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Tax money

Where does our tax money go?

In 2024, all governments in Belgium together spent € 335.3 billion. That is about € 28,300 per inhabitant, or € 2,360 per month.

For 2025 only the total is known so far: € 348.8 billion (provisional figure). Eurostat publishes how that money is split between pensions, healthcare, education… only about a year later. That is why we show 2024 below.

Good to know (click to read)
  • "All governments" means the federal government, the regions and communities, the provinces and municipalities, and social security together. Money one government gives to another is only counted once.
  • Not all of this money comes from taxes. Part comes from social contributions on your wages, and part is borrowed by the government.
  • The final figures for a year only appear during the following year. That is why the most recent year is not the current year.
  • Amounts are in euros of that year, so not adjusted for inflation.
  • Source: Eurostat, the European statistical office. Every country supplies its figures under the same European rules, so you can compare countries.

Say you pay € 1.000 in taxes. Where does it go?

Pick an amount or enter your own. Click a topic for more explanation.

    • In 2024, a total of € 63 billion went here.
    • That is € 5,315 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 22% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 16% of all spending went here; now it is 19%. A larger share.
    • In 2024, a total of € 49.6 billion went here.
    • That is € 4,184 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 15% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 14% of all spending went here; now it is 15%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 39.3 billion went here.
    • That is € 3,315 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 10% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 11% of all spending went here; now it is 12%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 29.8 billion went here.
    • That is € 2,517 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 8% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 9% of all spending went here; now it is 9%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 24.3 billion went here.
    • That is € 2,047 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 6% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 6% of all spending went here; now it is 7%. A larger share.
    • In 2024, a total of € 22.3 billion went here.
    • That is € 1,883 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 6% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 8% of all spending went here; now it is 7%. A smaller share.
    • In 2024, a total of € 19.2 billion went here.
    • That is € 1,622 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 6% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 6% of all spending went here; now it is 6%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 17.5 billion went here.
    • That is € 1,480 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 5% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 6% of all spending went here; now it is 5%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 14.5 billion went here.
    • That is € 1,222 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 4% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 6% of all spending went here; now it is 4%. A smaller share.
    • In 2024, a total of € 13.5 billion went here.
    • That is € 1,140 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 4% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 4% of all spending went here; now it is 4%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 10.6 billion went here.
    • That is € 899 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 4% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 3% of all spending went here; now it is 3%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 7.9 billion went here.
    • That is € 671 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 3% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 2% of all spending went here; now it is 2%. A larger share.
    • In 2024, a total of € 7.6 billion went here.
    • That is € 637 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 2% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 2% of all spending went here; now it is 2%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 7.2 billion went here.
    • That is € 606 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 2% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 2% of all spending went here; now it is 2%. About the same.
    • In 2024, a total of € 6.6 billion went here.
    • That is € 555 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 2% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 4% of all spending went here; now it is 2%. A smaller share.
    • In 2024, a total of € 2.4 billion went here.
    • That is € 203 per inhabitant per year.
    • Average in the European Union: 2% of all spending.
    • Ten years earlier (2014), 0.6% of all spending went here; now it is 0.7%. About the same.

Want to know more?

Budget → What the governments plan for the coming years. Subsidies → Which associations and companies receive money, and how much. Contracts → Which companies get work from the government.