Gender inequality is one of the most primitive and oldest forms of inequality. Sadly, it is still very much a reality in most parts of the world. In many countries women do not have equal access to education, healthcare, safety, work or political decision-making.

Specific country notes have been prepared using data from the database OECD Health Statistics 2015, July 2015 version. The notes are available in PDF format.

Belgium is making a laudable push to direct more development aid to the poorest countries, but to deliver on this it needs to set firm deadlines, make its aid programme more flexible, and should reverse a decline in overall aid, according to an OECD Review.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has serious concerns regarding Belgium’s limited efforts to comply with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

Belgium shows average health outcomes compared to other OECD countries. Life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years, just above the OECD average. Quality of care is fair, standing again near the OECD average. Health expenditure at 10.2% of GDP is higher than the OECD average of 1.3% points in 2013. Health policy in Belgium relies on shared responsibility of both the federal authorities and federated entities (regions and communities).

Education at a Glance 2016 - Country Notes

This country note provides an environmental tax and carbon pricing profile for Belgium. It shows environmentally related tax revenues, taxes on energy use and effective carbon rates.

This publication provides detailed country notes on Value Added Tax/Goods and Services Tax (VAT/GST) and excise duty rates in OECD member countries.

This annual publication presents detailed country notes and internationally comparable tax data for all OECD countries from 1965 onwards.

This country note presents student performance in science, reading and mathematics, and measures equity in education in Belgium. The interactive charts allow you to compare results with other countries participating in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Unemployment in Belgium fell back to its pre-crisis level sooner than in most other OECD countries, but then rose significantly again in 2012 and has only recently begun to decline again. At 6.8% in April, it was still above its pre-crisis level and 0.9 percentage points above the OECD average.

A combination of market-based policies and a redistributive welfare state have boosted Belgium’s per-capita GDP to well above the average of OECD countries and raised well-being, according to a new OECD report.

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, was in Brussels on Monday 16th October 2017 to attend the General Assembly of the World Steel Association, where he delivered a keynote address.

This note presents selected country highlights from the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2017 with a specific focus on digital trends among all themes covered.

These notes present selected country highlights from the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2017 with a specific focus on digital trends among all themes covered.

This note presents marginal effective tax rates (METRs) that summarise the tax system’s impact on the incentives to make an additional investment in a particular type of savings. By comparing METRs on different types of household savings, we can gain insights into which assets or savings types receive the most favourable treatment from the tax system.

The Co-operative Research Programme (CRP)'s Call for Applications for conference sponsorship and research fellowships for funding in 2019 is now CLOSED. The CRP supports work on sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture, forests, fisheries and food production.

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, was in Brussels on 19 June 2018 to present the 2018 OECD Economic Surveys of the European Union and of the Euro Area.

This country note for Belgium provides detail on the proportion of CO2 emissions from energy use subject to different effective carbon rates (ECR), as well as on the level and components of average ECRs in each of the six economic sectors (road transport, off-road transport, industry, agriculture and fishing, residential & commercial, and electricity).

The digital revolution, globalisation and demographic changes are transforming labour markets at a time when policy makers are also struggling with slow productivity and wage growth and high levels of income inequality. The new OECD Jobs Strategy provides a comprehensive framework and policy recommendations to help countries address these challenges

The Belgian standard VAT rate is 21.0%, which is above the OECD average. The average VAT/GST¹ standard rate in the OECD was 19.3% as of 1 January 2019. The previous standard VAT rate in Belgium was 20.5% in 1995. It changed to the current level in 1996. Belgium applies reduced VAT rates of 0%, 6% and 12% to a number of goods and services.

Risks That Matter 2018 Country Highlights: Belgium

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, will be in Brussels on 8 July 2019 to attend the EU Employment and Social Policy Council meeting, where he will present the OECD report on the Economy of Well-Being.

This country note explains how Belgium taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

Government at a Glance provides a dashboard of key indicators to help you analyse international comparisons of public sector performance.

The tax-to-GDP ratio in Belgium increased by 0.3 percentage points from 44.5% in 2017 to 44.8% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

The Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr. Angel Gurría, will be in Brussels on 3 February 2020 to present the 2020 OECD Economic Survey of Belgium, alongside Ms. Sophie Wilmès, Prime Minister of Belgium.

Belgium’s tax, labour, pension and education reforms have improved the potential for stronger, sustainable and inclusive growth over the long term. Keeping up this momentum on structural reforms is key to energise the economy and keep it resilient to external risks and uncertainties, according to a new OECD report.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Belgium decreased by 0.5 percentage points from 52.7 in 2018 to 52.2 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Belgium had the highest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

Brunei recorded a government debt equivalent to 2.40 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Government Debt to GDP in Brunei averaged 0.74 percent from 1985 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 3.20 percent in 2014 and a record low of 0 percent in 1986. Generally, Government debt as a percent of GDP is used by investors to measure a country ability to make future payments on its debt, thus affecting the country borrowing costs and government bond yields. This page provides - Brunei Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Brunei recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 8.60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Government Budget in Brunei averaged 5.76 percent of GDP from 1990 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 27.90 percent of GDP in 2008 and a record low of -18.30 percent of GDP in 2016. Government Budget is an itemized accounting of the payments received by government (taxes and other fees) and the payments made by government (purchases and transfer payments). A budget deficit occurs when an government spends more money than it takes in. The opposite of a budget deficit is a budget surplus. This page provides - Brunei Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Brunei recorded a Current Account surplus of 15.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Current Account to GDP in Brunei averaged 38.71 percent from 1985 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 76 percent in 1988 and a record low of 12.90 percent in 2016. The Current account balance as a percent of GDP provides an indication on the level of international competitiveness of a country. Usually, countries recording a strong current account surplus have an economy heavily dependent on exports revenues, with high savings ratings but weak domestic demand. On the other hand, countries recording a current account deficit have strong imports, a low saving rates and high personal consumption rates as a percentage of disposable incomes. This page provides - Brunei Current Account to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Military Expenditure in Brunei decreased to 336 USD Million in 2018 from 347 USD Million in 2017. Military Expenditure in Brunei averaged 339.31 USD Million from 1984 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 477 USD Million in 2014 and a record low of 210 USD Million in 1984.

Brunei recorded a Current Account surplus of 2791.60 BND Million in 2017. Current Account in Brunei averaged 1892.23 BND Million from 2008 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 2968.50 BND Million in 2014 and a record low of 835.20 BND Million in 2014. Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid). This page provides - Brunei Current Account - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in Brunei was last recorded at 31436.90 US dollars in 2018. The GDP per Capita in Brunei is equivalent to 249 percent of the world's average. GDP per capita in Brunei averaged 39887.45 USD from 1974 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 66019.90 USD in 1979 and a record low of 31436.90 USD in 2018. The GDP per capita is obtained by dividing the country’s gross domestic product, adjusted by inflation, by the total population. This page provides - Brunei GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in Brunei was last recorded at 71802.50 US dollars in 2018, when adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP). The GDP per Capita, in Brunei, when adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity is equivalent to 404 percent of the world's average. GDP per capita PPP in Brunei averaged 81648.69 USD from 1990 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 86445.70 USD in 1992 and a record low of 71802.50 USD in 2018. The GDP per capita PPP is obtained by dividing the country’s gross domestic product, adjusted by purchasing power parity, by the total population. This page provides - Brunei GDP per capita PPP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Deposit Interest Rate in Brunei decreased to 0.31 percent in 2018 from 0.32 percent in 2017. Deposit Interest Rate in Brunei averaged 0.58 percent from 2004 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1.17 percent in 2007 and a record low of 0.23 percent in 2012. The Deposit Interest Rate is the average rate paid by commercial banks to individuals or corporations on deposits. This page includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in Brunei.

Gross Fixed Capital Formation in Brunei increased to 2162.10 BND Million in the second quarter of 2019 from 1447.90 BND Million in the first quarter of 2019. Gross Fixed Capital Formation in Brunei averaged 1712.04 BND Million from 2013 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 2574.80 BND Million in the third quarter of 2018 and a record low of 1080.60 BND Million in the first quarter of 2014. This page provides - Brunei Gross Fixed Capital Formation- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Brunei is ranked 66 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. The rank of Brunei deteriorated to 66 in 2019 from 55 in 2018. Ease of Doing Business in Brunei averaged 79 from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 105 in 2014 and a record low of 55 in 2018. The Ease of doing business index ranks countries against each other based on how the regulatory environment is conducive to business operationstronger protections of property rights. Economies with a high rank (1 to 20) have simpler and more friendly regulations for businesses. This page includes a chart with historical data for Ease of Doing Business in Brunei.

Brunei scored 60 points out of 100 on the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Index in Brunei averaged 57.78 Points from 2009 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 63 Points in 2018 and a record low of 52 Points in 2011. The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. A country or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). This page provides the latest reported value for - Brunei Corruption Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Money Supply M1 in Brunei increased to 4578.39 BND Million in October from 4447.11 BND Million in September of 2019. Money Supply M1 in Brunei averaged 4430.94 BND Million from 2011 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 5758 BND Million in January of 2012 and a record low of 3323 BND Million in July of 2011. This page provides - Brunei Money Supply M1- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Money Supply M2 in Brunei increased to 14337.22 BND Million in October from 14197.81 BND Million in September of 2019. Money Supply M2 in Brunei averaged 14299.93 BND Million from 2011 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 15310 BND Million in June of 2014 and a record low of 12331 BND Million in January of 2011. This page provides - Brunei Money Supply M2- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Banks Balance Sheet in Brunei decreased to 16853.63 BND Million in September from 16891.02 BND Million in August of 2019. Banks Balance Sheet in Brunei averaged 17979.12 BND Million from 2011 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 21121 BND Million in December of 2011 and a record low of 16118 BND Million in February of 2011. This page provides - Brunei Banks Balance Sheet- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Unemployment Rate in Brunei increased to 9.10 percent in 2019 from 8.90 percent in 2018. Unemployment Rate in Brunei averaged 6.32 percent from 1991 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 9.30 percent in 2017 and a record low of 4.70 percent in 1991. In Brunei, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. This page provides - Brunei Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The total population in Brunei was estimated at 0.4 million people in 2019, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. Looking back, in the year of 1960, Brunei had a population of 0.1 million people. The population of Brunei represents 0.01 percent of the world´s total population which arguably means that one person in every 17036 people on the planet is a resident of Brunei. This page provides - Brunei Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The benchmark interest rate in Brunei was last recorded at 5.50 percent. In Brunei, the Monetary Authority of Brunei Darussalam does not set a benchmark interest rate. Instead, the Prime Lending Rate is utilized as reference. This page provides the latest reported value for - Brunei Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Brunei expanded 7.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 over the same quarter of the previous year. GDP Annual Growth Rate in Brunei averaged 0.40 percent from 2004 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 7.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a record low of -8.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013. Brunei is the fourth-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia. Oil accounts for around 62 percent of GDP and is the source of 90 percent of government revenues. Yet, in recent years, oil production has declined and, as a result, growth has slowed down. In order to strengthen Brunei’s long-term prospects, the government has been trying to diversify the economy by using oil revenues to invest in non-oil industries like Islamic banking and by attracting foreign direct investments. Focus on eco-tourism has also been high, given that 70 percent of the country’ is covered by tropical forest. This page provides - Brunei GDP Annual Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Consumer Price Index in Brunei increased 0.10 percent in November of 2019 over the previous month. Inflation Rate Mom in Brunei averaged -0.01 percent from 2013 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 1.60 percent in December of 2014 and a record low of -1.80 percent in January of 2016. Inflation Rate MoM measures month over month change in the price of goods and services. This page provides - Brunei Inflation Rate MoM- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The inflation rate in Brunei was recorded at -0.10 percent in November of 2019. Inflation Rate in Brunei averaged 0.48 percent from 2007 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 3.59 percent in October of 2008 and a record low of -1.60 percent in December of 2016. In Brunei, the most important categories in the consumer price index are food and non-alcoholic beverages (19 percent of the total weight) and transport (18.8 percent). The index also includes: housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (11 percent); furnishings, household equipment and routine (11 percent); recreation and cultural activities (9.1 percent); hotels and restaurants (8.8 percent); miscellaneous goods and services (6.5 percent); communication (6.0 percent); clothing and footwear (4.2 percent); education (3.9 percent) and health (1.3 percent). This page provides the latest reported value for - Brunei Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Cost of food in Brunei decreased 0.60 percent in November of 2019 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in Brunei averaged 1.19 percent from 2007 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 8.34 percent in April of 2012 and a record low of -2.41 percent in February of 2010. This page provides the latest reported value for - Brunei Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.