Belgium vs Spain
Every indicator for Belgium and Spain side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Belgium | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,941,781 | 49,355,143 | −75.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 725 | 1,906 | −62.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,750 | 38,627 | +57.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 83.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 30,689 | 505,976 | −93.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 389 | 98 | +298.9% |
| Median age (years) | 41.9 | 46.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.9 | 10.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 | 2.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 80.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 8,562 | 24,615 | −65.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.28 | 1.43 | −10.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.36 | 3.20 | −26.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 717 | 499 | +43.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 199,000 | −87.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.0 | 4.0 | −50.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.47 | 0.87 | −46.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to Spain; a positive value favors Belgium. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Spain is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Belgium leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in area, about 16 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Spain stands at 505,976 against Belgium's 30,689 — roughly 16 times as much.
- Spain's armed forces personnel (2020) (199,000) is about 8.3 times Belgium's (24,000).
- Spain's population (2025) (49,355,143) is about 4.1 times Belgium's (11,941,781).
- Belgium's population density (389) is about 4.0 times Spain's (98).
- Spain's military expenditure (2024) (24,615) is about 2.9 times Belgium's (8,562).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Belgium and Spain differ most?
In area. Spain records 505,976 against Belgium's 30,689 — a ratio of roughly 16 to one.
Where are Belgium and Spain most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 1.43 and 1.28 — a gap of only %12.
On how many indicators is Belgium ahead of Spain?
Belgium is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Spain on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BelgiumSpain
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 Spain.
Belgium profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI