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 comparison
IndicatorBelgiumFranceDifference
Population (2025) (people)11,941,78168,720,337−82.6%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)7253,366−78.5%
GDP per capita ($)60,75048,986+24.0%
Life expectancy (years)82.383.0
Area (km²)30,689606,410−94.9%
Population density (people/km²)389113+243.4%
Median age (years)41.942.3
Internet usage (%)95.888.7
Unemployment rate (%)5.97.5
Inflation (%)2.50.9
Urban population (%)87.778.8
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)8,56264,675−86.8%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.282.05−37.6%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)2.363.59−34.3%
Military expenditure per capita ($)717941−23.8%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)24,000304,000−92.1%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)2.04.4−54.6%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.471.00−53.0%

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.

Key differences

  • On population (2025), Belgium is 82.6% lower than France.
  • On gdp (nominal), Belgium is 78.5% lower than France.
  • On gdp per capita, Belgium is 24.0% higher than France.
Belgium and France — core indicators
020 mn40 mn60 mn80 mnPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Belgium: 11.941.781GDP (nominal) — Belgium: 725GDP per capita — Belgium: 60.750Area — Belgium: 30.689Population (2025) — France: 68.720.337GDP (nominal) — France: 3.366GDP per capita — France: 48.986Area — France: 606.410
BelgiumFrance

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving Belgium or France.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI