Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Belgium
Belgium: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 73.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Belgium, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 73.7% for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Belgium peaked at 76.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 73.7%, in 2023.
Belgium ranks 39th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74.5% | — |
| 2001 | 75.3% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 73.7% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 73.9% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 74.8% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 74.5% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 74.5% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 74.1% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 75.7% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 74.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 74.7% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 75.2% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 75.5% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 75.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 75.7% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 76.0% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 76.3% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 76.0% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 75.8% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 74.5% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 76.1% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 75.2% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 73.9% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 73.7% | -0.3% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 73.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 73.1%, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 73.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70.4%, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 74.5% | 73.7% | 75.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.5% | 74.5% | 76.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.7% | 73.7% | 76.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More health data for Belgium
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2923 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,160 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 59 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0229 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Belgium?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Belgium was 73.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 76.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.7% in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Belgium ranks 39th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health.