Belgium vs Netherlands
Every indicator for Belgium and Netherlands side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Belgium | Netherlands | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,941,781 | 18,087,633 | −34.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 725 | 1,333 | −45.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,750 | 73,684 | −17.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 82.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 30,689 | 41,540 | −26.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 389 | 435 | −10.6% |
| Median age (years) | 41.9 | 42.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 97.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.9 | 3.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 | 3.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 95.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 8,562 | 23,179 | −63.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.28 | 1.92 | −33.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.36 | 4.34 | −45.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 717 | 1,281 | −44.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 41,000 | −41.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.0 | 2.3 | −11.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.47 | 0.42 | +11.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to Netherlands; a positive value favors Belgium. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
Key differences
- On population (2025), Belgium is 34.0% lower than Netherlands.
- On gdp (nominal), Belgium is 45.6% lower than Netherlands.
- On gdp per capita, Belgium is 17.6% lower than Netherlands.
BelgiumNetherlands
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 Netherlands.
Belgium profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Netherlands profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI