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 comparison
IndicatorBelgiumSwedenDifference
Population (2025) (people)11,941,78110,596,620+12.7%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)725669+8.4%
GDP per capita ($)60,75063,133−3.8%
Life expectancy (years)82.384.1
Area (km²)30,689528,660−94.2%
Population density (people/km²)38920+1,841.3%
Median age (years)41.941.1
Internet usage (%)95.895.8
Unemployment rate (%)5.98.7
Inflation (%)2.50.7
Urban population (%)87.789.1
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)8,56212,040−28.9%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.282.00−36.0%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)2.364.12−42.7%
Military expenditure per capita ($)7171,136−36.9%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)24,00015,000+60.0%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)2.01.4+42.0%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.470.27+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.

Key differences

  • On population (2025), Belgium is 12.7% higher than Sweden.
  • On gdp (nominal), Belgium is 8.4% higher than Sweden.
  • On gdp per capita, Belgium is 3.8% lower than Sweden.
Belgium and Sweden — core indicators
05 mn10 mn15 mnPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Belgium: 11.941.781GDP (nominal) — Belgium: 725GDP per capita — Belgium: 60.750Area — Belgium: 30.689Population (2025) — Sweden: 10.596.620GDP (nominal) — Sweden: 669GDP per capita — Sweden: 63.133Area — Sweden: 528.660
BelgiumSweden

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 Sweden.

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