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Belgium vs France statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 68.6M in France (ranked 23/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 208,090 sq mi for France (ranked 136th vs. 48th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and France ranks 7/197 ($3.16T). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while France ranks 27/197 ($46,103).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium France
Population
11902714
68788006
Population rank 83/197 23/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$3.16T
2024
GDP rank 23/197 7/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$46,103
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 27/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$62,557
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$3.58T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
113.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$52,165
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 8/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$35,669
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 208,090 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
330 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
1.66
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
43 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
83.7 years
2026

Belgium and France: Comparison Charts

Belgium and France economies compared

GDP
Belgium

France
1x
Year GDP
Belgium France
2024 $671,370,081,636 $3,160,442,622,465
2023 $651,330,595,110 $3,056,250,648,138
2022 $591,085,783,326 $2,794,788,137,067
2021 $598,522,422,242 $2,966,433,692,008
2020 $529,694,473,502 $2,647,926,055,110
2019 $536,726,344,405 $2,722,793,515,172
2018 $542,638,913,428 $2,781,576,320,884
2017 $500,908,767,352 $2,588,868,323,335
2016 $474,271,566,740 $2,470,407,619,777
2015 $461,044,767,545 $2,442,483,452,643
2014 $537,987,419,164 $2,861,236,112,552
2013 $524,097,026,599 $2,816,077,607,875
2012 $498,414,364,945 $2,683,007,095,787
2011 $527,196,649,049 $2,870,408,553,990
2010 $481,556,503,720 $2,646,230,027,988
2009 $485,014,525,992 $2,700,075,882,519
2008 $517,328,087,920 $2,926,802,941,586
2007 $470,922,156,309 $2,655,816,911,867
2006 $408,259,840,869 $2,317,861,544,691
2005 $385,714,762,230 $2,192,146,403,028
2004 $369,214,712,443 $2,109,792,297,237
2003 $318,082,528,507 $1,835,095,983,049
2002 $258,383,599,375 $1,492,427,756,382
2001 $236,746,141,604 $1,370,376,677,299
2000 $236,792,460,312 $1,360,959,069,477
1999 $258,245,733,221 $1,486,915,879,702
1998 $258,528,339,631 $1,496,906,382,032
1997 $252,708,051,421 $1,449,392,222,971
1996 $279,201,433,225 $1,598,889,216,566
1995 $288,025,588,396 $1,595,219,345,512
1994 $244,884,129,491 $1,385,822,778,828
1993 $224,721,795,709 $1,314,383,368,080
1992 $234,781,652,447 $1,389,663,073,110
1991 $210,510,999,409 $1,258,961,748,634
1990 $205,331,747,948 $1,257,649,439,827
1989 $164,221,056,511 $1,016,742,237,302
1988 $162,299,103,675 $1,010,827,662,152
1987 $149,394,404,106 $926,320,855,615
1986 $120,018,787,249 $764,946,585,851
1985 $86,268,264,148 $547,220,981,165
1984 $83,349,530,159 $525,033,325,828
1983 $87,184,239,053 $553,356,312,936
1982 $92,095,926,188 $578,152,310,610
1981 $104,730,018,470 $609,184,791,792
1980 $126,829,314,388 $694,529,183,483
1979 $116,315,456,797 $608,218,624,730
1978 $101,246,526,194 $501,724,418,605
1977 $82,839,905,459 $406,401,711,688
1976 $71,113,882,968 $368,363,152,144
1975 $65,678,189,097 $357,324,307,786
1974 $56,033,077,879 $282,739,225,314
1973 $47,743,801,490 $261,970,536,240
1972 $37,209,418,019 $201,738,881,664
1971 $29,821,661,870 $164,694,210,962
1970 $26,706,196,047 $147,312,861,698
1969 $24,019,653,475 $140,660,914,841
1968 $21,654,856,965 $128,710,572,572
1967 $20,252,508,995 $118,088,635,381
1966 $18,894,891,312 $109,306,730,313
1965 $17,597,783,297 $100,927,668,584
1964 $16,168,044,450 $93,424,179,943
1963 $14,445,805,381 $84,227,606,650
1962 $13,436,827,167 $75,196,980,365
1961 $12,561,701,694 $67,158,050,215
1960 $11,810,619,368 $61,959,085,885

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

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

Belgium and France economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

France
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium France
2024 $56,615 $46,103
2023 $55,291 $44,700
2022 $50,606 $40,989
2021 $51,658 $43,725
2020 $45,906 $39,170
2019 $46,717 $40,408
2018 $47,487 $41,418
2017 $44,035 $38,687
2016 $41,855 $37,024
2015 $40,894 $36,702
2014 $47,996 $43,148
2013 $46,965 $42,669
2012 $44,874 $40,864
2011 $47,761 $43,930
2010 $44,197 $40,695
2009 $44,923 $41,728
2008 $48,303 $45,465
2007 $44,319 $41,486
2006 $38,705 $36,432
2005 $36,810 $34,696
2004 $35,429 $33,645
2003 $30,655 $29,480
2002 $25,006 $24,145
2001 $23,015 $22,332
2000 $23,099 $22,341
1999 $25,253 $24,576
1998 $25,338 $24,869
1997 $24,821 $24,169
1996 $27,490 $26,758
1995 $28,414 $26,792
1994 $24,209 $23,360
1993 $22,284 $22,239
1992 $23,373 $23,615
1991 $21,042 $21,501
1990 $20,600 $21,586
1989 $16,525 $17,547
1988 $16,391 $17,550
1987 $15,136 $16,176
1986 $12,170 $13,430
1985 $8,751 $9,657
1984 $8,457 $9,312
1983 $8,846 $9,862
1982 $9,344 $10,360
1981 $10,623 $10,956
1980 $12,864 $12,565
1979 $11,811 $11,063
1978 $10,290 $9,167
1977 $8,427 $7,459
1976 $7,243 $6,792
1975 $6,701 $6,617
1974 $5,734 $5,261
1973 $4,901 $4,907
1972 $3,832 $3,809
1971 $3,083 $3,137
1970 $2,766 $2,833
1969 $2,490 $2,729
1968 $2,251 $2,518
1967 $2,114 $2,328
1966 $1,983 $2,173
1965 $1,860 $2,024
1964 $1,724 $1,891
1963 $1,555 $1,723
1962 $1,457 $1,554
1961 $1,368 $1,402
1960 $1,290 $1,307

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

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

Belgium vs. France life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

France
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium France
2026 82.6 83.7
2025 82.4 83.6
2024 82.3 83.5
2023 82.1 83.3
2022 81.2 82.5
2021 81.7 82.3
2020 80.8 82.2
2019 81.8 82.7
2018 81.5 82.6
2017 81.4 82.4
2016 81.3 82.4
2015 80.9 82.1
2014 81.1 82.4
2013 80.5 82
2012 80.3 81.7
2011 80.4 81.8
2010 80 81.4
2009 79.8 81.2
2008 79.6 81
2007 79.5 81
2006 79.4 80.7
2005 79.1 80.3
2004 79 80.3
2003 78.3 79.4
2002 78.2 79.4
2001 78.1 79.2
2000 77.8 79
1999 77.6 78.7
1998 77.5 78.6
1997 77.4 78.4
1996 77.2 78.1
1995 76.8 77.9
1994 76.7 77.8
1993 76.4 77.3
1992 76.4 77.3
1991 76.2 77
1990 76.1 76.8
1989 75.6 76.5
1988 75.6 76.4
1987 75.3 76.1
1986 74.7 75.6
1985 74.5 75.3
1984 74.4 75.2
1983 73.9 74.7
1982 73.9 74.8
1981 73.7 74.4
1980 73.2 74.2
1979 73.2 74.1
1978 72.7 73.8
1977 72.8 73.7
1976 72.1 73.1
1975 72 72.9
1974 72 72.8
1973 71.6 72.5
1972 71.4 72.3
1971 71.1 72.1
1970 70.9 72.1
1969 70.7 71.2
1968 70.6 71.5
1967 70.9 71.5
1966 70.6 71.5
1965 70.6 71.1
1964 70.7 71.3
1963 70 70.3
1962 70.2 70.5
1961 70.5 71
1960 69.6 70.4
1959 70.3 70.2
1958 69.9 70.1
1957 69.2 68.9
1956 68.8 68.5
1955 68.5 68.4
1954 68.6 68.2
1953 68.4 67.3
1952 68 67.4
1951 66.7 66.1
1950 66.3 66.4

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

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

Belgium and France population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

France
1x
Year Population
Belgium France
2024 11,858,610 68,551,653
2023 11,779,946 68,372,286
2022 11,680,210 68,184,457
2021 11,586,195 67,842,811
2020 11,538,604 67,601,110
2019 11,488,980 67,382,061
2018 11,427,054 67,158,348
2017 11,375,158 66,918,020
2016 11,331,422 66,724,104
2015 11,274,196 66,548,272
2014 11,209,057 66,312,067
2013 11,159,407 65,997,932
2012 11,106,932 65,657,659
2011 11,038,264 65,340,830
2010 10,895,586 65,026,211
2009 10,796,493 64,706,436
2008 10,709,973 64,375,116
2007 10,625,700 64,016,890
2006 10,547,958 63,622,342
2005 10,478,617 63,180,854
2004 10,421,137 62,707,588
2003 10,376,133 62,249,855
2002 10,332,785 61,812,142
2001 10,286,570 61,364,377
2000 10,251,250 60,918,661
1999 10,226,419 60,501,986
1998 10,203,008 60,190,684
1997 10,181,245 59,968,066
1996 10,156,637 59,754,504
1995 10,136,811 59,541,294
1994 10,115,603 59,324,863
1993 10,084,475 59,103,094
1992 10,045,158 58,846,584
1991 10,004,486 58,554,242
1990 9,967,379 58,261,012
1989 9,937,697 57,943,062
1988 9,901,664 57,598,186
1987 9,870,234 57,266,167
1986 9,861,823 56,956,002
1985 9,858,308 56,665,619
1984 9,855,372 56,383,085
1983 9,855,520 56,108,330
1982 9,856,303 55,806,789
1981 9,858,982 55,603,353
1980 9,859,242 55,274,184
1979 9,848,382 54,979,851
1978 9,839,534 54,734,030
1977 9,830,358 54,486,467
1976 9,818,227 54,232,383
1975 9,800,700 54,002,853
1974 9,772,419 53,746,571
1973 9,741,720 53,392,161
1972 9,711,115 52,962,356
1971 9,673,162 52,499,553
1970 9,655,549 52,007,169
1969 9,646,032 51,536,014
1968 9,618,756 51,112,980
1967 9,580,991 50,722,791
1966 9,527,807 50,311,637
1965 9,463,667 49,877,725
1964 9,378,113 49,401,492
1963 9,289,770 48,877,567
1962 9,220,578 48,389,516
1961 9,183,948 47,905,982
1960 9,153,489 47,412,964

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

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

Fertility rates in Belgium and France

Fertility rate
Belgium

France
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium France
2023 1.47 1.66
2022 1.53 1.79
2021 1.6 1.84
2020 1.55 1.83
2019 1.6 1.86
2018 1.62 1.87
2017 1.65 1.89
2016 1.68 1.92
2015 1.7 1.96
2014 1.74 2
2013 1.76 1.99
2012 1.8 2.01
2011 1.81 2.01
2010 1.86 2.03
2009 1.84 2
2008 1.85 2.01
2007 1.82 1.98
2006 1.8 2
2005 1.76 1.94
2004 1.72 1.92
2003 1.67 1.89
2002 1.65 1.88
2001 1.67 1.9
2000 1.67 1.89
1999 1.62 1.81
1998 1.6 1.78
1997 1.6 1.77
1996 1.59 1.75
1995 1.56 1.74
1994 1.56 1.73
1993 1.61 1.73
1992 1.65 1.74
1991 1.66 1.75
1990 1.62 1.77
1989 1.58 1.79
1988 1.57 1.81
1987 1.54 1.83
1986 1.54 1.85
1985 1.51 1.86
1984 1.54 1.86
1983 1.57 1.86
1982 1.61 1.86
1981 1.66 1.85
1980 1.68 1.85
1979 1.69 1.87
1978 1.69 1.89
1977 1.71 1.94
1976 1.73 2.01
1975 1.74 2.09
1974 1.83 2.18
1973 1.95 2.28
1972 2.09 2.38
1971 2.21 2.47
1970 2.25 2.55
1969 2.27 2.62
1968 2.31 2.69
1967 2.41 2.75
1966 2.52 2.8
1965 2.61 2.84
1964 2.71 2.87
1963 2.68 2.89
1962 2.59 2.89
1961 2.63 2.87
1960 2.54 2.85

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

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

Belgium and France demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

France
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium France
2024 42.7 43
2023 42.4 42.8
2022 42.2 42.6
2021 42 42.4
2020 41.9 42.3
2019 41.8 42.1
2018 41.7 41.9
2017 41.6 41.6
2016 41.4 41.4
2015 41.4 41.2
2014 41.3 41
2013 41.2 40.8
2012 41.1 40.5
2011 40.9 40.3
2010 40.8 40
2009 40.8 39.8
2008 40.7 39.6
2007 40.6 39.4
2006 40.4 39.1
2005 40.2 38.9
2004 40 38.6
2003 39.7 38.4
2002 39.4 38.2
2001 39.2 37.9
2000 38.9 37.7
1999 38.6 37.4
1998 38.3 37.1
1997 38.1 36.8
1996 37.8 36.5
1995 37.5 36.2
1994 37.2 35.9
1993 37 35.6
1992 36.7 35.3
1991 36.5 35
1990 36.3 34.7
1989 36.1 34.5
1988 35.9 34.2
1987 35.6 34
1986 35.4 33.7
1985 35.2 33.5
1984 35 33.3
1983 34.8 33
1982 34.5 32.8
1981 34.3 32.6
1980 34.2 32.4
1979 34.1 32.3
1978 34.1 32.1
1977 34.1 31.9
1976 34.1 31.7
1975 34.2 31.6
1974 34.3 31.7
1973 34.3 31.8
1972 34.3 32
1971 34.4 32.2
1970 34.5 32.4
1969 34.6 32.5
1968 34.7 32.6
1967 34.7 32.7
1966 34.7 32.7
1965 34.8 32.7
1964 34.8 32.8
1963 34.9 32.8
1962 34.9 32.9
1961 34.9 32.8
1960 34.9 32.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium France
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$3.1T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
57.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
5.32%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
2.05%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
304,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
-5.77%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
7.44%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
70.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
17.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
64.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
25%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
3%
2023
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
2,897,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
5.47%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
52
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
457
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$2.37T
2018
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$283B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$38.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
117,109,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
4.8%
2020
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
99.2%
2024

Energy

Belgium France
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
3,136 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$19.4
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
274.5 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
46.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
16.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
46.7%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
47.1%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
6,415 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
22.8%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
11.6%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
64.3%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium France
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.84%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+91,737
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
78.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
48.5:51.5
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.86 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.4 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
86.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
66
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
85
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
1.31
2024
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
5.1
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2003
English speaking
59%
2023
57.3%
2023
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
88.7%
2024

Health

Belgium France
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$5,327
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$492
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
83.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
3.28
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
29.1 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
7
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
4.3
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
10%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
6.5%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
79
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
34.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
10.3 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium France
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.36%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
3,036 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
109,256 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
67,580 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
654,437 mi
2011

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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