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Belgium vs Congo statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 6.33M in The Congo (ranked 112/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 131,854 sq mi for The Congo (ranked 136th vs. 64th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and The Congo ranks 141/197 ($15.7B). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while The Congo ranks 149/197 ($2,482).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium Congo
Population
11902714
6681829
Population rank 83/197 109/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$15.7B
2024
GDP rank 23/197 141/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$2,482
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 149/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$7,026
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$15.4B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
98%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$2,433
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 112/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$2,153
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 131,854 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
50.4 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
4.16
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
19.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
66.4 years
2026

Belgium and Congo: Comparison Charts

Belgium and Congo economies compared

GDP
Belgium

Congo
1x
Year GDP
Belgium Congo
2024 $671,370,081,636 $15,719,986,077
2023 $651,330,595,110 $15,321,055,823
2022 $591,085,783,326 $15,817,030,155
2021 $598,522,422,242 $14,825,690,211
2020 $529,694,473,502 $11,468,687,464
2019 $536,726,344,405 $13,976,637,780
2018 $542,638,913,428 $14,773,900,289
2017 $500,908,767,352 $11,834,473,039
2016 $474,271,566,740 $10,931,328,151
2015 $461,044,767,545 $12,434,793,867
2014 $537,987,419,164 $17,919,321,078
2013 $524,097,026,599 $17,958,720,699
2012 $498,414,364,945 $17,692,911,296
2011 $527,196,649,049 $15,655,383,577
2010 $481,556,503,720 $13,148,396,212
2009 $485,014,525,992 $9,723,299,915
2008 $517,328,087,920 $11,649,857,673
2007 $470,922,156,309 $8,782,703,437
2006 $408,259,840,869 $8,072,305,029
2005 $385,714,762,230 $6,650,001,680
2004 $369,214,712,443 $4,656,974,940
2003 $318,082,528,507 $3,503,723,088
2002 $258,383,599,375 $3,034,250,924
2001 $236,746,141,604 $2,796,704,604
2000 $236,792,460,312 $3,227,927,698
1999 $258,245,733,221 $2,354,772,960
1998 $258,528,339,631 $1,949,481,379
1997 $252,708,051,421 $2,322,719,103
1996 $279,201,433,225 $2,540,697,539
1995 $288,025,588,396 $2,116,003,868
1994 $244,884,129,491 $1,769,365,438
1993 $224,721,795,709 $2,684,323,623
1992 $234,781,652,447 $2,933,222,703
1991 $210,510,999,409 $2,724,853,506
1990 $205,331,747,948 $2,798,746,050
1989 $164,221,056,511 $2,389,593,026
1988 $162,299,103,675 $2,212,536,312
1987 $149,394,404,106 $2,297,753,652
1986 $120,018,787,249 $1,849,268,212
1985 $86,268,264,148 $2,160,872,540
1984 $83,349,530,159 $2,193,581,365
1983 $87,184,239,053 $2,097,274,290
1982 $92,095,926,188 $2,160,640,565
1981 $104,730,018,470 $1,993,512,323
1980 $126,829,314,388 $1,705,796,853
1979 $116,315,456,797 $1,198,749,667
1978 $101,246,526,194 $878,771,772
1977 $82,839,905,459 $765,224,029
1976 $71,113,882,968 $754,549,601
1975 $65,678,189,097 $767,102,680
1974 $56,033,077,879 $585,364,634
1973 $47,743,801,490 $541,973,363
1972 $37,209,418,019 $410,669,264
1971 $29,821,661,870 $322,128,019
1970 $26,706,196,047 $274,960,700
1969 $24,019,653,475 $265,040,036
1968 $21,654,856,965 $251,247,458
1967 $20,252,508,995 $237,397,428
1966 $18,894,891,312 $220,613,582
1965 $17,597,783,297 $198,318,064
1964 $16,168,044,450 $185,693,725
1963 $14,445,805,381 $172,233,431
1962 $13,436,827,167 $166,521,240
1961 $12,561,701,694 $151,675,739
1960 $11,810,619,368 $131,731,863

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

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

Belgium and Congo economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

Congo
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium Congo
2024 $56,615 $2,482
2023 $55,291 $2,478
2022 $50,606 $2,621
2021 $51,658 $2,516
2020 $45,906 $1,994
2019 $46,717 $2,488
2018 $47,487 $2,694
2017 $44,035 $2,212
2016 $41,855 $2,093
2015 $40,894 $2,439
2014 $47,996 $3,601
2013 $46,965 $3,697
2012 $44,874 $3,732
2011 $47,761 $3,396
2010 $44,197 $2,947
2009 $44,923 $2,271
2008 $48,303 $2,832
2007 $44,319 $2,206
2006 $38,705 $2,104
2005 $36,810 $1,799
2004 $35,429 $1,306
2003 $30,655 $1,017
2002 $25,006 $906
2001 $23,015 $855
2000 $23,099 $1,024
1999 $25,253 $776
1998 $25,338 $660
1997 $24,821 $804
1996 $27,490 $899
1995 $28,414 $770
1994 $24,209 $662
1993 $22,284 $1,034
1992 $23,373 $1,164
1991 $21,042 $1,113
1990 $20,600 $1,176
1989 $16,525 $1,033
1988 $16,391 $984
1987 $15,136 $1,052
1986 $12,170 $872
1985 $8,751 $1,049
1984 $8,457 $1,097
1983 $8,846 $1,075
1982 $9,344 $1,131
1981 $10,623 $1,066
1980 $12,864 $933
1979 $11,811 $670
1978 $10,290 $503
1977 $8,427 $448
1976 $7,243 $453
1975 $6,701 $471
1974 $5,734 $370
1973 $4,901 $353
1972 $3,832 $276.3
1971 $3,083 $223.5
1970 $2,766 $196.7
1969 $2,490 $195.4
1968 $2,251 $190.8
1967 $2,114 $185.7
1966 $1,983 $177.6
1965 $1,860 $164.2
1964 $1,724 $158.1
1963 $1,555 $150.7
1962 $1,457 $149.6
1961 $1,368 $139.9
1960 $1,290 $124.7

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

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

Belgium vs. Congo life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

Congo
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium Congo
2026 82.6 66.4
2025 82.4 66.2
2024 82.3 66
2023 82.1 65.8
2022 81.2 65
2021 81.7 64.2
2020 80.8 64.4
2019 81.8 63.2
2018 81.5 64.5
2017 81.4 64.2
2016 81.3 63.9
2015 80.9 63.7
2014 81.1 63.3
2013 80.5 63
2012 80.3 62.7
2011 80.4 62.3
2010 80 61.7
2009 79.8 61.2
2008 79.6 60.8
2007 79.5 60.1
2006 79.4 59.5
2005 79.1 58.7
2004 79 58
2003 78.3 57.1
2002 78.2 56.4
2001 78.1 55.9
2000 77.8 55.4
1999 77.6 54.4
1998 77.5 52.6
1997 77.4 48.6
1996 77.2 55.2
1995 76.8 55.5
1994 76.7 55.6
1993 76.4 56
1992 76.4 56.5
1991 76.2 56.8
1990 76.1 57.1
1989 75.6 57.3
1988 75.6 57.5
1987 75.3 57.6
1986 74.7 57.6
1985 74.5 57.6
1984 74.4 57.5
1983 73.9 57.4
1982 73.9 57.2
1981 73.7 57.1
1980 73.2 56.8
1979 73.2 56.5
1978 72.7 56.2
1977 72.8 56
1976 72.1 55.7
1975 72 55.4
1974 72 55.1
1973 71.6 54.7
1972 71.4 54.4
1971 71.1 54
1970 70.9 53.6
1969 70.7 53.1
1968 70.6 52.6
1967 70.9 51.9
1966 70.6 51.6
1965 70.6 51
1964 70.7 50.4
1963 70 49.7
1962 70.2 49
1961 70.5 48.4
1960 69.6 47.6
1959 70.3 46.8
1958 69.9 46
1957 69.2 45.1
1956 68.8 44.3
1955 68.5 43.4
1954 68.6 42.6
1953 68.4 41.9
1952 68 41.1
1951 66.7 40.3
1950 66.3 39.6

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

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

Belgium and Congo population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

Congo
1x
Year Population
Belgium Congo
2024 11,858,610 6,332,961
2023 11,779,946 6,182,885
2022 11,680,210 6,035,104
2021 11,586,195 5,892,183
2020 11,538,604 5,752,791
2019 11,488,980 5,616,661
2018 11,427,054 5,483,118
2017 11,375,158 5,351,011
2016 11,331,422 5,222,536
2015 11,274,196 5,097,581
2014 11,209,057 4,975,880
2013 11,159,407 4,857,099
2012 11,106,932 4,740,450
2011 11,038,264 4,609,724
2010 10,895,586 4,462,290
2009 10,796,493 4,281,219
2008 10,709,973 4,113,517
2007 10,625,700 3,980,430
2006 10,547,958 3,837,409
2005 10,478,617 3,696,393
2004 10,421,137 3,565,554
2003 10,376,133 3,445,753
2002 10,332,785 3,350,771
2001 10,286,570 3,272,537
2000 10,251,250 3,151,345
1999 10,226,419 3,032,874
1998 10,203,008 2,952,061
1997 10,181,245 2,887,862
1996 10,156,637 2,826,785
1995 10,136,811 2,749,461
1994 10,115,603 2,673,144
1993 10,084,475 2,595,124
1992 10,045,158 2,519,465
1991 10,004,486 2,449,229
1990 9,967,379 2,380,560
1989 9,937,697 2,313,558
1988 9,901,664 2,247,653
1987 9,870,234 2,183,473
1986 9,861,823 2,120,602
1985 9,858,308 2,059,311
1984 9,855,372 1,999,528
1983 9,855,520 1,950,321
1982 9,856,303 1,910,430
1981 9,858,982 1,869,759
1980 9,859,242 1,828,985
1979 9,848,382 1,788,524
1978 9,839,534 1,748,089
1977 9,830,358 1,707,568
1976 9,818,227 1,667,225
1975 9,800,700 1,627,032
1974 9,772,419 1,582,301
1973 9,741,720 1,533,680
1972 9,711,115 1,486,468
1971 9,673,162 1,441,039
1970 9,655,549 1,397,638
1969 9,646,032 1,356,182
1968 9,618,756 1,316,519
1967 9,580,991 1,278,691
1966 9,527,807 1,242,534
1965 9,463,667 1,207,880
1964 9,378,113 1,174,816
1963 9,289,770 1,143,263
1962 9,220,578 1,113,175
1961 9,183,948 1,084,389
1960 9,153,489 1,056,732

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

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

Fertility rates in Belgium and Congo

Fertility rate
Belgium

Congo
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Congo
2023 1.47 4.16
2022 1.53 4.22
2021 1.6 4.28
2020 1.55 4.33
2019 1.6 4.38
2018 1.62 4.44
2017 1.65 4.5
2016 1.68 4.55
2015 1.7 4.61
2014 1.74 4.67
2013 1.76 4.73
2012 1.8 4.79
2011 1.81 4.83
2010 1.86 4.85
2009 1.84 4.81
2008 1.85 4.73
2007 1.82 4.65
2006 1.8 4.65
2005 1.76 4.67
2004 1.72 4.69
2003 1.67 4.7
2002 1.65 4.7
2001 1.67 4.67
2000 1.67 4.72
1999 1.62 4.81
1998 1.6 4.91
1997 1.6 5
1996 1.59 5.03
1995 1.56 5.07
1994 1.56 5.1
1993 1.61 5.13
1992 1.65 5.18
1991 1.66 5.22
1990 1.62 5.27
1989 1.58 5.33
1988 1.57 5.39
1987 1.54 5.46
1986 1.54 5.51
1985 1.51 5.59
1984 1.54 5.66
1983 1.57 5.76
1982 1.61 5.85
1981 1.66 5.98
1980 1.68 6.07
1979 1.69 6.14
1978 1.69 6.21
1977 1.71 6.27
1976 1.73 6.32
1975 1.74 6.36
1974 1.83 6.39
1973 1.95 6.42
1972 2.09 6.44
1971 2.21 6.42
1970 2.25 6.38
1969 2.27 6.35
1968 2.31 6.33
1967 2.41 6.29
1966 2.52 6.27
1965 2.61 6.23
1964 2.71 6.18
1963 2.68 6.15
1962 2.59 6.1
1961 2.63 6.09
1960 2.54 6.09

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

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

Belgium and Congo demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

Congo
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium Congo
2024 42.7 19.5
2023 42.4 19.4
2022 42.2 19.3
2021 42 19.2
2020 41.9 19.2
2019 41.8 19.1
2018 41.7 19.1
2017 41.6 19.2
2016 41.4 19.2
2015 41.4 19.3
2014 41.3 19.4
2013 41.2 19.5
2012 41.1 19.6
2011 40.9 19.7
2010 40.8 19.8
2009 40.8 19.7
2008 40.7 19.5
2007 40.6 19.5
2006 40.4 19.3
2005 40.2 19.2
2004 40 19
2003 39.7 18.9
2002 39.4 18.8
2001 39.2 18.8
2000 38.9 18.5
1999 38.6 18.2
1998 38.3 18.1
1997 38.1 18.1
1996 37.8 18.1
1995 37.5 18.1
1994 37.2 18
1993 37 17.9
1992 36.7 17.8
1991 36.5 17.7
1990 36.3 17.7
1989 36.1 17.6
1988 35.9 17.5
1987 35.6 17.4
1986 35.4 17.4
1985 35.2 17.3
1984 35 17.2
1983 34.8 17.2
1982 34.5 17.1
1981 34.3 17
1980 34.2 17
1979 34.1 17
1978 34.1 17
1977 34.1 17
1976 34.1 17.1
1975 34.2 17.2
1974 34.3 17.3
1973 34.3 17.4
1972 34.3 17.4
1971 34.4 17.5
1970 34.5 17.6
1969 34.6 17.7
1968 34.7 17.8
1967 34.7 17.9
1966 34.7 18.1
1965 34.8 18.2
1964 34.8 18.3
1963 34.9 18.4
1962 34.9 18.6
1961 34.9 18.7
1960 34.9 18.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium Congo
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$14.4B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
21.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
3.34%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
1.19%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
12,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
+3.62%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
10%
2012
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
45%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
40.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
48.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
37.9%
2011
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
1.6%
2011
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
n/a
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$715M
2023
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$44M
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
158,000
2018
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
0.93%
2016
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
55.6%
2024

Energy

Belgium Congo
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
628 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$10.6
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
8.46 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
1.34 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
51.8%
2022
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
71.4%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
2.56%
2022
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
-347%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
459 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
26.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
22.3%
2022
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
51.3%
2023

Society

Belgium Congo
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.08%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
-2,999
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
50:50
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.62 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.21 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
19.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
23
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
21
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
9.32
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
29.7
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
55
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
80.6%
2021
English speaking
59%
2023
0%
2025
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
38.4%
2023

Health

Belgium Congo
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$75.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$21.1
2023
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
66.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
14.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
0.17
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
19.6 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
241
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
40.5
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
8.84%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
8.1%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
3
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
15.4%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
6.05 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium Congo
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.23%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
20,820 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
41,125 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
84,560 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
14,493 mi
2017

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) (2000–2025, 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. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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