Belgium vs France
Every indicator for Belgium and France side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Belgium | France | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,941,781 | 68,720,337 | −82.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 725 | 3,366 | −78.5% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,750 | 48,986 | +24.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 83.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 30,689 | 606,410 | −94.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 389 | 113 | +243.4% |
| Median age (years) | 41.9 | 42.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 88.7 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.9 | 7.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 | 0.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 78.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 8,562 | 64,675 | −86.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.28 | 2.05 | −37.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.36 | 3.59 | −34.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 717 | 941 | −23.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 304,000 | −92.1% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.0 | 4.4 | −54.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.47 | 1.00 | −53.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to France; a positive value favors Belgium. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
France is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Belgium leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in area, about 20 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: France stands at 606,410 against Belgium's 30,689 — roughly 20 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: France stands at 304,000 against Belgium's 24,000 — roughly 13 times as much.
- France's military expenditure (2024) (64,675) is about 7.6 times Belgium's (8,562).
- France's population (2025) (68,720,337) is about 5.8 times Belgium's (11,941,781).
- France's gdp (nominal) (3,366) is about 4.6 times Belgium's (725).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Belgium and France differ most?
In area. France records 606,410 against Belgium's 30,689 — a ratio of roughly 20 to one.
Where are Belgium and France most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 60,750 and 48,986 — a gap of only %24.
On how many indicators is Belgium ahead of France?
Belgium is higher on 2 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and France on 10. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BelgiumFrance
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 France.
Belgium profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
France profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI