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Belgium vs United Kingdom statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population of 11.9M (ranked 82/197), compared with 69.2M in The United Kingdom (ranked 21/197). Belgium's land area is 11,774 sq mi versus 93,410 sq mi for The United Kingdom (ranked 136th vs. 78th).

By GDP, Belgium ranks 23/197 ($671B) and The United Kingdom ranks 6/197 ($3.69T). By GDP per capita, Belgium ranks 18/197 ($56,615), while The United Kingdom ranks 22/197 ($53,246).

Main facts and rankings

Belgium United Kingdom
Population
11902714
70154914
Population rank 83/197 22/197
GDP
$671B
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank 23/197 6/197
GDP per capita
$56,615
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank 18/197 22/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,514
2024
$62,009
2024
Government debt
$703B
2024
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
104.7%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$59,278
2024
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank 5/185 7/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,259
2026
$39,230
2026
Land area 11,774 sq mi 93,410 sq mi
Population density
1,011 ppl/mi²
2026
750 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.47
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
42.7 years
2024
41 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
81.7 years
2026

Belgium and United Kingdom: Comparison Charts

Belgium and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP
Belgium

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP
Belgium United Kingdom
2024 $671,370,081,636 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $651,330,595,110 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $591,085,783,326 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $598,522,422,242 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $529,694,473,502 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $536,726,344,405 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $542,638,913,428 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $500,908,767,352 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $474,271,566,740 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $461,044,767,545 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $537,987,419,164 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $524,097,026,599 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $498,414,364,945 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $527,196,649,049 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $481,556,503,720 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $485,014,525,992 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $517,328,087,920 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $470,922,156,309 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $408,259,840,869 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $385,714,762,230 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $369,214,712,443 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $318,082,528,507 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $258,383,599,375 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $236,746,141,604 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $236,792,460,312 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $258,245,733,221 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $258,528,339,631 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $252,708,051,421 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $279,201,433,225 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $288,025,588,396 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $244,884,129,491 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $224,721,795,709 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $234,781,652,447 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $210,510,999,409 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $205,331,747,948 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $164,221,056,511 $926,884,816,754
1988 $162,299,103,675 $910,122,732,124
1987 $149,394,404,106 $745,162,608,269
1986 $120,018,787,249 $601,452,653,181
1985 $86,268,264,148 $489,285,164,271
1984 $83,349,530,159 $461,487,097,632
1983 $87,184,239,053 $489,618,008,186
1982 $92,095,926,188 $515,048,916,841
1981 $104,730,018,470 $540,765,675,241
1980 $126,829,314,388 $564,947,710,899
1979 $116,315,456,797 $438,994,070,309
1978 $101,246,526,194 $335,883,029,722
1977 $82,839,905,459 $263,066,457,352
1976 $71,113,882,968 $232,614,555,256
1975 $65,678,189,097 $241,756,637,168
1974 $56,033,077,879 $206,131,369,799
1973 $47,743,801,490 $192,537,971,583
1972 $37,209,418,019 $169,965,034,965
1971 $29,821,661,870 $148,113,896,325
1970 $26,706,196,047 $130,671,946,244
1969 $24,019,653,475 $116,464,702,803
1968 $21,654,856,965 $107,759,910,068
1967 $20,252,508,995 $113,116,888,211
1966 $18,894,891,312 $108,572,752,102
1965 $17,597,783,297 $101,824,755,079
1964 $16,168,044,450 $94,407,558,351
1963 $14,445,805,381 $86,561,961,812
1962 $13,436,827,167 $81,247,564,157
1961 $12,561,701,694 $77,741,965,703
1960 $11,810,619,368 $73,233,967,692

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/united-kingdom | CC BY

Belgium and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP per capita
Belgium

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP per capita
Belgium United Kingdom
2024 $56,615 $53,246
2023 $55,291 $49,944
2022 $50,606 $47,057
2021 $51,658 $47,691
2020 $45,906 $40,813
2019 $46,717 $43,159
2018 $47,487 $43,703
2017 $44,035 $40,917
2016 $41,855 $41,258
2015 $40,894 $45,255
2014 $47,996 $47,746
2013 $46,965 $43,607
2012 $44,874 $42,688
2011 $47,761 $42,296
2010 $44,197 $39,778
2009 $44,923 $39,009
2008 $48,303 $47,652
2007 $44,319 $50,629
2006 $38,705 $44,695
2005 $36,810 $42,240
2004 $35,429 $40,504
2003 $30,655 $34,557
2002 $25,006 $30,159
2001 $23,015 $28,014
2000 $23,099 $28,384
1999 $25,253 $28,858
1998 $25,338 $28,396
1997 $24,821 $26,910
1996 $27,490 $24,503
1995 $28,414 $23,253
1994 $24,209 $19,709
1993 $22,284 $18,389
1992 $23,373 $20,487
1991 $21,042 $19,901
1990 $20,600 $19,095
1989 $16,525 $16,239
1988 $16,391 $15,987
1987 $15,136 $13,119
1986 $12,170 $10,611
1985 $8,751 $8,652
1984 $8,457 $8,179
1983 $8,846 $8,692
1982 $9,344 $9,146
1981 $10,623 $9,599
1980 $12,864 $10,032
1979 $11,811 $7,805
1978 $10,290 $5,977
1977 $8,427 $4,681
1976 $7,243 $4,138
1975 $6,701 $4,300
1974 $5,734 $3,666
1973 $4,901 $3,426
1972 $3,832 $3,030
1971 $3,083 $2,650
1970 $2,766 $2,348
1969 $2,490 $2,101
1968 $2,251 $1,952
1967 $2,114 $2,059
1966 $1,983 $1,987
1965 $1,860 $1,874
1964 $1,724 $1,748
1963 $1,555 $1,613
1962 $1,457 $1,526
1961 $1,368 $1,472
1960 $1,290 $1,398

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/united-kingdom | CC BY

Belgium vs. United Kingdom life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Belgium

United Kingdom
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Belgium United Kingdom
2026 82.6 81.7
2025 82.4 81.6
2024 82.3 81.4
2023 82.1 81.3
2022 81.2 81.1
2021 81.7 80.7
2020 80.8 80.4
2019 81.8 81.4
2018 81.5 81.1
2017 81.4 81.2
2016 81.3 81.1
2015 80.9 80.9
2014 81.1 81.2
2013 80.5 80.9
2012 80.3 80.9
2011 80.4 80.8
2010 80 80.4
2009 79.8 80.2
2008 79.6 79.7
2007 79.5 79.5
2006 79.4 79.3
2005 79.1 79.1
2004 79 78.9
2003 78.3 78.3
2002 78.2 78.2
2001 78.1 78.1
2000 77.8 77.8
1999 77.6 77.4
1998 77.5 77.3
1997 77.4 77.1
1996 77.2 76.9
1995 76.8 76.6
1994 76.7 76.7
1993 76.4 76.2
1992 76.4 76.3
1991 76.2 75.9
1990 76.1 75.7
1989 75.6 75.4
1988 75.6 75.3
1987 75.3 75.1
1986 74.7 74.8
1985 74.5 74.5
1984 74.4 74.7
1983 73.9 74.3
1982 73.9 74
1981 73.7 73.9
1980 73.2 73.6
1979 73.2 73.2
1978 72.7 73
1977 72.8 73.1
1976 72.1 72.6
1975 72 72.7
1974 72 72.4
1973 71.6 72.2
1972 71.4 72
1971 71.1 72.2
1970 70.9 71.9
1969 70.7 71.7
1968 70.6 71.7
1967 70.9 72.1
1966 70.6 71.4
1965 70.6 71.5
1964 70.7 71.5
1963 70 70.8
1962 70.2 70.9
1961 70.5 70.8
1960 69.6 71
1959 70.3 70.8
1958 69.9 70.7
1957 69.2 70.5
1956 68.8 70.4
1955 68.5 70.1
1954 68.6 70.2
1953 68.4 69.8
1952 68 69.5
1951 66.7 68.2
1950 66.3 68.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/united-kingdom | CC BY

Belgium and United Kingdom population clocks and comparison

Population
Belgium

United Kingdom
1x
Year Population
Belgium United Kingdom
2024 11,858,610 69,226,000
2023 11,779,946 68,492,000
2022 11,680,210 67,604,000
2021 11,586,195 66,984,000
2020 11,538,604 66,744,000
2019 11,488,980 66,631,000
2018 11,427,054 66,289,000
2017 11,375,158 65,966,000
2016 11,331,422 65,607,000
2015 11,274,196 65,088,000
2014 11,209,057 64,620,000
2013 11,159,407 64,139,000
2012 11,106,932 63,711,000
2011 11,038,264 63,258,810
2010 10,895,586 62,766,365
2009 10,796,493 62,276,270
2008 10,709,973 61,806,995
2007 10,625,700 61,322,463
2006 10,547,958 60,846,820
2005 10,478,617 60,401,206
2004 10,421,137 59,987,905
2003 10,376,133 59,647,577
2002 10,332,785 59,370,479
2001 10,286,570 59,119,673
2000 10,251,250 58,892,514
1999 10,226,419 58,682,466
1998 10,203,008 58,487,141
1997 10,181,245 58,316,954
1996 10,156,637 58,166,950
1995 10,136,811 58,019,030
1994 10,115,603 57,865,745
1993 10,084,475 57,718,614
1992 10,045,158 57,580,402
1991 10,004,486 57,424,897
1990 9,967,379 57,247,586
1989 9,937,697 57,076,711
1988 9,901,664 56,928,327
1987 9,870,234 56,802,050
1986 9,861,823 56,681,396
1985 9,858,308 56,550,268
1984 9,855,372 56,422,072
1983 9,855,520 56,332,848
1982 9,856,303 56,313,641
1981 9,858,982 56,333,829
1980 9,859,242 56,314,216
1979 9,848,382 56,246,951
1978 9,839,534 56,196,504
1977 9,830,358 56,193,492
1976 9,818,227 56,211,968
1975 9,800,700 56,225,800
1974 9,772,419 56,229,974
1973 9,741,720 56,194,527
1972 9,711,115 56,086,065
1971 9,673,162 55,896,223
1970 9,655,549 55,663,250
1969 9,646,032 55,441,750
1968 9,618,756 55,211,700
1967 9,580,991 54,943,600
1966 9,527,807 54,648,500
1965 9,463,667 54,348,050
1964 9,378,113 54,000,000
1963 9,289,770 53,650,000
1962 9,220,578 53,250,000
1961 9,183,948 52,800,000
1960 9,153,489 52,400,000

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/united-kingdom | CC BY

Fertility rates in Belgium and United Kingdom

Fertility rate
Belgium

United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium United Kingdom
2023 1.47 1.56
2022 1.53 1.56
2021 1.6 1.58
2020 1.55 1.57
2019 1.6 1.63
2018 1.62 1.68
2017 1.65 1.74
2016 1.68 1.79
2015 1.7 1.8
2014 1.74 1.81
2013 1.76 1.83
2012 1.8 1.92
2011 1.81 1.91
2010 1.86 1.92
2009 1.84 1.89
2008 1.85 1.91
2007 1.82 1.86
2006 1.8 1.82
2005 1.76 1.76
2004 1.72 1.75
2003 1.67 1.7
2002 1.65 1.63
2001 1.67 1.63
2000 1.67 1.64
1999 1.62 1.68
1998 1.6 1.71
1997 1.6 1.72
1996 1.59 1.73
1995 1.56 1.71
1994 1.56 1.74
1993 1.61 1.76
1992 1.65 1.79
1991 1.66 1.82
1990 1.62 1.83
1989 1.58 1.79
1988 1.57 1.82
1987 1.54 1.81
1986 1.54 1.78
1985 1.51 1.79
1984 1.54 1.77
1983 1.57 1.77
1982 1.61 1.78
1981 1.66 1.82
1980 1.68 1.9
1979 1.69 1.86
1978 1.69 1.75
1977 1.71 1.69
1976 1.73 1.74
1975 1.74 1.81
1974 1.83 1.92
1973 1.95 2.04
1972 2.09 2.2
1971 2.21 2.41
1970 2.25 2.44
1969 2.27 2.51
1968 2.31 2.6
1967 2.41 2.68
1966 2.52 2.78
1965 2.61 2.86
1964 2.71 2.93
1963 2.68 2.88
1962 2.59 2.86
1961 2.63 2.78
1960 2.54 2.69

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/united-kingdom | CC BY

Belgium and United Kingdom demographics compared

Median age
Belgium

United Kingdom
1x
Year Median age, years
Belgium United Kingdom
2024 42.7 41
2023 42.4 40.8
2022 42.2 40.5
2021 42 40.3
2020 41.9 40.2
2019 41.8 40.1
2018 41.7 40
2017 41.6 39.9
2016 41.4 39.8
2015 41.4 39.8
2014 41.3 39.7
2013 41.2 39.6
2012 41.1 39.5
2011 40.9 39.3
2010 40.8 39.2
2009 40.8 39
2008 40.7 38.9
2007 40.6 38.8
2006 40.4 38.6
2005 40.2 38.5
2004 40 38.4
2003 39.7 38.2
2002 39.4 38.1
2001 39.2 37.9
2000 38.9 37.7
1999 38.6 37.4
1998 38.3 37.2
1997 38.1 37
1996 37.8 36.8
1995 37.5 36.6
1994 37.2 36.5
1993 37 36.3
1992 36.7 36.2
1991 36.5 36.1
1990 36.3 36
1989 36.1 35.9
1988 35.9 35.7
1987 35.6 35.4
1986 35.4 35.4
1985 35.2 35.3
1984 35 35.2
1983 34.8 35
1982 34.5 34.8
1981 34.3 34.5
1980 34.2 34.4
1979 34.1 34.3
1978 34.1 34.2
1977 34.1 34.1
1976 34.1 34
1975 34.2 34
1974 34.3 34
1973 34.3 34
1972 34.3 34
1971 34.4 34.1
1970 34.5 34.2
1969 34.6 34.4
1968 34.7 34.6
1967 34.7 34.8
1966 34.7 34.9
1965 34.8 35.1
1964 34.8 35.2
1963 34.9 35.3
1962 34.9 35.3
1961 34.9 35.4
1960 34.9 35.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/belgium/united-kingdom | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Belgium United Kingdom
GNI, Atlas method
$656B
2024
$3.42T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
54.5%
2024
44%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.28%
2022
4.96%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.28%
2024
2.28%
2024
Armed forces personnel
24,000
2020
153,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.52%
2024
-5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2024
4.36%
2024
Services, % of GDP
71%
2024
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
69.2
2026
70.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.2%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
3%
2021
Number of millionaires
549,000
2025
2,624,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
5.92%
2025
4.93%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
55
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0001%
2025
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies
117
2015
1,606
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$321B
2018
$3.1T
2022
Total reserves including gold
$41.4B
2024
$175B
2024
Personal remittances received
$15.5B
2024
$4.83B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,584,000
2020
11,101,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.77%
2020
8.24%
1998
Banked people share
98.2%
2024
99.3%
2024

Energy

Belgium United Kingdom
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,051 kg
2023
2,128 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$17.8
2023
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
86.6 megatons
2024
292.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.31 tons
2024
4.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
69.3%
2023
75.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
11.7%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
22.3%
2023
13.4%
2023
Net energy imports use share
89.2%
2023
44%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,932 kWh
2023
4,208 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
23.5%
2021
40.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2023
2.51%
2023
Nuclear share
39.4%
2023
13.8%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Belgium United Kingdom
% of world population
0.15%
2024
0.85%
2024
Annual migration change
+31,989
2025
+389,911
2025
Urban population
87.6%
2024
83.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.3:50.7
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.88 ft
2025
5.85 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.38 ft
2025
Quality of life index
90.4
2026
91
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
69
2025
70
2025
Higher education index
97
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.08
2021
1.15
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.8
2019
3.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
167
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2003
English speaking
59%
2023
98.3%
2023
People using the Internet
95.8%
2024
96.3%
2023

Health

Belgium United Kingdom
Government health expenditure per capita
$5,931
2023
$5,860
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,276
2023
$853
2024
Life expectancy
82.6 years
2026
81.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.01%
2023
0.009%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.57
2022
3.3
2023
Age at first childbirth
29.5 years
2023
29 years
2018
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.6
2023
4.5
2023
Obesity rate
20.5%
2022
27.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
5.9%
2024
7.4%
2024
Air quality index
74
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.7%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
9.43 liters
2020
10.7 liters
2020

Territory

Belgium United Kingdom
% of world land
0.02%
2026
0.16%
2026
Land area per capita
993 sq mi
2024
1,349 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,225 sq mi
2026
65,674 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2,661 sq mi
2026
12,415 sq mi
2026
Roads length
73,579 mi
2015
263,542 mi
2020

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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2018–2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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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