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Belgium vs Netherlands statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 18M in The Netherlands (ranked 72/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 13,000 sq mi for The Netherlands (ranked 136th vs. 134th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and The Netherlands ranks 19/197 ($1.21T). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while The Netherlands ranks 13/197 ($67,520).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium Netherlands
Population
11902714
18252623
Population rank 83/197 72/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$1.21T
2024
GDP rank 23/197 19/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$67,520
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 13/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$86,174
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$532B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
43.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$29,571
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 24/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$47,815
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 13,000 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
1,402 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
1.43
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
42.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
82.6 years
2026

Belgium and Netherlands: Comparison Charts

Belgium and Netherlands economies compared

GDP
Belgium

Netherlands
1x
Year GDP
Belgium Netherlands
2024 $671,370,081,636 $1,214,927,698,573
2023 $651,330,595,110 $1,135,475,867,551
2022 $591,085,783,326 $1,046,540,797,549
2021 $598,522,422,242 $1,054,472,123,450
2020 $529,694,473,502 $932,560,861,701
2019 $536,726,344,405 $928,903,005,576
2018 $542,638,913,428 $929,733,599,797
2017 $500,908,767,352 $848,233,537,846
2016 $474,271,566,740 $797,163,949,290
2015 $461,044,767,545 $775,743,675,303
2014 $537,987,419,164 $901,556,501,756
2013 $524,097,026,599 $883,951,539,007
2012 $498,414,364,945 $845,689,017,066
2011 $527,196,649,049 $913,140,741,333
2010 $481,556,503,720 $852,464,982,433
2009 $485,014,525,992 $878,954,223,140
2008 $517,328,087,920 $957,901,566,041
2007 $470,922,156,309 $853,499,460,873
2006 $408,259,840,869 $737,593,995,289
2005 $385,714,762,230 $688,133,699,636
2004 $369,214,712,443 $661,224,886,143
2003 $318,082,528,507 $582,435,617,082
2002 $258,383,599,375 $475,529,972,123
2001 $236,746,141,604 $432,536,219,669
2000 $236,792,460,312 $417,649,282,154
1999 $258,245,733,221 $447,778,514,140
1998 $258,528,339,631 $438,612,530,549
1997 $252,708,051,421 $417,506,211,882
1996 $279,201,433,225 $451,372,549,020
1995 $288,025,588,396 $452,967,334,614
1994 $244,884,129,491 $379,688,232,232
1993 $224,721,795,709 $354,070,495,966
1992 $234,781,652,447 $363,497,050,125
1991 $210,510,999,409 $327,982,316,124
1990 $205,331,747,948 $318,799,003,994
1989 $164,221,056,511 $258,716,904,292
1988 $162,299,103,675 $262,295,966,105
1987 $149,394,404,106 $245,406,949,521
1986 $120,018,787,249 $201,157,708,221
1985 $86,268,264,148 $144,057,523,222
1984 $83,349,530,159 $144,124,462,912
1983 $87,184,239,053 $153,671,294,109
1982 $92,095,926,188 $158,712,765,536
1981 $104,730,018,470 $164,375,775,854
1980 $126,829,314,388 $195,439,301,707
1979 $116,315,456,797 $179,933,827,310
1978 $101,246,526,194 $156,089,077,205
1977 $82,839,905,459 $127,203,923,857
1976 $71,113,882,968 $109,329,386,564
1975 $65,678,189,097 $100,397,061,694
1974 $56,033,077,879 $87,371,810,804
1973 $47,743,801,490 $71,946,639,603
1972 $37,209,418,019 $54,787,070,173
1971 $29,821,661,870 $44,644,730,576
1970 $26,706,196,047 $38,220,884,519
1969 $24,019,653,475 $34,086,038,090
1968 $21,654,856,965 $30,097,635,751
1967 $20,252,508,995 $27,143,828,099
1966 $18,894,891,312 $24,741,480,717
1965 $17,597,783,297 $22,721,869,808
1964 $16,168,044,450 $20,232,048,553
1963 $14,445,805,381 $17,193,744,109
1962 $13,436,827,167 $15,847,582,341
1961 $12,561,701,694 $14,599,836,396
1960 $11,810,619,368 $13,282,979,015

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/netherlands | CC BY

Belgium and Netherlands economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

Netherlands
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium Netherlands
2024 $56,615 $67,520
2023 $55,291 $63,516
2022 $50,606 $59,123
2021 $51,658 $60,142
2020 $45,906 $53,468
2019 $46,717 $53,555
2018 $47,487 $53,955
2017 $44,035 $49,514
2016 $41,855 $46,809
2015 $40,894 $45,794
2014 $47,996 $53,457
2013 $46,965 $52,602
2012 $44,874 $50,474
2011 $47,761 $54,702
2010 $44,197 $51,306
2009 $44,923 $53,172
2008 $48,303 $58,247
2007 $44,319 $52,101
2006 $38,705 $45,124
2005 $36,810 $42,165
2004 $35,429 $40,611
2003 $30,655 $35,897
2002 $25,006 $29,447
2001 $23,015 $26,956
2000 $23,099 $26,225
1999 $25,253 $28,319
1998 $25,338 $27,924
1997 $24,821 $26,745
1996 $27,490 $29,064
1995 $28,414 $29,301
1994 $24,209 $24,683
1993 $22,284 $23,156
1992 $23,373 $23,939
1991 $21,042 $21,764
1990 $20,600 $21,322
1989 $16,525 $17,423
1988 $16,391 $17,771
1987 $15,136 $16,734
1986 $12,170 $13,804
1985 $8,751 $9,941
1984 $8,457 $9,992
1983 $8,846 $10,696
1982 $9,344 $11,089
1981 $10,623 $11,537
1980 $12,864 $13,812
1979 $11,811 $12,817
1978 $10,290 $11,196
1977 $8,427 $9,180
1976 $7,243 $7,937
1975 $6,701 $7,346
1974 $5,734 $6,450
1973 $4,901 $5,353
1972 $3,832 $4,110
1971 $3,083 $3,384
1970 $2,766 $2,931
1969 $2,490 $2,647
1968 $2,251 $2,364
1967 $2,114 $2,155
1966 $1,983 $1,986
1965 $1,860 $1,848
1964 $1,724 $1,668
1963 $1,555 $1,437
1962 $1,457 $1,342
1961 $1,368 $1,254
1960 $1,290 $1,156

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/netherlands | CC BY

Belgium vs. Netherlands life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

Netherlands
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium Netherlands
2026 82.6 82.6
2025 82.4 82.4
2024 82.3 82.3
2023 82.1 82.2
2022 81.2 81.9
2021 81.7 81.4
2020 80.8 81.4
2019 81.8 82.1
2018 81.5 81.8
2017 81.4 81.7
2016 81.3 81.6
2015 80.9 81.5
2014 81.1 81.7
2013 80.5 81.3
2012 80.3 81.1
2011 80.4 81.1
2010 80 80.8
2009 79.8 80.7
2008 79.6 80.4
2007 79.5 80.3
2006 79.4 79.8
2005 79.1 79.5
2004 79 79.2
2003 78.3 78.7
2002 78.2 78.4
2001 78.1 78.3
2000 77.8 78.1
1999 77.6 78
1998 77.5 78
1997 77.4 77.9
1996 77.2 77.6
1995 76.8 77.6
1994 76.7 77.5
1993 76.4 77
1992 76.4 77.4
1991 76.2 77.2
1990 76.1 77
1989 75.6 76.8
1988 75.6 77
1987 75.3 76.8
1986 74.7 76.4
1985 74.5 76.4
1984 74.4 76.3
1983 73.9 76.3
1982 73.9 76.1
1981 73.7 76
1980 73.2 75.8
1979 73.2 75.6
1978 72.7 75.2
1977 72.8 75.3
1976 72.1 74.7
1975 72 74.6
1974 72 74.6
1973 71.6 74.2
1972 71.4 73.8
1971 71.1 73.9
1970 70.9 73.6
1969 70.7 73.6
1968 70.6 73.6
1967 70.9 73.8
1966 70.6 73.6
1965 70.6 73.6
1964 70.7 73.7
1963 70 73.4
1962 70.2 73.2
1961 70.5 73.6
1960 69.6 73.4
1959 70.3 73.2
1958 69.9 73.1
1957 69.2 73
1956 68.8 72.5
1955 68.5 72.5
1954 68.6 72.4
1953 68.4 71.7
1952 68 72.1
1951 66.7 71.5
1950 66.3 71.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/netherlands | CC BY

Belgium and Netherlands population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

Netherlands
1x
Year Population
Belgium Netherlands
2024 11,858,610 17,993,485
2023 11,779,946 17,877,117
2022 11,680,210 17,700,982
2021 11,586,195 17,533,044
2020 11,538,604 17,441,500
2019 11,488,980 17,344,874
2018 11,427,054 17,231,624
2017 11,375,158 17,131,296
2016 11,331,422 17,030,314
2015 11,274,196 16,939,923
2014 11,209,057 16,865,008
2013 11,159,407 16,804,432
2012 11,106,932 16,754,962
2011 11,038,264 16,693,074
2010 10,895,586 16,615,394
2009 10,796,493 16,530,388
2008 10,709,973 16,445,593
2007 10,625,700 16,381,696
2006 10,547,958 16,346,101
2005 10,478,617 16,319,868
2004 10,421,137 16,281,779
2003 10,376,133 16,225,302
2002 10,332,785 16,148,929
2001 10,286,570 16,046,180
2000 10,251,250 15,925,513
1999 10,226,419 15,812,088
1998 10,203,008 15,707,209
1997 10,181,245 15,610,650
1996 10,156,637 15,530,498
1995 10,136,811 15,459,006
1994 10,115,603 15,382,838
1993 10,084,475 15,290,368
1992 10,045,158 15,184,166
1991 10,004,486 15,069,798
1990 9,967,379 14,951,510
1989 9,937,697 14,848,907
1988 9,901,664 14,760,094
1987 9,870,234 14,665,037
1986 9,861,823 14,572,278
1985 9,858,308 14,491,632
1984 9,855,372 14,424,211
1983 9,855,520 14,367,070
1982 9,856,303 14,312,690
1981 9,858,982 14,247,208
1980 9,859,242 14,149,800
1979 9,848,382 14,038,270
1978 9,839,534 13,941,700
1977 9,830,358 13,856,185
1976 9,818,227 13,774,037
1975 9,800,700 13,666,335
1974 9,772,419 13,545,056
1973 9,741,720 13,439,322
1972 9,711,115 13,328,593
1971 9,673,162 13,194,497
1970 9,655,549 13,038,526
1969 9,646,032 12,877,984
1968 9,618,756 12,729,721
1967 9,580,991 12,598,201
1966 9,527,807 12,456,251
1965 9,463,667 12,294,732
1964 9,378,113 12,127,120
1963 9,289,770 11,965,966
1962 9,220,578 11,805,689
1961 9,183,948 11,638,712
1960 9,153,489 11,486,631

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/netherlands | CC BY

Fertility rates in Belgium and Netherlands

Fertility rate
Belgium

Netherlands
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Netherlands
2023 1.47 1.43
2022 1.53 1.49
2021 1.6 1.62
2020 1.55 1.54
2019 1.6 1.57
2018 1.62 1.59
2017 1.65 1.62
2016 1.68 1.66
2015 1.7 1.66
2014 1.74 1.71
2013 1.76 1.68
2012 1.8 1.72
2011 1.81 1.76
2010 1.86 1.79
2009 1.84 1.79
2008 1.85 1.77
2007 1.82 1.72
2006 1.8 1.72
2005 1.76 1.71
2004 1.72 1.72
2003 1.67 1.75
2002 1.65 1.73
2001 1.67 1.71
2000 1.67 1.72
1999 1.62 1.65
1998 1.6 1.63
1997 1.6 1.56
1996 1.59 1.53
1995 1.56 1.53
1994 1.56 1.57
1993 1.61 1.57
1992 1.65 1.59
1991 1.66 1.61
1990 1.62 1.62
1989 1.58 1.55
1988 1.57 1.55
1987 1.54 1.56
1986 1.54 1.55
1985 1.51 1.51
1984 1.54 1.49
1983 1.57 1.47
1982 1.61 1.5
1981 1.66 1.56
1980 1.68 1.6
1979 1.69 1.56
1978 1.69 1.58
1977 1.71 1.58
1976 1.73 1.63
1975 1.74 1.66
1974 1.83 1.77
1973 1.95 1.9
1972 2.09 2.15
1971 2.21 2.36
1970 2.25 2.57
1969 2.27 2.75
1968 2.31 2.72
1967 2.41 2.81
1966 2.52 2.9
1965 2.61 3.04
1964 2.71 3.17
1963 2.68 3.19
1962 2.59 3.18
1961 2.63 3.22
1960 2.54 3.12

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/netherlands | CC BY

Belgium and Netherlands demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

Netherlands
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium Netherlands
2024 42.7 42.4
2023 42.4 42.4
2022 42.2 42.5
2021 42 42.6
2020 41.9 42.5
2019 41.8 42.5
2018 41.7 42.4
2017 41.6 42.3
2016 41.4 42.2
2015 41.4 42
2014 41.3 41.8
2013 41.2 41.6
2012 41.1 41.3
2011 40.9 41
2010 40.8 40.7
2009 40.8 40.3
2008 40.7 40
2007 40.6 39.7
2006 40.4 39.3
2005 40.2 38.9
2004 40 38.5
2003 39.7 38.1
2002 39.4 37.8
2001 39.2 37.5
2000 38.9 37.3
1999 38.6 37
1998 38.3 36.7
1997 38.1 36.4
1996 37.8 36.1
1995 37.5 35.7
1994 37.2 35.4
1993 37 35.1
1992 36.7 34.8
1991 36.5 34.6
1990 36.3 34.3
1989 36.1 34.1
1988 35.9 33.8
1987 35.6 33.5
1986 35.4 33.2
1985 35.2 32.9
1984 35 32.6
1983 34.8 32.3
1982 34.5 31.9
1981 34.3 31.6
1980 34.2 31.3
1979 34.1 31
1978 34.1 30.7
1977 34.1 30.3
1976 34.1 29.8
1975 34.2 29.4
1974 34.3 29.3
1973 34.3 29
1972 34.3 28.9
1971 34.4 28.7
1970 34.5 28.6
1969 34.6 28.6
1968 34.7 28.6
1967 34.7 28.5
1966 34.7 28.6
1965 34.8 28.6
1964 34.8 28.6
1963 34.9 28.7
1962 34.9 28.7
1961 34.9 28.8
1960 34.9 28.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/netherlands | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium Netherlands
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$1.12T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
44.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
5.18%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
1.92%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
41,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
-0.94%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
3.64%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
70.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
17.5%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
78.5
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
21.4%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
3.6%
2021
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
1,267,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
8.87%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
13
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.00009%
2025
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
103
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$1.1T
2017
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$79.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$4.72B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
7,265,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
1.44%
2020
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
99.2%
2024

Energy

Belgium Netherlands
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
3,418 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$23.9
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
118.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
6.6 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
83.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
9.01%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
87%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
6,189 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
33.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
0.06%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
3.28%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium Netherlands
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.22%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+104,681
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
95.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
49.7:50.3
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
6.03 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.59 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
94.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
78
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
96
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
0.69
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
4
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2003
English speaking
59%
2023
90.9%
2023
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
97%
2023

Health

Belgium Netherlands
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$6,845
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$807
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
82.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.01%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
3.88
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
30.4 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
4
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
15%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
5%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
76
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
21.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
8.71 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium Netherlands
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.02%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
722 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
6,961 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
1,437 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
88,123 mi
2022

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  12. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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