Income share held by highest 20% in Belgium
Belgium: Income share held by highest 20% was 36.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Income share held by highest 20% in Belgium, 1985–2023
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share held by highest 20% in Belgium is 36.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in Belgium peaked at 41.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 34.5%, in 1992.
Belgium ranks 113th of 123 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Income share held by highest 20% in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 34.9% | — |
| 1988 | 35.3% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 34.5% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 37.3% | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 36.1% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 41.7% | +15.5% |
| 2003 | 37.0% | -11.3% |
| 2004 | 39.2% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 38.2% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 36.9% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 38.0% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 37.2% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 36.8% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 36.4% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 36.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 36.9% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 36.5% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 36.4% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 36.4% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 36.5% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 36.0% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 36.1% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 36.3% | +0.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 36.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 39.9%, 91% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 36.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39.1%, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 35.1% | 34.9% | 35.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 36.0% | 34.5% | 37.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 38.2% | 36.9% | 41.7% | 8 |
| 2010s | 36.6% | 36.3% | 37.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.0% | 35.5% | 36.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More poverty & inequality data for Belgium
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.38 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 8,486 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 42.58 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 42.6% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share held by highest 20% in Belgium?
- Income share held by highest 20% in Belgium was 36.3% in 2023, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.5% in 1992.
- How does Belgium rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- Belgium ranks 113th out of 123 countries with data for 2023.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Income share held by highest 20%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.