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Belgium vs Japan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 124M in Japan (ranked 12/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 140,761 sq mi for Japan (ranked 136th vs. 61st).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium Japan
Population
11902714
122677250
Population rank 83/197 12/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$4.03T
2024
GDP rank 23/197 4/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$32,487
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 38/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$52,039
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$9.51T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
236.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$76,704
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 3/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$23,653
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 140,761 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
872 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
50.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
85.1 years
2026

Belgium and Japan: Comparison Charts

Belgium and Japan economies compared

GDP
Belgium

Japan
1x
Year GDP
Belgium Japan
2024 $671,370,081,636 $4,027,597,523,551
2023 $651,330,595,110 $4,213,167,237,906
2022 $591,085,783,326 $4,262,463,317,797
2021 $598,522,422,242 $5,039,148,168,861
2020 $529,694,473,502 $5,054,068,005,376
2019 $536,726,344,405 $5,117,993,853,017
2018 $542,638,913,428 $5,040,880,939,325
2017 $500,908,767,352 $4,930,837,369,151
2016 $474,271,566,740 $5,003,677,627,544
2015 $461,044,767,545 $4,444,930,651,964
2014 $537,987,419,164 $4,896,994,405,353
2013 $524,097,026,599 $5,212,328,181,166
2012 $498,414,364,945 $6,272,362,996,105
2011 $527,196,649,049 $6,233,147,172,341
2010 $481,556,503,720 $5,759,071,769,013
2009 $485,014,525,992 $5,289,493,117,994
2008 $517,328,087,920 $5,106,679,115,127
2007 $470,922,156,309 $4,579,750,920,355
2006 $408,259,840,869 $4,601,663,122,650
2005 $385,714,762,230 $4,831,467,035,390
2004 $369,214,712,443 $4,893,116,005,657
2003 $318,082,528,507 $4,519,561,645,254
2002 $258,383,599,375 $4,182,846,045,874
2001 $236,746,141,604 $4,374,711,694,091
2000 $236,792,460,312 $4,968,359,075,957
1999 $258,245,733,221 $4,635,982,224,064
1998 $258,528,339,631 $4,098,362,709,531
1997 $252,708,051,421 $4,492,448,605,639
1996 $279,201,433,225 $4,923,391,533,852
1995 $288,025,588,396 $5,545,563,663,890
1994 $244,884,129,491 $4,998,797,547,741
1993 $224,721,795,709 $4,536,940,479,038
1992 $234,781,652,447 $3,980,702,922,118
1991 $210,510,999,409 $3,648,065,760,649
1990 $205,331,747,948 $3,185,904,656,664
1989 $164,221,056,511 $3,109,455,047,824
1988 $162,299,103,675 $3,125,724,434,401
1987 $149,394,404,106 $2,580,748,422,781
1986 $120,018,787,249 $2,120,083,812,110
1985 $86,268,264,148 $1,427,019,759,717
1984 $83,349,530,159 $1,345,824,500,837
1983 $87,184,239,053 $1,270,859,919,743
1982 $92,095,926,188 $1,158,731,426,906
1981 $104,730,018,470 $1,245,221,410,764
1980 $126,829,314,388 $1,129,377,244,854
1979 $116,315,456,797 $1,077,910,077,676
1978 $101,246,526,194 $1,035,611,588,217
1977 $82,839,905,459 $737,069,290,928
1976 $71,113,882,968 $598,883,902,156
1975 $65,678,189,097 $532,861,438,885
1974 $56,033,077,879 $490,035,789,970
1973 $47,743,801,490 $441,460,582,536
1972 $37,209,418,019 $324,933,841,269
1971 $29,821,661,870 $245,364,056,622
1970 $26,706,196,047 $217,223,652,719
1969 $24,019,653,475 $184,298,841,305
1968 $21,654,856,965 $156,897,496,759
1967 $20,252,508,995 $132,475,614,227
1966 $18,894,891,312 $113,046,784,179
1965 $17,597,783,297 $97,338,107,606
1964 $16,168,044,450 $87,490,590,818
1963 $14,445,805,381 $74,379,284,603
1962 $13,436,827,167 $64,987,857,542
1961 $12,561,701,694 $57,266,758,180
1960 $11,810,619,368 $47,419,238,274

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

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

Belgium and Japan economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

Japan
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium Japan
2024 $56,615 $32,487
2023 $55,291 $33,836
2022 $50,606 $34,066
2021 $51,658 $40,095
2020 $45,906 $40,029
2019 $46,717 $40,416
2018 $47,487 $39,751
2017 $44,035 $38,834
2016 $41,855 $39,375
2015 $40,894 $34,961
2014 $47,996 $38,475
2013 $46,965 $40,899
2012 $44,874 $49,145
2011 $47,761 $48,760
2010 $44,197 $44,968
2009 $44,923 $41,309
2008 $48,303 $39,876
2007 $44,319 $35,779
2006 $38,705 $35,992
2005 $36,810 $37,813
2004 $35,429 $38,299
2003 $30,655 $35,387
2002 $25,006 $32,821
2001 $23,015 $34,406
2000 $23,099 $39,169
1999 $25,253 $36,610
1998 $25,338 $32,424
1997 $24,821 $35,638
1996 $27,490 $39,150
1995 $28,414 $44,198
1994 $24,209 $39,934
1993 $22,284 $36,345
1992 $23,373 $31,993
1991 $21,042 $29,428
1990 $20,600 $25,801
1989 $16,525 $25,266
1988 $16,391 $25,500
1987 $15,136 $21,142
1986 $12,170 $17,452
1985 $8,751 $11,809
1984 $8,457 $11,207
1983 $8,846 $10,652
1982 $9,344 $9,780
1981 $10,623 $10,583
1980 $12,864 $9,669
1979 $11,811 $9,301
1978 $10,290 $9,012
1977 $8,427 $6,473
1976 $7,243 $5,310
1975 $6,701 $4,776
1974 $5,734 $4,448
1973 $4,901 $4,061
1972 $3,832 $3,031
1971 $3,083 $2,321
1970 $2,766 $2,101
1969 $2,490 $1,803
1968 $2,251 $1,553
1967 $2,114 $1,326
1966 $1,983 $1,144
1965 $1,860 $994
1964 $1,724 $903
1963 $1,555 $776
1962 $1,457 $685
1961 $1,368 $609
1960 $1,290 $509

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

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

Belgium vs. Japan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

Japan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium Japan
2026 82.6 85.1
2025 82.4 85
2024 82.3 84.9
2023 82.1 84.7
2022 81.2 84.1
2021 81.7 84.6
2020 80.8 84.7
2019 81.8 84.4
2018 81.5 84.3
2017 81.4 84.2
2016 81.3 84.1
2015 80.9 83.9
2014 81.1 83.6
2013 80.5 83.4
2012 80.3 83.2
2011 80.4 82.7
2010 80 82.9
2009 79.8 83
2008 79.6 82.6
2007 79.5 82.5
2006 79.4 82.4
2005 79.1 82
2004 79 82.1
2003 78.3 81.9
2002 78.2 81.8
2001 78.1 81.5
2000 77.8 81.2
1999 77.6 80.6
1998 77.5 80.6
1997 77.4 80.6
1996 77.2 80.4
1995 76.8 79.7
1994 76.7 79.8
1993 76.4 79.4
1992 76.4 79.3
1991 76.2 79.3
1990 76.1 79
1989 75.6 79
1988 75.6 78.5
1987 75.3 78.6
1986 74.7 78.2
1985 74.5 77.8
1984 74.4 77.5
1983 73.9 77.1
1982 73.9 77.1
1981 73.7 76.6
1980 73.2 76.1
1979 73.2 76.2
1978 72.7 75.7
1977 72.8 75.3
1976 72.1 74.8
1975 72 74.4
1974 72 73.8
1973 71.6 73.4
1972 71.4 73.3
1971 71.1 72.8
1970 70.9 72
1969 70.7 71.9
1968 70.6 71.7
1967 70.9 71.4
1966 70.6 71.1
1965 70.6 70.3
1964 70.7 70.2
1963 70 69.7
1962 70.2 68.7
1961 70.5 68.4
1960 69.6 67.7
1959 70.3 67.5
1958 69.9 67
1957 69.2 65.4
1956 68.8 65.6
1955 68.5 65.7
1954 68.6 64.5
1953 68.4 63.3
1952 68 63
1951 66.7 61
1950 66.3 59.3

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

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

Belgium and Japan population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

Japan
1x
Year Population
Belgium Japan
2024 11,858,610 123,975,371
2023 11,779,946 124,516,650
2022 11,680,210 125,124,989
2021 11,586,195 125,681,593
2020 11,538,604 126,261,000
2019 11,488,980 126,633,000
2018 11,427,054 126,811,000
2017 11,375,158 126,972,000
2016 11,331,422 127,076,000
2015 11,274,196 127,141,000
2014 11,209,057 127,276,000
2013 11,159,407 127,445,000
2012 11,106,932 127,629,000
2011 11,038,264 127,833,000
2010 10,895,586 128,070,000
2009 10,796,493 128,047,000
2008 10,709,973 128,063,000
2007 10,625,700 128,001,000
2006 10,547,958 127,854,000
2005 10,478,617 127,773,000
2004 10,421,137 127,761,000
2003 10,376,133 127,718,000
2002 10,332,785 127,445,000
2001 10,286,570 127,149,000
2000 10,251,250 126,843,000
1999 10,226,419 126,631,000
1998 10,203,008 126,400,000
1997 10,181,245 126,057,000
1996 10,156,637 125,757,000
1995 10,136,811 125,472,000
1994 10,115,603 125,178,000
1993 10,084,475 124,829,000
1992 10,045,158 124,425,000
1991 10,004,486 123,964,000
1990 9,967,379 123,478,000
1989 9,937,697 123,069,000
1988 9,901,664 122,578,000
1987 9,870,234 122,069,000
1986 9,861,823 121,482,000
1985 9,858,308 120,837,000
1984 9,855,372 120,083,000
1983 9,855,520 119,307,000
1982 9,856,303 118,480,000
1981 9,858,982 117,661,000
1980 9,859,242 116,807,000
1979 9,848,382 115,890,000
1978 9,839,534 114,913,000
1977 9,830,358 113,872,000
1976 9,818,227 112,775,000
1975 9,800,700 111,573,000
1974 9,772,419 110,162,000
1973 9,741,720 108,707,000
1972 9,711,115 107,188,000
1971 9,673,162 105,697,000
1970 9,655,549 103,403,000
1969 9,646,032 102,219,000
1968 9,618,756 101,011,000
1967 9,580,991 99,879,000
1966 9,527,807 98,851,000
1965 9,463,667 97,952,000
1964 9,378,113 96,903,000
1963 9,289,770 95,900,000
1962 9,220,578 94,933,000
1961 9,183,948 94,055,000
1960 9,153,489 93,216,000

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

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

Fertility rates in Belgium and Japan

Fertility rate
Belgium

Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Japan
2023 1.47 1.2
2022 1.53 1.26
2021 1.6 1.3
2020 1.55 1.33
2019 1.6 1.36
2018 1.62 1.42
2017 1.65 1.43
2016 1.68 1.44
2015 1.7 1.45
2014 1.74 1.42
2013 1.76 1.43
2012 1.8 1.41
2011 1.81 1.39
2010 1.86 1.39
2009 1.84 1.37
2008 1.85 1.37
2007 1.82 1.34
2006 1.8 1.32
2005 1.76 1.26
2004 1.72 1.29
2003 1.67 1.29
2002 1.65 1.32
2001 1.67 1.33
2000 1.67 1.36
1999 1.62 1.34
1998 1.6 1.38
1997 1.6 1.39
1996 1.59 1.43
1995 1.56 1.42
1994 1.56 1.5
1993 1.61 1.46
1992 1.65 1.5
1991 1.66 1.53
1990 1.62 1.54
1989 1.58 1.57
1988 1.57 1.66
1987 1.54 1.69
1986 1.54 1.72
1985 1.51 1.76
1984 1.54 1.81
1983 1.57 1.8
1982 1.61 1.77
1981 1.66 1.74
1980 1.68 1.75
1979 1.69 1.77
1978 1.69 1.79
1977 1.71 1.8
1976 1.73 1.85
1975 1.74 1.91
1974 1.83 2.05
1973 1.95 2.14
1972 2.09 2.14
1971 2.21 2.16
1970 2.25 2.13
1969 2.27 2.13
1968 2.31 2.13
1967 2.41 2.23
1966 2.52 1.58
1965 2.61 2.14
1964 2.71 2.05
1963 2.68 2
1962 2.59 1.98
1961 2.63 1.96
1960 2.54 2

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

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

Belgium and Japan demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

Japan
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium Japan
2024 42.7 50.4
2023 42.4 50
2022 42.2 49.5
2021 42 49.1
2020 41.9 48.7
2019 41.8 48.3
2018 41.7 48
2017 41.6 47.6
2016 41.4 47.3
2015 41.4 47
2014 41.3 46.6
2013 41.2 46.2
2012 41.1 45.8
2011 40.9 45.5
2010 40.8 45.2
2009 40.8 44.9
2008 40.7 44.6
2007 40.6 44.2
2006 40.4 43.9
2005 40.2 43.6
2004 40 43.2
2003 39.7 42.8
2002 39.4 42.5
2001 39.2 42.1
2000 38.9 41.8
1999 38.6 41.4
1998 38.3 41
1997 38.1 40.7
1996 37.8 40.3
1995 37.5 40
1994 37.2 39.6
1993 37 39.2
1992 36.7 38.7
1991 36.5 38.2
1990 36.3 37.7
1989 36.1 37.2
1988 35.9 36.8
1987 35.6 36.3
1986 35.4 35.9
1985 35.2 35.4
1984 35 34.9
1983 34.8 34.3
1982 34.5 33.7
1981 34.3 33.1
1980 34.2 32.8
1979 34.1 32.4
1978 34.1 32
1977 34.1 31.5
1976 34.1 30.9
1975 34.2 30.6
1974 34.3 30.4
1973 34.3 30.2
1972 34.3 29.9
1971 34.4 29.6
1970 34.5 29.2
1969 34.6 28.9
1968 34.7 28.6
1967 34.7 28.4
1966 34.7 28
1965 34.8 27.6
1964 34.8 27.2
1963 34.9 26.9
1962 34.9 26.5
1961 34.9 26.2
1960 34.9 25.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium Japan
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$4.46T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
39.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
3.24%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
1.37%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
261,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
-1.53%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
2.54%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
69.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
28.6%
2023
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
70.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
23.9%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.4%
2020
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
2,732,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
2.62%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
3,971
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$6.31T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$1.23T
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$4.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
4,115,799
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
1.43%
2020
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
98.5%
2024

Energy

Belgium Japan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
3,039 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$16.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
972 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
7.84 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
84.8%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
8.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
10.8%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
87.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
7,655 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
8.48%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
8.38%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium Japan
% of world population
0.15%
2024
1.53%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+140,579
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
92.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
71
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
98
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
0.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
3.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2002
English speaking
59%
2023
15%
2025
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
87%
2023

Health

Belgium Japan
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$3,638
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$445
2023
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
85.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
2.65
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
30.7 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
5.57%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
8.1%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
78
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
6.38 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium Japan
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
1,135 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
17,788 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
96,275 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
757,310 mi
2021

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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