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Belgium vs Ireland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 5.4M in Ireland (ranked 120/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 26,599 sq mi for Ireland (ranked 136th vs. 119th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium Ireland
Population
11902714
5518360
Population rank 83/197 121/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$609B
2024
GDP rank 23/197 25/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$112,895
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 4/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$133,437
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$236B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
38.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$43,766
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 11/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$47,851
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 26,599 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
207 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
1.5
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
39.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
82.9 years
2026

Belgium and Ireland: Comparison Charts

Belgium and Ireland economies compared

GDP
Belgium

Ireland
1x
Year GDP
Belgium Ireland
2024 $671,370,081,636 $609,157,459,747
2023 $651,330,595,110 $567,372,737,459
2022 $591,085,783,326 $548,341,794,599
2021 $598,522,422,242 $530,394,123,830
2020 $529,694,473,502 $436,009,027,819
2019 $536,726,344,405 $407,211,793,801
2018 $542,638,913,428 $395,780,319,817
2017 $500,908,767,352 $348,355,212,569
2016 $474,271,566,740 $305,431,252,709
2015 $461,044,767,545 $302,101,388,556
2014 $537,987,419,164 $266,490,442,124
2013 $524,097,026,599 $242,924,245,719
2012 $498,414,364,945 $226,921,827,888
2011 $527,196,649,049 $240,975,871,047
2010 $481,556,503,720 $221,732,824,603
2009 $485,014,525,992 $236,443,115,854
2008 $517,328,087,920 $275,447,471,451
2007 $470,922,156,309 $270,079,279,420
2006 $408,259,840,869 $232,180,617,162
2005 $385,714,762,230 $211,876,989,656
2004 $369,214,712,443 $194,372,115,041
2003 $318,082,528,507 $164,670,771,260
2002 $258,383,599,375 $128,596,035,288
2001 $236,746,141,604 $109,346,669,230
2000 $236,792,460,312 $100,207,610,430
1999 $258,245,733,221 $98,893,958,263
1998 $258,528,339,631 $90,199,410,116
1997 $252,708,051,421 $82,856,648,758
1996 $279,201,433,225 $75,790,786,290
1995 $288,025,588,396 $69,139,823,232
1994 $244,884,129,491 $57,097,656,066
1993 $224,721,795,709 $52,417,477,614
1992 $234,781,652,447 $55,918,538,121
1991 $210,510,999,409 $49,787,501,584
1990 $205,331,747,948 $49,305,632,408
1989 $164,221,056,511 $39,238,392,678
1988 $162,299,103,675 $37,772,896,221
1987 $149,394,404,106 $33,920,518,493
1986 $120,018,787,249 $28,714,571,852
1985 $86,268,264,148 $21,270,013,326
1984 $83,349,530,159 $20,106,648,455
1983 $87,184,239,053 $20,766,047,764
1982 $92,095,926,188 $21,474,752,962
1981 $104,730,018,470 $20,670,190,138
1980 $126,829,314,388 $21,747,855,640
1979 $116,315,456,797 $18,319,334,300
1978 $101,246,526,194 $14,647,996,074
1977 $82,839,905,459 $11,248,340,431
1976 $71,113,882,968 $9,453,756,015
1975 $65,678,189,097 $9,483,808,362
1974 $56,033,077,879 $7,896,860,615
1973 $47,743,801,490 $7,481,173,066
1972 $37,209,418,019 $6,318,060,582
1971 $29,821,661,870 $5,098,250,287
1970 $26,706,196,047 $4,395,995,086
1969 $24,019,653,475 $3,902,721,632
1968 $21,654,856,965 $3,378,701,147
1967 $20,252,508,995 $3,445,739,915
1966 $18,894,891,312 $3,198,820,904
1965 $17,597,783,297 $3,035,655,794
1964 $16,168,044,450 $2,851,091,646
1963 $14,445,805,381 $2,505,073,358
1962 $13,436,827,167 $2,329,372,972
1961 $12,561,701,694 $2,151,772,980
1960 $11,810,619,368 $1,998,550,222

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

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

Belgium and Ireland economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

Ireland
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium Ireland
2024 $56,615 $112,895
2023 $55,291 $106,819
2022 $50,606 $105,191
2021 $51,658 $103,783
2020 $45,906 $86,514
2019 $46,717 $81,828
2018 $47,487 $80,804
2017 $44,035 $72,161
2016 $41,855 $64,130
2015 $40,894 $64,250
2014 $47,996 $57,215
2013 $46,965 $52,538
2012 $44,874 $49,336
2011 $47,761 $52,614
2010 $44,197 $48,624
2009 $44,923 $52,133
2008 $48,303 $61,353
2007 $44,319 $61,396
2006 $38,705 $54,329
2005 $36,810 $50,933
2004 $35,429 $47,754
2003 $30,655 $41,204
2002 $25,006 $32,705
2001 $23,015 $28,282
2000 $23,099 $26,335
1999 $25,253 $26,338
1998 $25,338 $24,295
1997 $24,821 $22,551
1996 $27,490 $20,836
1995 $28,414 $19,158
1994 $24,209 $15,903
1993 $22,284 $14,657
1992 $23,373 $15,714
1991 $21,042 $14,087
1990 $20,600 $14,031
1989 $16,525 $11,176
1988 $16,391 $10,716
1987 $15,136 $9,582
1986 $12,170 $8,112
1985 $8,751 $6,012
1984 $8,457 $5,692
1983 $8,846 $5,915
1982 $9,344 $6,161
1981 $10,623 $5,986
1980 $12,864 $6,372
1979 $11,811 $5,430
1978 $10,290 $4,400
1977 $8,427 $3,427
1976 $7,243 $2,920
1975 $6,701 $2,973
1974 $5,734 $2,517
1973 $4,901 $2,424
1972 $3,832 $2,080
1971 $3,083 $1,704
1970 $2,766 $1,487
1969 $2,490 $1,331
1968 $2,251 $1,159
1967 $2,114 $1,187
1966 $1,983 $1,107
1965 $1,860 $1,055
1964 $1,724 $995
1963 $1,555 $878
1962 $1,457 $821
1961 $1,368 $762
1960 $1,290 $707

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

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

Belgium vs. Ireland life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

Ireland
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium Ireland
2026 82.6 82.9
2025 82.4 82.7
2024 82.3 82.6
2023 82.1 82.4
2022 81.2 82.1
2021 81.7 81.9
2020 80.8 82.4
2019 81.8 82.4
2018 81.5 82.1
2017 81.4 82.1
2016 81.3 81.7
2015 80.9 81.5
2014 81.1 81.4
2013 80.5 81.1
2012 80.3 80.9
2011 80.4 80.7
2010 80 80.6
2009 79.8 80.1
2008 79.6 79.8
2007 79.5 79.6
2006 79.4 79.2
2005 79.1 78.9
2004 79 78.5
2003 78.3 78.1
2002 78.2 77.6
2001 78.1 77.1
2000 77.8 76.5
1999 77.6 76.1
1998 77.5 76.2
1997 77.4 76
1996 77.2 75.8
1995 76.8 75.5
1994 76.7 75.8
1993 76.4 75.3
1992 76.4 75.4
1991 76.2 75
1990 76.1 74.8
1989 75.6 74.5
1988 75.6 74.4
1987 75.3 74.4
1986 74.7 73.6
1985 74.5 73.6
1984 74.4 73.6
1983 73.9 73.2
1982 73.9 73.2
1981 73.7 72.9
1980 73.2 72.5
1979 73.2 72.2
1978 72.7 71.9
1977 72.8 71.9
1976 72.1 71.8
1975 72 71.7
1974 72 71.1
1973 71.6 71.2
1972 71.4 71
1971 71.1 71.6
1970 70.9 70.8
1969 70.7 70.8
1968 70.6 70.9
1967 70.9 71.2
1966 70.6 70.2
1965 70.6 70.6
1964 70.7 70.4
1963 70 70.2
1962 70.2 69.9
1961 70.5 69.6
1960 69.6 70.2
1959 70.3 69.4
1958 69.9 69.3
1957 69.2 69
1956 68.8 69
1955 68.5 68
1954 68.6 68
1953 68.4 67.9
1952 68 67.2
1951 66.7 64.8
1950 66.3 65.6

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

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

Belgium and Ireland population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

Ireland
1x
Year Population
Belgium Ireland
2024 11,858,610 5,395,790
2023 11,779,946 5,311,538
2022 11,680,210 5,212,836
2021 11,586,195 5,110,585
2020 11,538,604 5,039,747
2019 11,488,980 4,976,456
2018 11,427,054 4,898,022
2017 11,375,158 4,827,445
2016 11,331,422 4,762,722
2015 11,274,196 4,701,957
2014 11,209,057 4,657,740
2013 11,159,407 4,623,816
2012 11,106,932 4,599,533
2011 11,038,264 4,580,084
2010 10,895,586 4,560,155
2009 10,796,493 4,535,375
2008 10,709,973 4,489,544
2007 10,625,700 4,398,942
2006 10,547,958 4,273,591
2005 10,478,617 4,159,914
2004 10,421,137 4,070,262
2003 10,376,133 3,996,521
2002 10,332,785 3,931,947
2001 10,286,570 3,866,243
2000 10,251,250 3,805,174
1999 10,226,419 3,754,786
1998 10,203,008 3,712,696
1997 10,181,245 3,674,171
1996 10,156,637 3,637,510
1995 10,136,811 3,608,841
1994 10,115,603 3,590,386
1993 10,084,475 3,576,261
1992 10,045,158 3,558,430
1991 10,004,486 3,534,235
1990 9,967,379 3,513,974
1989 9,937,697 3,511,009
1988 9,901,664 3,524,949
1987 9,870,234 3,540,057
1986 9,861,823 3,539,690
1985 9,858,308 3,538,082
1984 9,855,372 3,532,423
1983 9,855,520 3,510,600
1982 9,856,303 3,485,800
1981 9,858,982 3,453,000
1980 9,859,242 3,412,800
1979 9,848,382 3,373,750
1978 9,839,534 3,329,100
1977 9,830,358 3,282,200
1976 9,818,227 3,238,050
1975 9,800,700 3,189,550
1974 9,772,419 3,137,500
1973 9,741,720 3,085,950
1972 9,711,115 3,036,850
1971 9,673,162 2,992,050
1970 9,655,549 2,957,250
1969 9,646,032 2,932,650
1968 9,618,756 2,915,550
1967 9,580,991 2,902,450
1966 9,527,807 2,888,800
1965 9,463,667 2,877,300
1964 9,378,113 2,866,550
1963 9,289,770 2,852,650
1962 9,220,578 2,836,050
1961 9,183,948 2,824,400
1960 9,153,489 2,828,600

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

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

Fertility rates in Belgium and Ireland

Fertility rate
Belgium

Ireland
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Ireland
2023 1.47 1.5
2022 1.53 1.54
2021 1.6 1.78
2020 1.55 1.63
2019 1.6 1.71
2018 1.62 1.75
2017 1.65 1.77
2016 1.68 1.81
2015 1.7 1.85
2014 1.74 1.89
2013 1.76 1.93
2012 1.8 1.98
2011 1.81 2.03
2010 1.86 2.05
2009 1.84 2.06
2008 1.85 2.06
2007 1.82 2.01
2006 1.8 1.91
2005 1.76 1.86
2004 1.72 1.93
2003 1.67 1.96
2002 1.65 1.97
2001 1.67 1.94
2000 1.67 1.89
1999 1.62 1.9
1998 1.6 1.94
1997 1.6 1.93
1996 1.59 1.88
1995 1.56 1.84
1994 1.56 1.85
1993 1.61 1.9
1992 1.65 1.99
1991 1.66 2.08
1990 1.62 2.11
1989 1.58 2.08
1988 1.57 2.17
1987 1.54 2.32
1986 1.54 2.44
1985 1.51 2.48
1984 1.54 2.58
1983 1.57 2.74
1982 1.61 2.94
1981 1.66 3.05
1980 1.68 3.21
1979 1.69 3.21
1978 1.69 3.21
1977 1.71 3.24
1976 1.73 3.29
1975 1.74 3.37
1974 1.83 3.59
1973 1.95 3.71
1972 2.09 3.84
1971 2.21 3.93
1970 2.25 3.85
1969 2.27 3.83
1968 2.31 3.77
1967 2.41 3.84
1966 2.52 3.94
1965 2.61 4.04
1964 2.71 4.07
1963 2.68 4.01
1962 2.59 3.92
1961 2.63 3.78
1960 2.54 3.78

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

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

Belgium and Ireland demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

Ireland
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium Ireland
2024 42.7 39.7
2023 42.4 39.4
2022 42.2 38.9
2021 42 38.6
2020 41.9 38.2
2019 41.8 37.8
2018 41.7 37.4
2017 41.6 37.1
2016 41.4 36.8
2015 41.4 36.4
2014 41.3 36
2013 41.2 35.6
2012 41.1 35.2
2011 40.9 34.8
2010 40.8 34.3
2009 40.8 33.9
2008 40.7 33.5
2007 40.6 33.4
2006 40.4 33.4
2005 40.2 33.4
2004 40 33.4
2003 39.7 33.2
2002 39.4 33
2001 39.2 32.7
2000 38.9 32.5
1999 38.6 32.2
1998 38.3 31.9
1997 38.1 31.6
1996 37.8 31.3
1995 37.5 30.9
1994 37.2 30.6
1993 37 30.2
1992 36.7 29.9
1991 36.5 29.6
1990 36.3 29.2
1989 36.1 28.8
1988 35.9 28.4
1987 35.6 27.9
1986 35.4 27.6
1985 35.2 27.3
1984 35 27.1
1983 34.8 26.9
1982 34.5 26.7
1981 34.3 26.6
1980 34.2 26.5
1979 34.1 26.5
1978 34.1 26.5
1977 34.1 26.5
1976 34.1 26.4
1975 34.2 26.5
1974 34.3 26.5
1973 34.3 26.7
1972 34.3 26.9
1971 34.4 27.1
1970 34.5 27.4
1969 34.6 27.6
1968 34.7 27.8
1967 34.7 28
1966 34.7 28.2
1965 34.8 28.6
1964 34.8 28.9
1963 34.9 29.2
1962 34.9 29.5
1961 34.9 29.8
1960 34.9 30.1

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium Ireland
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$435B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
22.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
2.9%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
0.24%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
9,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
+4.09%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
4.27%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
60.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
33.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
83.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
24.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
3.7%
2023
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
11
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.0003%
2025
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
43
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$110B
2018
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$12.7B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$656M
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
10,951,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
0.68%
2020
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
98.3%
2024

Energy

Belgium Ireland
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
2,468 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$52.6
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
32.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
6.04 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
82.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
12.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
8.94%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
85.8%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
6,145 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
37.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
3.88%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium Ireland
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+35,417
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
64.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.87 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.4 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
94.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
76
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
88
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
0.65
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
3.1
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2003
English speaking
59%
2023
98.4%
2023
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
96.5%
2023

Health

Belgium Ireland
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$7,395
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$784
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
82.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
3.88
2023
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
31.6 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
3.8
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
29.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
3.6%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
87
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
19.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
10.8 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium Ireland
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
4,930 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
16,174 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
3,066 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
62,031 mi
2018

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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