Belgium vs Japan
Every indicator for Belgium and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Belgium | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 11,941,781 | 123,366,734 | −90.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 725 | 4,435 | −83.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,750 | 35,951 | +69.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 30,689 | 377,969 | −91.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 389 | 326 | +19.2% |
| Median age (years) | 41.9 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.8 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.9 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 8,562 | 55,274 | −84.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.28 | 1.37 | −6.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.36 | 3.25 | −27.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 717 | 448 | +60.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 24,000 | 261,000 | −90.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.0 | 2.1 | −5.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.47 | 0.38 | +23.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Belgium relative to Japan; a positive value favors Belgium. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Japan is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Belgium leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in area, about 12 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 377,969 against Belgium's 30,689 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 261,000 against Belgium's 24,000 — roughly 11 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 123,366,734 against Belgium's 11,941,781 — roughly 10 times as much.
- Japan's military expenditure (2024) (55,274) is about 6.5 times Belgium's (8,562).
- Japan's gdp (nominal) (4,435) is about 6.1 times Belgium's (725).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Belgium and Japan differ most?
In area. Japan records 377,969 against Belgium's 30,689 — a ratio of roughly 12 to one.
Where are Belgium and Japan most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 2.1 and 2.0 — a gap of only %5.3.
On how many indicators is Belgium ahead of Japan?
Belgium is higher on 4 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Japan on 8. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BelgiumJapan
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 Japan.
Belgium profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI