Belgium vs Italy

Every indicator for Belgium and Italy side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorBelgiumItalyDifference
Population (2025) (people)11,941,78158,915,656−79.7%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)7252,552−71.6%
GDP per capita ($)60,75043,309+40.3%
Life expectancy (years)82.384.0—
Area (km²)30,689302,070−89.8%
Population density (people/km²)389195+99.5%
Median age (years)41.948.4—
Internet usage (%)95.889.2—
Unemployment rate (%)5.96.4—
Inflation (%)2.51.5—
Urban population (%)87.769.7—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)8,56237,965−77.4%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.281.61−20.5%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)2.363.18−25.8%
Military expenditure per capita ($)717644+11.3%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)24,000338,000−92.9%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)2.05.7−65.0%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.471.35−65.2%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to Italy; a positive value favors Belgium. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

Italy is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Belgium leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 14 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.

Key differences

  • Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Italy stands at 338,000 against Belgium's 24,000 — roughly 14 times as much.
  • Italy's area (302,070) is about 9.8 times Belgium's (30,689).
  • Italy's population (2025) (58,915,656) is about 4.9 times Belgium's (11,941,781).
  • Italy's military expenditure (2024) (37,965) is about 4.4 times Belgium's (8,562).
  • Italy's gdp (nominal) (2,552) is about 3.5 times Belgium's (725).

Frequently asked questions

Where do Belgium and Italy differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Italy records 338,000 against Belgium's 24,000 — a ratio of roughly 14 to one.
Where are Belgium and Italy most alike?
In military expenditure per capita, at 717 and 644 — a gap of only %11.
On how many indicators is Belgium ahead of Italy?
Belgium is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Italy on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
Belgium and Italy — core indicators
020 M40 M60 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Belgium: 11,941,781GDP (nominal) — Belgium: 725GDP per capita — Belgium: 60,750Area — Belgium: 30,689Population (2025) — Italy: 58,915,656GDP (nominal) — Italy: 2,552GDP per capita — Italy: 43,309Area — Italy: 302,070
BelgiumItaly

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 Italy.

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