Belgium vs France

Belgium vs France: Government debt

Government debt in 2025: 107.9% of GDP in Belgium and 115.5% of GDP in France, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in France, by 7.6 percentage points, or 1.07 times that in Belgium.

Watch it change on the map

% of GDP · IMF

Belgium vs France: Government debtGovernment debt in 2025: 107.9% of GDP in Belgium and 115.5% of GDP in France, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in France, by 7.6 percentage points, or 1.07 times that in Belgium.
BelgiumFranceIMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026)

What the numbers say

  • France has been higher since 2019, when it overtook Belgium.
  • In 2025, Belgium ranked 9 and France ranked 7 of 149 countries, counting from the highest.
  • The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Belgium at 122.1% of GDP and France at 123.6% of GDP in 2031.

Every year

% of GDP · IMF

YearBelgiumFrance
2025107.9115.5
2024103.9112.6
2023102.5109.5
2022103.3111.4
2021108.7112.8
2020111.4114.9
201997.798.2
2018100.198.5
2017102.598.8
2016105.598.2
2015105.697
2014106.696.2
201310594.6
2012104.391.7
2011102.788.8
2010100.286.3
200999.984.1
200893.269.8
200787.365.5
200691.565.4
200595.168.2
200497.266.9
2003101.765.4
2002105.461.3
2001108.259.3
2000109.659.7
1999115.461.4
1998119.262.1
1997124.362
199612960.6
1995131.357.8
1994137.151.6
1993138.948.2
1992134.741.7
1991131.837.8
1990130.336.8
1989126.435.5
1988129.734.7
1987129.234.8
1986124.732.4
1985119.431.9
1984114.630.2
1983110.327.7
198299.626.2
198189.722.7
198076.821.3
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
YearBelgiumFrance
2026109.8118.5
2027111.6120.4
2028114.1121.7
2029116.4122.6
2030119.3123.2
2031122.1123.6

Each country on its own

Good to know

  • What the government owes, as a share of the economy’s yearly output.
  • Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
  • The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
  • Ranks count the 149 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.

How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time

Belgium vs France

Health

People

Economy

Education

Politics

Conflict

Military

Climate

Technology and environment