Belgium

Europe & Central Asia·High incomeOECDEU

Population: 11.8M; 80th of 217
GDP: $665B; 22nd of 214 · 2024
GDP per capita: $55,955; 23rd of 214 · 2024
Life expectancy: 82.4; 28th of 217
Human development: 0.937; 12th of 189 · 2021

Benchmarked against

Belgium

Germany

Austria

San Marino

Sweden

Default peers are drawn from region, income, and bloc membership — swap in any country you like. The gray tick on each strip is the world median.

high-income, core EU and eurozone economy; slow growth with weakened domestic consumption and export demand; high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending; aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates

Area: 30,528 km²
Resources: construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land
Borders: France; Germany; Luxembourg; Netherlands

Religion

who identifies with what, 2020

world view →

Christian51%▼ 10.1pt
Unaffiliated39%▲ 7.0pt
Muslim6.8%▲ 1.7pt
Other2.6%▲ 1.3pt

Religious diversity: 6.8 / 10 · high · 12th of 193

Change markers show percentage-point shifts from 2010 to 2020 · Pew Research Center, Religious Composition 2010–2020.

Score card

quartile grades among all countries with data

A · Top quartileB · Above medianC · Below medianD · Bottom quartile

Topic

BEL

DEU

AUT

SMR

GDP

current US$

$665B–––

GDP per capita

current US$

–––

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

–––

GDP growth

annual %

–––

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

–––

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

–––

FDI inflows

current US$

-$35.6B–––

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

157.8%–––

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

0.8%–––

Industry value added

% of GDP

17.6%–––

Unemployment

% of labor force

–––

Gini index

0–100

–––

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

–––

GDP per capita, long run

2011 int'l $

–––

Human capital index

PWT, schooling × returns

–––

Annual hours worked

hours per worker

1,593.3–––

Labor share of GDP

share, 0–1

0.586–––

Total factor productivity

level, US = 1

–––

Population

people

11.8M–––

Population density

people per km²

383–––

Urban population

% of total

98.2%–––

Life expectancy

years at birth

–––

Fertility rate

births per woman

1.5–––

Net migration

people

36.2K–––

Population under 15

% of total

16%–––

Population 65+

% of total

20.6%–––

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Health expenditure

% of GDP

10.8%–––

Physicians

per 1,000 people

–––

Education expenditure

% of GDP

6.4%–––

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

–––

Safe drinking water

% of population

–––

Internet users

% of population

–––

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

–––

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

–––

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

–––

Access to electricity

% of population

–––

Energy use per capita

kWh

54.9K–––

Electricity per capita

kWh

6,383.1–––

Electricity generation

TWh

74.9–––

Renewable electricity

% of generation

–––

Fossil electricity

% of generation

–––

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

–––

CO₂ per capita

t per person

–––

Share of global CO₂

0.2%–––

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

–––

Top 1% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Top 10% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Bottom 50% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Top 1% wealth share

% of net wealth

–––

Gini, pre-tax income

0–1

–––

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Civil liberties

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Political corruption

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Academic freedom

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

–––

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

–––

State-based conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

–––

One-sided violence deaths

civilian deaths per year

–––

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

4.67–––

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

5.76–––

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

4.99–––

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

5.66–––

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

18.7%–––

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

5.7%–––

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

6.6%–––

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

31.9%–––

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

37.6%–––

Luck matters more than work

1–10

4.82–––

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

6.8–––

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

39%–––

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

–––

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

2.13–––

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

2.3–––

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

2.44–––

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

2.19–––

National pride

mean, 1–4

3.17–––

Would fight for country

% yes

41.2%–––

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

2.11–––

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

–––

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

–––

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

–––

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

–––

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

–––

Global Peace Index

1–5

–––

Military expenditure

% of GDP

1.2%–––

Economy & Trade

Output, growth, prices, and openness

theme overview →

GDP

current US$

#22/214

$665B2024

GDP per capita

current US$

#23/214

$55,9552024

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

#24/203

$69,059latest

GDP growth

annual %

#173/214

1%2024

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

#21/207

$54,8402024

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

#46/213

1.9%2024

FDI inflows

current US$

#197/201

-$35.6B2024

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

#8/205

157.8%2024

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

#182/206

0.8%2024

Industry value added

% of GDP

#150/208

17.6%2024

Unemployment

% of labor force

#100/187

5.5%latest

Gini index

0–100

#9/168

26.4latest

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

#4/168

0%latest

GDP per capita, long run

2011 int'l $

#21/165

$41,8722022

Human capital index

PWT, schooling × returns

#47/144

3.172023

Annual hours worked

hours per worker

#110/129

1,593.32023

Labor share of GDP

share, 0–1

#36/139

0.5862023

Total factor productivity

level, US = 1

#13/119

0.9162023

People & Society

Population structure, urbanization, and migration

theme overview →

Population

people

#80/217

11.8Mlatest

Population density

people per km²

#29/216

383latest

Urban population

% of total

#12/215

98.2%latest

Life expectancy

years at birth

#28/217

82.4latest

Fertility rate

births per woman

#165/217

1.5latest

Net migration

people

#30/217

36.2K2024

Population under 15

% of total

#170/217

16%2024

Population 65+

% of total

#29/217

20.6%2024

Health & Education

Longevity, mortality, learning, and public spending

theme overview →

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

#26/196

3latest

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

#27/196

3.6latest

Health expenditure

% of GDP

#20/192

10.8%latest

Physicians

per 1,000 people

#49/195

3.2latest

Education expenditure

% of GDP

#23/199

6.4%latest

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

#23/194

83.6%latest

Safe drinking water

% of population

#19/139

99.7%latest

Connectivity

Internet, mobile, and digital infrastructure

theme overview →

Internet users

% of population

#31/210

94.6%latest

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

#135/214

103.22023

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

#17/208

43.72023

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

#33/215

36.7K2024

Access to electricity

% of population

#15/215

100%latest

Energy & Climate

Energy use, electricity mix, and emissions

theme overview →

Energy use per capita

kWh

#23/198

54.9K2024

Electricity per capita

kWh

#40/202

6,383.12024

Electricity generation

TWh

#47/202

74.92024

Renewable electricity

% of generation

#86/202

35.9%2024

Fossil electricity

% of generation

#43/202

22.2%2024

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

#163/204

85.52024

CO₂ per capita

t per person

#170/204

7.32024

Share of global CO₂

#42/204

0.2%2024

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

#153/193

9.12023

Inequality

Who gets what — top and bottom shares of income and wealth, from tax data and national accounts

theme overview →

Top 1% income share

% of pre-tax income

#7/210

0.1%2024

Top 10% income share

% of pre-tax income

#16/210

0.3%2024

Bottom 50% income share

% of pre-tax income

#25/210

0.2%2024

Top 1% wealth share

% of net wealth

#2/210

0.2%2024

Gini, pre-tax income

0–1

#21/210

0.452024

Governance & Democracy

Democratic institutions, corruption, and rule of law

theme overview →

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#3/175

0.8892025

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#10/175

0.7942025

Civil liberties

V-Dem, 0–1

#5/175

0.9552025

Political corruption

V-Dem, 0–1

#14/175

0.0312025

Academic freedom

V-Dem, 0–1

#3/175

0.9462025

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

#17/178

732022

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#22/193

1.52022

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#28/193

1.232022

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#24/193

1.352022

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#60/193

0.5762022

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

#2/175

0.9522025

Conflict & Security

Organized violence since 1989 — every battle death georeferenced by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program

theme overview →

Conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

#17/126

02025

State-based conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

#22/126

02025

One-sided violence deaths

civilian deaths per year

#22/126

02025

Values & Beliefs

What people hold sacred, permit, and pass on — from 40 years of World Values Survey interviews

theme overview →

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

#99/113

4.672009

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

#23/112

5.762009

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

#22/114

4.992009

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

#41/114

5.662009

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

#76/114

1.982009

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

#97/111

3.162009

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

#87/113

18.7%2009

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

#89/112

5.7%2009

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

#98/112

6.6%2009

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

#84/114

31.9%2009

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

#47/114

37.6%2009

Luck matters more than work

1–10

#41/109

4.821990

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

#12/193

6.82020

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

#17/193

39%2020

Trust & Institutions

Who people trust, and how much faith they place in government, press, and courts

theme overview →

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

#24/114

35.9%2009

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

#71/112

2.132009

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

#49/113

2.32009

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

#64/110

2.442009

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

#65/111

2.192009

National pride

mean, 1–4

#100/114

3.172009

Would fight for country

% yes

#107/113

41.2%1990

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

#85/114

2.112009

Development & Wellbeing

Composite measures of how life is going

theme overview →

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

#12/189

0.9372021

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

#10/170

0.0482021

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

#15/164

6.932025

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

#104/113

6.342009

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

#26/114

7.672009

Global Peace Index

1–5

#20/158

1.522023

Military expenditure

% of GDP

#111/161

1.2%latest

Explore any measure in depth on its own page — try GDP per capita or electoral democracy.