Belgium
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Kingdom of Belgium.
CIA 2026
Curated stat
Belgium packs Dutch, French, and German into one small country, which is why its regions matter.
Matchup file
Belgium vs France
189 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
Think you can spot the next winner?
France leads by 41 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
What matters for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
France
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: French Republic.
CIA 2026
Curated stat
France spans many time zones because its overseas territories sit across multiple oceans.
CIA
Analysis
France leads in 115 of 189 shared metrics, while Belgium leads in 74.
Belgium's Firms Asked for Bribes is 3.3x that of France (6.9% of firms vs 1.6% of firms).
Belgium's Electricity Carbon Intensity is 2.6x that of France (149.82 gCO2/kWh vs 41.44 gCO2/kWh).
Belgium's Population Density is 2.0x that of France (386.3 /km² vs 126.86 /km²).
Belgium's Official Languages Count is 2.0x that of France (3.0 vs 1.0).
Belgium's Water Stress (%) is 1.9x that of France (35.83% vs 12.21%).
Key Comparisons
Firms Asked for BribesBelgium leads
Belgium
6.9% of firms
France
1.6% of firms
Electricity Carbon IntensityBelgium leads
Belgium
149.82 gCO2/kWh
France
41.44 gCO2/kWh
Population DensityBelgium leads
Belgium
386.3 /km²
France
126.86 /km²
Official Languages CountBelgium leads
Belgium
3.0
France
1.0
Water Stress (%)Belgium leads
Belgium
35.83%
France
12.21%
Solar Electricity ShareBelgium leads
Belgium
14.34%
France
5.6%
All Metrics
Firms Asked for Bribes
BelgiumBelgium
6.9% of firms
France
1.6% of firms
331% higher
Electricity Carbon Intensity
BelgiumBelgium
149.82 gCO2/kWh
France
41.44 gCO2/kWh
262% higher
Population Density
BelgiumBelgium
386.3 /km²
France
126.86 /km²
205% higher
Official Languages Count
BelgiumBelgium
3.0
France
1.0
200% higher
Water Stress (%)
BelgiumBelgium
35.83%
France
12.21%
193% higher
Solar Electricity Share
BelgiumBelgium
14.34%
France
5.6%
157% higher
Exports (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
79.27% of GDP
France
33.89% of GDP
134% higher
Imports (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
79.66% of GDP
France
34.22% of GDP
133% higher
Wind Electricity Share
BelgiumBelgium
18.82%
France
8.2%
131% higher
Nurses & Midwives
BelgiumBelgium
20.89 per 1k
France
9.4 per 1k
123% higher
Obesity Rate
BelgiumBelgium
22%
France
10.92%
101% higher
Time Zones Count
BelgiumBelgium
2.0 time zones
France
1.0 time zones
100% higher
Irrigated Land
FranceBelgium
57 km²
France
14.2K km²
100% lower
Coastline Length
FranceBelgium
66.5 km
France
4.9K km
99% lower
Doctors (per 1,000)
BelgiumBelgium
6.5 per 1k
France
3.3 per 1k
99% higher
Tourist Arrivals
FranceBelgium
2.58M
France
117.11M
98% lower
Forest Area
FranceBelgium
6.9K km²
France
175.0K km²
96% lower
Airports
FranceBelgium
49
France
1.2K
96% lower
Median Wealth
BelgiumBelgium
$343,656
France
$177,350
94% higher
Domestic Patents
FranceBelgium
799
France
13.4K
94% lower
Land Area
FranceBelgium
30.5K km²
France
539.0K km²
94% lower
Armed Forces Personnel
FranceBelgium
24.0K
France
304.0K
92% lower
Shipping Traffic
BelgiumBelgium
12.30M
France
6.47M
90% higher
Railway Length
FranceBelgium
3.6K km
France
27.9K km
87% lower
Railway Network
FranceBelgium
3.6K km
France
27.7K km
87% lower
Electricity Generation
FranceBelgium
74.93 TWh
France
557.73 TWh
87% lower
Low-Wage Workers
BelgiumBelgium
11.44% of workers
France
6.2% of workers
86% higher
Highest Elevation
FranceBelgium
694 m
France
4.8K m
86% lower
Population
FranceBelgium
11.96M
France
68.51M
83% lower
CO2 Per Capita
BelgiumBelgium
7.3 t/person/yr
France
4.0 t/person/yr
83% higher
Gender Pay Gap (%)
FranceBelgium
1.1% of male wages
France
6.2% of male wages
82% lower
Air Passengers
FranceBelgium
11.39M
France
64.64M
82% lower
Water Withdrawal
FranceBelgium
4.3 B m³
France
24.43 B m³
82% lower
Electric Generating Capacity
FranceBelgium
28.25M kW
France
151.46M kW
81% lower
GDP (Nominal)
FranceBelgium
$671,370,081,636.41
France
$3,160,442,622,465.08
79% lower
Tourism Revenue
FranceBelgium
$7,447,000,000
France
$35,958,000,000
79% lower
Scientific Publications
FranceBelgium
17.6K
France
65.9K
73% lower
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
FranceBelgium
16 sites
France
55 sites
71% lower
Foreign Patents
FranceBelgium
415
France
1.4K
70% lower
Total CO2 Emissions
FranceBelgium
86.65 Mt CO2e
France
274.45 Mt CO2e
68% lower
Land Border Length
FranceBelgium
1.3K km
France
4.0K km
67% lower
Merchant Fleet Size
FranceBelgium
198
France
553
64% lower
Low Life Satisfaction
FranceBelgium
2.7% of adults 16+
France
6.9% of adults 16+
61% lower
Border Neighbors
FranceBelgium
4.0
France
10
60% lower
Fuel Poverty
FranceBelgium
4.8% of adults 16+
France
11.8% of adults 16+
59% lower
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
FranceBelgium
10.12 per 1M people
France
23.88 per 1M people
58% lower
Time Dissatisfaction
FranceBelgium
7.4% of adults 16+
France
16.89% of adults 16+
56% lower
Relationship Dissatisfaction
FranceBelgium
2.1% of adults 16+
France
4.8% of adults 16+
56% lower
Inflation Rate
BelgiumBelgium
3.1%
France
2.0%
55% higher
Firms Making Informal Payments
FranceBelgium
5.2% of firms
France
11.61% of firms
55% lower
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
BelgiumBelgium
45.91 per 100k people
France
29.75 per 100k people
54% higher
Beer Consumption
BelgiumBelgium
3.6 L/person/yr
France
2.4 L/person/yr
53% higher
R&D Spending (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
3.4% of GDP
France
2.2% of GDP
52% higher
Insufficient Physical Activity
BelgiumBelgium
45.13% of adults
France
29.74% of adults
52% higher
Loneliness
FranceBelgium
5.3% of adults 16+
France
10.77% of adults 16+
51% lower
Spirits Consumption
FranceBelgium
1.1 L/person/yr
France
2.2 L/person/yr
50% lower
Overcrowded Housing
FranceBelgium
4.0% of households
France
7.4% of households
46% lower
Capital Elevation
BelgiumBelgium
70 m
France
48 m
46% higher
Political Corruption Index
FranceBelgium
0.03
France
0.06
45% lower
Protected Land (%)
FranceBelgium
16.3%
France
28.6%
43% lower
Long Work Hours
FranceBelgium
3.6% of employees
France
6.0% of employees
40% lower
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
FranceBelgium
51.24 per 100k
France
84.58 per 100k
39% lower
Military Spending
FranceBelgium
1.3% of GDP
France
2.1% of GDP
38% lower
Housing Cost Burden
BelgiumBelgium
15.47% of households
France
11.25% of households
37% higher
Nuclear Electricity Share
FranceBelgium
41.2%
France
64.8%
36% lower
Firms with Female Top Manager
FranceBelgium
12.82% of firms
France
19.89% of firms
36% lower
Researchers
BelgiumBelgium
7.0K per 1M
France
5.2K per 1M
35% higher
Seafood Consumption per Person
FranceBelgium
22.75 kg/person/yr
France
33.64 kg/person/yr
32% lower
Gender Gap in Work
FranceBelgium
18.75 min/day
France
26.99 min/day
31% lower
Tobacco Use Prevalence
FranceBelgium
23.5% of adults
France
33.6% of adults
30% lower
Forest Coverage (%)
FranceBelgium
22.6%
France
32.48%
30% lower
Renewable Energy (%)
FranceBelgium
11.45%
France
16.47%
30% lower
Energy Use (Per Capita)
BelgiumBelgium
4.1K kg oil eq/person
France
3.1K kg oil eq/person
29% higher
Time Use Inequality
FranceBelgium
2.1 vs bottom 20%
France
2.9 vs bottom 20%
28% lower
Renewable Energy (%)
FranceBelgium
11.7%
France
16.2%
28% lower
Average Earnings
BelgiumBelgium
$76,108.82
France
$60,608.01
26% higher
Unemployment Rate
FranceBelgium
5.5%
France
7.4%
26% lower
Lack of Support
FranceBelgium
9.6% of adults 15+
France
12.69% of adults 15+
25% lower
Credit Card Ownership
BelgiumBelgium
49.82% of adults
France
39.76% of adults
25% higher
Smoking Rate
FranceBelgium
26.7%
France
34.6%
23% lower
Fertility Rate
FranceBelgium
1.5 children/woman
France
1.9 children/woman
23% lower
Financial Hardship
FranceBelgium
17.1% of adults 16+
France
21.8% of adults 16+
22% lower
Job Insecurity
FranceBelgium
2.4% of earnings at risk
France
3.1% of earnings at risk
22% lower
GNI Per Capita
BelgiumBelgium
$55,290
France
$45,160
22% higher
Happiness Inequality
FranceBelgium
1.6 vs bottom 20%
France
2.1 vs bottom 20%
21% lower
Meat Consumption per Person
FranceBelgium
65.78 kg/person/yr
France
83.05 kg/person/yr
21% lower
Income Gap (Rich vs Poor)
FranceBelgium
3.6 vs bottom 20%
France
4.5 vs bottom 20%
20% lower
Long-Term Unemployment
BelgiumBelgium
2.1% of workforce
France
1.7% of workforce
20% higher
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
FranceBelgium
20 days/yr
France
25 days/yr
20% lower
Voter Turnout
BelgiumBelgium
87.42% of votes
France
73.69% of votes
19% higher
Relationship Inequality
FranceBelgium
1.6 vs bottom 20%
France
1.9 vs bottom 20%
19% lower
Homicide Rate
FranceBelgium
1.1 per 100k
France
1.3 per 100k
19% lower
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
BelgiumBelgium
$72,236.91
France
$61,290.42
18% higher
Education Spending (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
6.3% of GDP
France
5.3% of GDP
18% higher
Poverty Rate
FranceBelgium
6.9% of population
France
8.3% of population
17% lower
Depression Rate
FranceBelgium
9.0% of adults 15+
France
10.8% of adults 15+
17% lower
University Enrollment Rate
BelgiumBelgium
82.15%
France
70.45%
17% higher
Hypertension Prevalence
BelgiumBelgium
34.5% of adults
France
29.6% of adults
17% higher
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
BelgiumBelgium
11.22 µg/m³
France
9.6 µg/m³
17% higher
Child Mortality
FranceBelgium
3.6 per 1k births
France
4.3 per 1k births
16% lower
Inequality (Gini)
FranceBelgium
26.8
France
31.8
16% lower
Birth Rate
FranceBelgium
9.1 per 1k
France
10.88 per 1k
16% lower
Agricultural Land (%)
FranceBelgium
44.38%
France
52.5%
15% lower
Women in Parliament (%)
BelgiumBelgium
41.33%
France
36.05%
15% higher
Women in Senior Management
FranceBelgium
33.09% of managers
France
38.71% of managers
15% lower
High-Tech Exports (%)
FranceBelgium
19.58%
France
23.14%
15% lower
Poor Health
FranceBelgium
8.3% reporting poor health
France
9.7% reporting poor health
14% lower
Informal Employment Share
FranceBelgium
3.3% of employed people
France
3.8% of employed people
14% lower
Firms Hit by Power Outages
BelgiumBelgium
33.48% of firms
France
29.49% of firms
14% higher
Self-Rated Health
BelgiumBelgium
74.6% reporting good health
France
66.2% reporting good health
13% higher
Homicide Rate
FranceBelgium
0.70 per 100k
France
0.80 per 100k
13% lower
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
FranceBelgium
0.75 per 1M people
France
0.86 per 1M people
13% lower
Political Voice
BelgiumBelgium
29.47% who feel heard by government
France
26.27% who feel heard by government
12% higher
Infant Mortality
FranceBelgium
3.0 per 1k births
France
3.4 per 1k births
12% lower
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
FranceBelgium
104 per 100 people
France
117 per 100 people
11% lower
Suicide Rate
BelgiumBelgium
18.36 per 100k
France
16.58 per 100k
11% higher
Health Spending Per Capita
BelgiumBelgium
$5,404.62
France
$4,865.18
11% higher
Urban Population (%)
BelgiumBelgium
87.61%
France
78.8%
11% higher
Adult Numeracy
BelgiumBelgium
283.02 pts
France
257.22 pts
10% higher
Earnings Inequality
FranceBelgium
2.6 vs bottom 10%
France
2.9 vs bottom 10%
10% lower
Broadband Access (%)
FranceBelgium
44 per 100 people
France
49 per 100 people
10% lower
GDP Growth Rate
FranceBelgium
1.1%
France
1.2%
10% lower
Job Satisfaction
BelgiumBelgium
7.7 pts
France
7.1 pts
9% higher
Time Satisfaction
BelgiumBelgium
7.2 pts
France
6.6 pts
9% higher
Adult Literacy
BelgiumBelgium
278.46 pts
France
255.4 pts
9% higher
Road Deaths
FranceBelgium
4.2 per 100k
France
4.6 per 100k
9% lower
Chronic Pain
FranceBelgium
31.5% of adults 15+
France
34.5% of adults 15+
9% lower
Low Reading Skills
FranceBelgium
15.23% of students
France
16.8% of students
9% lower
Low Math Skills
FranceBelgium
15.23% of students
France
16.8% of students
9% lower
Low Science Skills
FranceBelgium
15.23% of students
France
16.8% of students
9% lower
Dependency Ratio
FranceBelgium
57.61% of working-age pop.
France
63% of working-age pop.
9% lower
Alcohol Consumption
FranceBelgium
9.4 L/adult/yr
France
10.32 L/adult/yr
9% lower
Health Spending (% GDP)
FranceBelgium
10.76% of GDP
France
11.88% of GDP
9% lower
Food Waste per Person
BelgiumBelgium
151 kg/person/yr
France
139 kg/person/yr
9% higher
Deaths (Suicide/Alcohol/Drugs)
BelgiumBelgium
21.71 per 100k
France
20.02 per 100k
8% higher
Wealth Concentration
FranceBelgium
45.94% of wealth
France
49.93% of wealth
8% lower
Internet Users (%)
BelgiumBelgium
95.78%
France
88.65%
8% higher
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
FranceBelgium
5.5 per 1k
France
6.0 per 1k
8% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
BelgiumBelgium
6.9K kWh/person
France
6.4K kWh/person
8% higher
Green Space Access
FranceBelgium
57.65% of urban pop.
France
62.18% of urban pop.
7% lower
Elderly Population (%)
FranceBelgium
20.56%
France
22.15%
7% lower
Life Satisfaction
BelgiumBelgium
7.6 pts
France
7.1 pts
6% higher
Youth Unemployment Rate
FranceBelgium
17.78% of youth labor force
France
18.89% of youth labor force
6% lower
Government Debt (% GDP)
FranceBelgium
92.5% of GDP
France
98.5% of GDP
6% lower
Corruption Perceptions Index
BelgiumBelgium
69 pts
France
66 pts
5% higher
Teen Birth Rate
BelgiumBelgium
3.7 per 1k
France
3.5 per 1k
5% higher
Life Evaluation Score
BelgiumBelgium
6.9 pts
France
6.6 pts
5% higher
Disposable Income (Per Capita)
BelgiumBelgium
$45,273
France
$43,435
4% higher
Youth NEET Rate
FranceBelgium
12.07% of youth 15-24
France
12.52% of youth 15-24
4% lower
Home Internet Access
BelgiumBelgium
91.97% of households
France
88.11% of households
4% higher
Leisure Time
FranceBelgium
15.52 hrs/day
France
16.2 hrs/day
4% lower
Social Support
BelgiumBelgium
90.21% of adults 15+
France
87.13% of adults 15+
4% higher
Social Time
FranceBelgium
6.0 hrs/week
France
6.2 hrs/week
4% lower
Average Weekly Work Hours
FranceBelgium
33.8 hrs/week
France
35.3 hrs/week
4% lower
Death Rate
FranceBelgium
9.6 per 1k
France
9.9 per 1k
4% lower
Can Raise Emergency Money
BelgiumBelgium
96.2% of adults
France
92.06% of adults
4% higher
Math Skills
BelgiumBelgium
489.49 pts
France
473.94 pts
3% higher
Relationship Satisfaction
BelgiumBelgium
7.9 pts
France
7.7 pts
3% higher
Human Development Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.95
France
0.92
3% higher
Safety at Night
FranceBelgium
71% feeling safe at night
France
73% feeling safe at night
3% lower
Electoral Democracy Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.89
France
0.86
3% higher
Youth Population (%)
FranceBelgium
16%
France
16.51%
3% lower
Employment Rate (%)
FranceBelgium
75.83% of adults 25-64
France
77.16% of adults 25-64
2% lower
Housing Affordability
BelgiumBelgium
80.91% of income
France
79.68% of income
2% higher
Math Score Gap
BelgiumBelgium
1.7 vs bottom 10%
France
1.7 vs bottom 10%
2% higher
Milk Consumption per Person
FranceBelgium
236.19 kg/person/yr
France
241.31 kg/person/yr
2% lower
Women's Political Empowerment
BelgiumBelgium
0.95
France
0.93
2% higher
Vehicles per 1,000 People
BelgiumBelgium
646.94 per 1k people
France
636.58 per 1k people
2% higher
Road Traffic Death Rate
FranceBelgium
4.6 per 100k
France
4.7 per 100k
2% lower
Reading Skills
BelgiumBelgium
478.85 pts
France
473.85 pts
1% higher
Science Skills
BelgiumBelgium
490.58 pts
France
487.23 pts
1% higher
Reading Score Gap
FranceBelgium
1.8 vs bottom 10%
France
1.8 vs bottom 10%
1% lower
Science Score Gap
FranceBelgium
1.8 vs bottom 10%
France
1.8 vs bottom 10%
1% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
FranceBelgium
0.79
France
0.80
1% lower
Median Age
FranceBelgium
41.4 years
France
41.8 years
1% lower
Sanitation Access (%)
BelgiumBelgium
99.49%
France
98.64%
1% higher
Life Expectancy
FranceBelgium
82.4 years
France
82.9 years
1% lower
Tax Revenue (% GDP)
FranceBelgium
22.8% of GDP
France
23.08% of GDP
1% lower
Freedom of Expression Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.97
France
0.96
1% higher
Digital Payments Used
FranceBelgium
97.41% of adults
France
98.45% of adults
1% lower
Job Strain
FranceBelgium
25.77% of employees
France
25.79% of employees
equal
Air Pollution Exposure
BelgiumBelgium
99.96% of population
France
99.7% of population
equal
Extreme Temperature Exposure
FranceBelgium
0% of population
France
1.1% of population
ranked lower
Coal Electricity Share
FranceBelgium
0%
France
0.31%
ranked lower
Electricity Access (%)
BelgiumBelgium
100%
France
100%
equal
Safe Drinking Water (%)
FranceBelgium
99.55%
France
99.71%
equal
Lowest Elevation
BelgiumBelgium
0 m
France
-2 m
ranked higher
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
FranceBelgium
-2.1% of GDP
France
-0.4% of GDP
ranked lower
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
FranceBelgium
-6.16% of GDP
France
1.6% of GDP
ranked lower
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