Belgium Q1 GDP Growth Confirmed at 0.2%

Belgium’s economy expanded by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2026, confirming preliminary estimates and accelerating from a 0.1% expansion in Q4. Growth was mainly supported by stronger household spending and housing investment, while public sector demand weakened. Growth was mainly supported by stronger household spending and housing investment, while public sector demand weakened. External trade activity strengthened during the quarter, with exports of goods and services rising 2.6% and imports increasing 2.8%. On the production side, construction and services grew by 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively, while industry contracted by 0.2%. On an annual basis, GDP grew 0.8% in the first quarter.

Belgium’s economy expanded by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of 2026, in line with market forecasts and slightly above the 0.1% growth recorded in the previous quarter, according to preliminary estimates. Growth was driven by gains in the construction sector, which rose 0.4%, and the services sector, which increased by 0.3%. Meanwhile, industrial output contracted by 0.1%. On a year-on-year basis, GDP rose 0.8%, marking the slowest annual growth since the first quarter of 2021, following a revised 0.9% increase in the previous quarter.

Belgium’s economy expanded by just 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking the slowest growth in a year and below the initial 0.2% estimate. Activity was weighed down by weak private consumption and softer foreign demand. Household spending was flat compared with the previous quarter, and housing investment declined by 1.0%. In contrast, government consumption increased by 0.6%, and public investment surged 9.7%, largely due to higher defence spending, helping support overall growth. Business investment edged up 0.4%. Trade was a drag, with exports down 1.6% and imports falling 1.1%, resulting in a negative contribution from net exports of 0.3 percentage points. On the production side, value added fell by 0.6% in industry and 0.1% in construction, while services rose by 0.2%. On an annual basis, GDP grew 1% in the fourth quarter, with full-year 2025 growth also at 1%.