Belgium vs Finland
Every indicator for Belgium and Finland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Belgium | Finland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,941,781 | 5,646,436 | +111.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 725 | 317 | +128.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,750 | 56,149 | +8.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 82.3 | — |
| Area (km²) | 30,689 | 338,480 | −90.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 389 | 17 | +2,232.6% |
| Median age (years) | 41.9 | 43.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 93.7 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.9 | 9.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 | 0.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 74.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 8,562 | 6,988 | +22.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.28 | 2.30 | −44.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.36 | 4.05 | −41.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 717 | 1,238 | −42.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 22,000 | +9.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.0 | 3.9 | −48.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.47 | 0.80 | −41.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to Finland; a positive value favors Belgium. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Belgium is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Finland on 6. The widest separation is in population density (about 23×); they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Belgium stands at 389 against Finland's 17 — roughly 23 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Finland stands at 338,480 against Belgium's 30,689 — roughly 11 times as much.
- Belgium's gdp (nominal) (725) is about 2.3 times Finland's (317).
- Belgium's population (2025) (11,941,781) is about 2.1 times Finland's (5,646,436).
- On armed forces per 1,000 people, Finland is %94 higher than Belgium: 3.9 against 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Belgium and Finland differ most?
In population density. Belgium records 389 against Finland's 17 — a ratio of roughly 23 to one.
Where are Belgium and Finland most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 60,750 and 56,149 — a gap of only %8.2.
On how many indicators is Belgium ahead of Finland?
Belgium is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Finland on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BelgiumFinland
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Belgium or Finland.
Belgium profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Finland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI