% | $9,187M |
| 1984 | 3.01% | $9,295M |
| 1983 | 3.19% | $9,708M |
| 1982 | 3.27% | $10,108M |
| 1981 | 3.37% | $10,455M |
| 1980 | 3.25% | $10,363M |
| 1979 | 3.26% | $10,166M |
| 1978 | 3.26% | $9,947M |
| 1977 | 3.14% | $9,325M |
| 1976 | 3.09% | $9,090M |
| 1975 | 3.07% | $8,638M |
| 1974 | 2.76% | $7,933M |
| 1973 | 2.84% | $7,823M |
| 1972 | 2.88% | $7,482M |
| 1971 | 2.90% | $7,098M |
| 1970 | 2.92% | $6,811M |
| 1969 | 2.93% | $6,390M |
| 1968 | 3.12% | $6,348M |
| 1967 | 3.13% | $6,131M |
| 1966 | 3.11% | $5,848M |
| 1965 | 2.97% | $5,414M |
| 1964 | 3.21% | $5,593M |
| 1963 | 3.22% | $5,211M |
| 1962 | 3.28% | $5,056M |
| 1961 | 3.26% | $4,750M |
| 1960 | 3.40% | $4,699M |
| 1959 | 3.52% | $4,597M |
| 1958 | 3.57% | $4,560M |
| 1957 | 3.61% | $4,630M |
| 1956 | 3.56% | $4,440M |
| 1955 | 3.78% | $4,566M |
| 1954 | 4.88% | $5,513M |
| 1953 | 4.86% | $5,344M |
| 1952 | — | $5,368M |
| 1951 | — | $3,632M |
| 1950 | — | $2,455M |
| 1949 | — | $2,433M |