Belgium’s economy expanded modestly in the first quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product (GDP) rising 0.2% quarter-over-quarter, up from 0.1% in the previous three-month period. The latest figures, updated on 29 April 2026, indicate a slight acceleration in growth compared with the fourth quarter of 2025.
The previous reading, recorded for the fourth quarter of 2025, showed GDP increasing by 0.1% over the third quarter of 2025. The new data therefore points to a gradual, though still subdued, improvement in Belgium’s quarterly economic momentum.
On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the current “actual” figure of 0.2% reflects the change in GDP from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, while the earlier “previous” figure of 0.1% measured the change from the third to the fourth quarter of 2025. Investors and policymakers are likely to view the uptick as a cautious sign of stabilising growth rather than a decisive shift in the economic outlook.
