Belgium vs United Arab Emirates: Government debt
Government debt in 2025: 107.9% of GDP in Belgium and 33.9% of GDP in United Arab Emirates, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Belgium, by 74 percentage points, or 3.19 times that in United Arab Emirates.
BelgiumUnited Arab Emirates
Watch it change on the map% of GDP · IMF · log scale
Latest figures
% of GDP · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 107.9 2025 | 105.6 | 9 of 149 | 122.1 2031 |
| United Arab Emirates | 33.9 2025 | 15.6 | 120 of 149 | 26.1 2031 |
What the numbers say
- Belgium has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1999.
- In 2025, Belgium ranked 9 and United Arab Emirates ranked 120 of 149 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Belgium at 122.1% of GDP and United Arab Emirates at 26.1% of GDP in 2031.
Every year
% of GDP · IMF
| Year | Belgium | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 107.9 | 33.9 |
| 2024 | 103.9 | 33.2 |
| 2023 | 102.5 | 31.9 |
| 2022 | 103.3 | 31.5 |
| 2021 | 108.7 | 35.7 |
| 2020 | 111.4 | 30.1 |
| 2019 | 97.7 | 25.8 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 20.7 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 21.2 |
| 2016 | 105.5 | 18.6 |
| 2015 | 105.6 | 15.6 |
| 2014 | 106.6 | 13.5 |
| 2013 | 105 | 15.3 |
| 2012 | 104.3 | 20.2 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 20.4 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 18.3 |
| 2009 | 99.9 | 21.1 |
| 2008 | 93.2 | 8.9 |
| 2007 | 87.3 | 8.9 |
| 2006 | 91.5 | 5.1 |
| 2005 | 95.1 | 4.5 |
| 2004 | 97.2 | 4.1 |
| 2003 | 101.7 | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 105.4 | 3.4 |
| 2001 | 108.2 | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 109.6 | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 115.4 | 4.7 |
| 1998 | 119.2 | – |
| 1997 | 124.3 | – |
| 1996 | 129 | – |
| 1995 | 131.3 | – |
| 1994 | 137.1 | – |
| 1993 | 138.9 | – |
| 1992 | 134.7 | – |
| 1991 | 131.8 | – |
| 1990 | 130.3 | – |
| 1989 | 126.4 | – |
| 1988 | 129.7 | – |
| 1987 | 129.2 | – |
| 1986 | 124.7 | – |
| 1985 | 119.4 | – |
| 1984 | 114.6 | – |
| 1983 | 110.3 | – |
| 1982 | 99.6 | – |
| 1981 | 89.7 | – |
| 1980 | 76.8 | – |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Belgium | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 109.8 | 32.8 |
| 2027 | 111.6 | 30.8 |
| 2028 | 114.1 | 29 |
| 2029 | 116.4 | 27.4 |
| 2030 | 119.3 | 27 |
| 2031 | 122.1 | 26.1 |
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