According to the KOF Index calculated over the period 1970-2006 by the Swiss Institute EPFZ, Belgium is the country with the highest degree of integration into the global economy.

Belgium is number one amongst the most globalised countries with a 2009 KOF Index of 91.51 calculated by the EPFZ (L'École polytechnique fédérale de Zurich = "Federal Polytechnic School Zurich"). Belgium is ahead of Ireland, (91,02), the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The index calculated by the institute measures the degree of integration into the global economy by means of 25 variables. The indicator takes account of the amount of direct foreign investment, the volume of post exchanged with foreign countries, the number of IKEA shops and the international book trade of each country. The data covers the period 1970-2006.

Taking purely economic criteria into account, Belgium comes in at fifth place (91.63) after Malta, Ireland and Luxembourg. Singapore is top in this category. With regard to political globalisation, Belgium is ranked in third place (97.01) after Italy and France. Finally, in terms of social globalisation, Belgium comes in at tenth place (88.12).

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