Skip to content

Belgium vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 136th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium South Korea
Population
11902714
51649918
Population rank 83/197 31/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 23/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Belgium and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Belgium and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Belgium

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Belgium South Korea
2024 $671,370,081,636 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $651,330,595,110 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $591,085,783,326 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $598,522,422,242 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $529,694,473,502 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $536,726,344,405 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $542,638,913,428 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $500,908,767,352 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $474,271,566,740 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $461,044,767,545 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $537,987,419,164 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $524,097,026,599 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $498,414,364,945 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $527,196,649,049 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $481,556,503,720 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $485,014,525,992 $983,065,242,417
2008 $517,328,087,920 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $470,922,156,309 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $408,259,840,869 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $385,714,762,230 $971,740,329,984
2004 $369,214,712,443 $823,251,107,639
2003 $318,082,528,507 $728,516,494,684
2002 $258,383,599,375 $650,014,391,470
2001 $236,746,141,604 $567,564,806,235
2000 $236,792,460,312 $597,487,173,479
1999 $258,245,733,221 $515,697,079,289
1998 $258,528,339,631 $397,297,216,492
1997 $252,708,051,421 $589,202,526,424
1996 $279,201,433,225 $631,196,863,758
1995 $288,025,588,396 $586,286,469,401
1994 $244,884,129,491 $479,181,794,217
1993 $224,721,795,709 $405,705,302,846
1992 $234,781,652,447 $366,921,291,825
1991 $210,510,999,409 $340,851,946,804
1990 $205,331,747,948 $292,064,221,389
1989 $164,221,056,511 $254,236,243,100
1988 $162,299,103,675 $205,477,530,605
1987 $149,394,404,106 $152,240,393,646
1986 $120,018,787,249 $119,965,960,795
1985 $86,268,264,148 $103,764,281,281
1984 $83,349,530,159 $99,749,645,089
1983 $87,184,239,053 $89,621,208,322
1982 $92,095,926,188 $79,921,300,447
1981 $104,730,018,470 $74,287,368,087
1980 $126,829,314,388 $66,547,970,351
1979 $116,315,456,797 $68,083,884,298
1978 $101,246,526,194 $52,824,793,388
1977 $82,839,905,459 $39,064,462,810
1976 $71,113,882,968 $30,371,074,380
1975 $65,678,189,097 $22,126,033,058
1974 $56,033,077,879 $19,860,929,977
1973 $47,743,801,490 $14,067,523,813
1972 $37,209,418,019 $10,990,490,570
1971 $29,821,661,870 $10,005,257,131
1970 $26,706,196,047 $9,085,001,794
1969 $24,019,653,475 $7,743,940,189
1968 $21,654,856,965 $6,167,109,472
1967 $20,252,508,995 $4,895,076,718
1966 $18,894,891,312 $3,957,064,541
1965 $17,597,783,297 $3,141,131,708
1964 $16,168,044,450 $3,476,789,682
1963 $14,445,805,381 $4,007,692,308
1962 $13,436,827,167 $2,826,923,077
1961 $12,561,701,694 $2,427,244,761
1960 $11,810,619,368 $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/south-korea | CC BY

Belgium and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium South Korea
2024 $56,615 $36,239
2023 $55,291 $35,674
2022 $50,606 $34,822
2021 $51,658 $37,518
2020 $45,906 $33,646
2019 $46,717 $33,827
2018 $47,487 $35,364
2017 $44,035 $33,297
2016 $41,855 $30,832
2015 $40,894 $30,172
2014 $47,996 $30,667
2013 $46,965 $28,449
2012 $44,874 $26,601
2011 $47,761 $26,175
2010 $44,197 $24,071
2009 $44,923 $19,937
2008 $48,303 $22,252
2007 $44,319 $25,078
2006 $38,705 $22,610
2005 $36,810 $20,167
2004 $35,429 $17,122
2003 $30,655 $15,212
2002 $25,006 $13,643
2001 $23,015 $11,981
2000 $23,099 $12,710
1999 $25,253 $11,063
1998 $25,338 $8,583
1997 $24,821 $12,822
1996 $27,490 $13,865
1995 $28,414 $13,002
1994 $24,209 $10,734
1993 $22,284 $9,180
1992 $23,373 $8,387
1991 $21,042 $7,873
1990 $20,600 $6,813
1989 $16,525 $5,989
1988 $16,391 $4,889
1987 $15,136 $3,658
1986 $12,170 $2,911
1985 $8,751 $2,543
1984 $8,457 $2,469
1983 $8,846 $2,246
1982 $9,344 $2,032
1981 $10,623 $1,918
1980 $12,864 $1,746
1979 $11,811 $1,814
1978 $10,290 $1,429
1977 $8,427 $1,073
1976 $7,243 $847
1975 $6,701 $627
1974 $5,734 $572
1973 $4,901 $412
1972 $3,832 $328
1971 $3,083 $304
1970 $2,766 $281.8
1969 $2,490 $245.5
1968 $2,251 $200
1967 $2,114 $162.5
1966 $1,983 $134.4
1965 $1,860 $109.4
1964 $1,724 $124.2
1963 $1,555 $147
1962 $1,457 $106.6
1961 $1,368 $94.2
1960 $1,290 $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/south-korea | CC BY

Belgium vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium South Korea
2026 82.6 84.6
2025 82.4 84.5
2024 82.3 84.4
2023 82.1 84.3
2022 81.2 82.7
2021 81.7 83.9
2020 80.8 83.7
2019 81.8 83.7
2018 81.5 83.3
2017 81.4 83.3
2016 81.3 82.9
2015 80.9 82.5
2014 81.1 82.4
2013 80.5 81.8
2012 80.3 81.3
2011 80.4 81.2
2010 80 80.7
2009 79.8 80.6
2008 79.6 80
2007 79.5 79.4
2006 79.4 79
2005 79.1 78.4
2004 79 78
2003 78.3 77.5
2002 78.2 77.2
2001 78.1 76.9
2000 77.8 76.2
1999 77.6 75.6
1998 77.5 75
1997 77.4 74.5
1996 77.2 74
1995 76.8 73.4
1994 76.7 72.9
1993 76.4 72.7
1992 76.4 72.2
1991 76.2 71.4
1990 76.1 71
1989 75.6 70.7
1988 75.6 70.2
1987 75.3 69.3
1986 74.7 69
1985 74.5 68.4
1984 74.4 68.1
1983 73.9 66.7
1982 73.9 67.1
1981 73.7 67.1
1980 73.2 64.8
1979 73.2 66.1
1978 72.7 65
1977 72.8 64.6
1976 72.1 65
1975 72 64.7
1974 72 64.2
1973 71.6 63.8
1972 71.4 63.2
1971 71.1 62.7
1970 70.9 62.2
1969 70.7 61.4
1968 70.6 60.9
1967 70.9 60.9
1966 70.6 55.4
1965 70.6 55.8
1964 70.7 55.3
1963 70 55
1962 70.2 55
1961 70.5 54.4
1960 69.6 53.8
1959 70.3 52.9
1958 69.9 51.8
1957 69.2 51.6
1956 68.8 50.2
1955 68.5 48.4
1954 68.6 46.1
1953 68.4 40.5
1952 68 36.6
1951 66.7 26.6
1950 66.3 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/south-korea | CC BY

Belgium and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Belgium South Korea
2024 11,858,610 51,751,065
2023 11,779,946 51,712,619
2022 11,680,210 51,672,569
2021 11,586,195 51,769,539
2020 11,538,604 51,836,239
2019 11,488,980 51,764,822
2018 11,427,054 51,585,058
2017 11,375,158 51,361,911
2016 11,331,422 51,217,803
2015 11,274,196 51,014,947
2014 11,209,057 50,746,659
2013 11,159,407 50,428,893
2012 11,106,932 50,199,853
2011 11,038,264 49,936,638
2010 10,895,586 49,554,112
2009 10,796,493 49,307,835
2008 10,709,973 49,054,708
2007 10,625,700 48,683,638
2006 10,547,958 48,438,292
2005 10,478,617 48,184,561
2004 10,421,137 48,082,519
2003 10,376,133 47,892,330
2002 10,332,785 47,644,736
2001 10,286,570 47,370,164
2000 10,251,250 47,008,111
1999 10,226,419 46,616,677
1998 10,203,008 46,286,503
1997 10,181,245 45,953,580
1996 10,156,637 45,524,681
1995 10,136,811 45,092,991
1994 10,115,603 44,641,540
1993 10,084,475 44,194,628
1992 10,045,158 43,747,962
1991 10,004,486 43,295,704
1990 9,967,379 42,869,283
1989 9,937,697 42,449,038
1988 9,901,664 42,031,247
1987 9,870,234 41,621,690
1986 9,861,823 41,213,674
1985 9,858,308 40,805,744
1984 9,855,372 40,405,956
1983 9,855,520 39,910,403
1982 9,856,303 39,326,352
1981 9,858,982 38,723,248
1980 9,859,242 38,123,775
1979 9,848,382 37,534,236
1978 9,839,534 36,969,185
1977 9,830,358 36,411,795
1976 9,818,227 35,848,523
1975 9,800,700 35,280,725
1974 9,772,419 34,692,266
1973 9,741,720 34,103,149
1972 9,711,115 33,505,406
1971 9,673,162 32,882,704
1970 9,655,549 32,240,827
1969 9,646,032 31,544,266
1968 9,618,756 30,838,302
1967 9,580,991 30,130,983
1966 9,527,807 29,435,571
1965 9,463,667 28,704,674
1964 9,378,113 27,984,155
1963 9,289,770 27,261,747
1962 9,220,578 26,513,030
1961 9,183,948 25,765,673
1960 9,153,489 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Belgium and South Korea

Fertility rate
Belgium

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium South Korea
2023 1.47 0.72
2022 1.53 0.78
2021 1.6 0.81
2020 1.55 0.84
2019 1.6 0.92
2018 1.62 0.98
2017 1.65 1.05
2016 1.68 1.17
2015 1.7 1.24
2014 1.74 1.21
2013 1.76 1.19
2012 1.8 1.3
2011 1.81 1.24
2010 1.86 1.23
2009 1.84 1.15
2008 1.85 1.19
2007 1.82 1.26
2006 1.8 1.13
2005 1.76 1.09
2004 1.72 1.16
2003 1.67 1.19
2002 1.65 1.18
2001 1.67 1.31
2000 1.67 1.48
1999 1.62 1.43
1998 1.6 1.46
1997 1.6 1.54
1996 1.59 1.57
1995 1.56 1.63
1994 1.56 1.66
1993 1.61 1.65
1992 1.65 1.76
1991 1.66 1.71
1990 1.62 1.57
1989 1.58 1.56
1988 1.57 1.55
1987 1.54 1.53
1986 1.54 1.58
1985 1.51 1.66
1984 1.54 1.74
1983 1.57 2.06
1982 1.61 2.39
1981 1.66 2.57
1980 1.68 2.82
1979 1.69 2.9
1978 1.69 2.64
1977 1.71 2.99
1976 1.73 3
1975 1.74 3.43
1974 1.83 3.77
1973 1.95 4.07
1972 2.09 4.12
1971 2.21 4.54
1970 2.25 4.53
1969 2.27 4.45
1968 2.31 4.51
1967 2.41 4.62
1966 2.52 4.78
1965 2.61 4.89
1964 2.71 5.07
1963 2.68 5.33
1962 2.59 5.56
1961 2.63 5.8
1960 2.54 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/south-korea | CC BY

Belgium and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium South Korea
2024 42.7 46.1
2023 42.4 45.5
2022 42.2 44.9
2021 42 44.4
2020 41.9 43.8
2019 41.8 43.1
2018 41.7 42.5
2017 41.6 41.9
2016 41.4 41.4
2015 41.4 40.8
2014 41.3 40.2
2013 41.2 39.5
2012 41.1 38.8
2011 40.9 38.2
2010 40.8 37.6
2009 40.8 37
2008 40.7 36.4
2007 40.6 35.8
2006 40.4 35.2
2005 40.2 34.5
2004 40 33.9
2003 39.7 33.4
2002 39.4 32.8
2001 39.2 32.3
2000 38.9 31.7
1999 38.6 31.2
1998 38.3 30.7
1997 38.1 30.2
1996 37.8 29.8
1995 37.5 29.4
1994 37.2 28.9
1993 37 28.3
1992 36.7 27.8
1991 36.5 27.2
1990 36.3 26.7
1989 36.1 26.3
1988 35.9 25.8
1987 35.6 25.3
1986 35.4 24.8
1985 35.2 24.2
1984 35 23.7
1983 34.8 23.3
1982 34.5 22.8
1981 34.3 22.5
1980 34.2 22.1
1979 34.1 21.6
1978 34.1 21.1
1977 34.1 20.7
1976 34.1 20.2
1975 34.2 19.9
1974 34.3 19.6
1973 34.3 19.3
1972 34.3 19.1
1971 34.4 19
1970 34.5 18.9
1969 34.6 18.8
1968 34.7 18.7
1967 34.7 18.6
1966 34.7 18.5
1965 34.8 18.6
1964 34.8 18.8
1963 34.9 19
1962 34.9 19.1
1961 34.9 19.2
1960 34.9 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Belgium and South Korea.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Belgium South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium South Korea
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
98.8%
2018
English speaking
59%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
97.9%
2024

Health

Belgium South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium South Korea
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
68,794 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.