Belgium vs Sweden
Every indicator for Belgium and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Belgium | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,941,781 | 10,596,620 | +12.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 725 | 669 | +8.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,750 | 63,133 | −3.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 30,689 | 528,660 | −94.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 389 | 20 | +1,841.3% |
| Median age (years) | 41.9 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.9 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 8,562 | 12,040 | −28.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.28 | 2.00 | −36.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.36 | 4.12 | −42.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 717 | 1,136 | −36.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 15,000 | +60.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.0 | 1.4 | +42.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.47 | 0.27 | +74.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to Sweden; 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, Sweden on 6. The widest separation is in population density (about 19×); they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Belgium stands at 389 against Sweden's 20 — roughly 19 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Sweden stands at 528,660 against Belgium's 30,689 — roughly 17 times as much.
- On military expenditure as a share of government spending, Sweden is %75 higher than Belgium: 4.12 against 2.36.
- On armed forces as a share of the labor force, Belgium is %74 higher than Sweden: 0.47 against 0.27.
- On armed forces personnel (2020), Belgium is %60 higher than Sweden: 24,000 against 15,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Belgium and Sweden differ most?
In population density. Belgium records 389 against Sweden's 20 — a ratio of roughly 19 to one.
Where are Belgium and Sweden most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 63,133 and 60,750 — a gap of only %3.9.
On how many indicators is Belgium ahead of Sweden?
Belgium is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Sweden on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BelgiumSweden
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 Sweden.
Belgium profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI