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 Netherlands
189 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
Think you can spot the next winner?
Belgium leads by 1 metric. 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.
Netherlands
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Kingdom of the Netherlands.
CIA 2026
Curated stat
OECD data puts the Netherlands among the countries with the shortest average annual work hours.
Analysis
Belgium leads in 95 of 189 shared metrics, while Netherlands leads in 94.
Belgium's Firms Asked for Bribes is 23.7x that of Netherlands (6.9% of firms vs 0.28% of firms).
Belgium's Nuclear Electricity Share is 11.9x that of Netherlands (41.2% vs 3.2%).
Belgium's Insufficient Physical Activity is 3.6x that of Netherlands (45.13% of adults vs 9.8% of adults).
Belgium's Long-Term Unemployment is 3.0x that of Netherlands (2.1% of workforce vs 0.51% of workforce).
Belgium's Official Languages Count is 2.0x that of Netherlands (3.0 vs 1.0).
Key Comparisons
Firms Asked for BribesBelgium leads
Belgium
6.9% of firms
Netherlands
0.28% of firms
Nuclear Electricity ShareBelgium leads
Belgium
41.2%
Netherlands
3.2%
Insufficient Physical ActivityBelgium leads
Belgium
45.13% of adults
Netherlands
9.8% of adults
Long-Term UnemploymentBelgium leads
Belgium
2.1% of workforce
Netherlands
0.51% of workforce
Official Languages CountBelgium leads
Belgium
3.0
Netherlands
1.0
Youth NEET RateBelgium leads
Belgium
12.07% of youth 15-24
Netherlands
4.1% of youth 15-24
All Metrics
Firms Asked for Bribes
BelgiumBelgium
6.9% of firms
Netherlands
0.28% of firms
2368% higher
Nuclear Electricity Share
BelgiumBelgium
41.2%
Netherlands
3.2%
1188% higher
Insufficient Physical Activity
BelgiumBelgium
45.13% of adults
Netherlands
9.8% of adults
362% higher
Long-Term Unemployment
BelgiumBelgium
2.1% of workforce
Netherlands
0.51% of workforce
305% higher
Official Languages Count
BelgiumBelgium
3.0
Netherlands
1.0
200% higher
Youth NEET Rate
BelgiumBelgium
12.07% of youth 15-24
Netherlands
4.1% of youth 15-24
192% higher
Financial Hardship
BelgiumBelgium
17.1% of adults 16+
Netherlands
7.3% of adults 16+
134% higher
Low-Wage Workers
BelgiumBelgium
11.44% of workers
Netherlands
5.2% of workers
121% higher
Median Wealth
BelgiumBelgium
$343,656
Netherlands
$165,940
107% higher
Forest Coverage (%)
BelgiumBelgium
22.6%
Netherlands
11.06%
104% higher
Youth Unemployment Rate
BelgiumBelgium
17.78% of youth labor force
Netherlands
8.8% of youth labor force
101% higher
Border Neighbors
BelgiumBelgium
4.0
Netherlands
2.0
100% higher
Teen Birth Rate
BelgiumBelgium
3.7 per 1k
Netherlands
1.9 per 1k
98% higher
Irrigated Land
NetherlandsBelgium
57 km²
Netherlands
3.0K km²
98% lower
Firms Making Informal Payments
BelgiumBelgium
5.2% of firms
Netherlands
2.7% of firms
97% higher
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
BelgiumBelgium
5.5 per 1k
Netherlands
2.9 per 1k
90% higher
Coastline Length
NetherlandsBelgium
66.5 km
Netherlands
451 km
85% lower
Forest Area
BelgiumBelgium
6.9K km²
Netherlands
3.7K km²
85% higher
Long Work Hours
BelgiumBelgium
3.6% of employees
Netherlands
2.0% of employees
83% higher
Merchant Fleet Size
NetherlandsBelgium
198
Netherlands
1.2K
83% lower
Gender Pay Gap (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
1.1% of male wages
Netherlands
6.1% of male wages
82% lower
Firms Hit by Power Outages
BelgiumBelgium
33.48% of firms
Netherlands
18.37% of firms
82% higher
Nurses & Midwives
BelgiumBelgium
20.89 per 1k
Netherlands
11.66 per 1k
79% higher
Air Passengers
NetherlandsBelgium
11.39M
Netherlands
41.44M
73% lower
Foreign Patents
NetherlandsBelgium
415
Netherlands
1.4K
70% lower
Doctors (per 1,000)
BelgiumBelgium
6.5 per 1k
Netherlands
3.9 per 1k
68% higher
Tourist Arrivals
NetherlandsBelgium
2.58M
Netherlands
7.26M
64% lower
Government Debt (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
92.5% of GDP
Netherlands
56.5% of GDP
64% higher
Domestic Patents
NetherlandsBelgium
799
Netherlands
2.1K
62% lower
Suicide Rate
BelgiumBelgium
18.36 per 100k
Netherlands
11.5 per 100k
60% higher
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
NetherlandsBelgium
45.91 per 100k people
Netherlands
113.92 per 100k people
60% lower
Homicide Rate
BelgiumBelgium
1.1 per 100k
Netherlands
0.69 per 100k
56% higher
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
BelgiumBelgium
51.24 per 100k
Netherlands
33.52 per 100k
53% higher
Electric Generating Capacity
NetherlandsBelgium
28.25M kW
Netherlands
59.98M kW
53% lower
Water Stress (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
35.83%
Netherlands
74.86%
52% lower
Unemployment Rate
BelgiumBelgium
5.5%
Netherlands
3.6%
52% higher
R&D Spending (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
3.4% of GDP
Netherlands
2.3% of GDP
51% higher
Scientific Publications
NetherlandsBelgium
17.6K
Netherlands
34.3K
49% lower
Deaths (Suicide/Alcohol/Drugs)
BelgiumBelgium
21.71 per 100k
Netherlands
14.62 per 100k
48% higher
Water Withdrawal
NetherlandsBelgium
4.3 B m³
Netherlands
8.2 B m³
48% lower
GDP (Nominal)
NetherlandsBelgium
$671,370,081,636.41
Netherlands
$1,214,927,698,572.66
45% lower
Armed Forces Personnel
NetherlandsBelgium
24.0K
Netherlands
41.0K
41% lower
Electricity Carbon Intensity
NetherlandsBelgium
149.82 gCO2/kWh
Netherlands
253.56 gCO2/kWh
41% lower
Informal Employment Share
NetherlandsBelgium
3.3% of employed people
Netherlands
5.4% of employed people
40% lower
Electricity Generation
NetherlandsBelgium
74.93 TWh
Netherlands
122.3 TWh
39% lower
Poor Health
BelgiumBelgium
8.3% reporting poor health
Netherlands
6.0% reporting poor health
38% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
11.45%
Netherlands
18.12%
37% lower
Low Life Satisfaction
NetherlandsBelgium
2.7% of adults 16+
Netherlands
4.1% of adults 16+
35% lower
Road Traffic Death Rate
BelgiumBelgium
4.6 per 100k
Netherlands
3.4 per 100k
35% higher
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
NetherlandsBelgium
10.12 per 1M people
Netherlands
15.53 per 1M people
35% lower
Time Zones Count
NetherlandsBelgium
2.0 time zones
Netherlands
3.0 time zones
33% lower
Population
NetherlandsBelgium
11.96M
Netherlands
17.83M
33% lower
Military Spending
NetherlandsBelgium
1.3% of GDP
Netherlands
1.9% of GDP
33% lower
Credit Card Ownership
BelgiumBelgium
49.82% of adults
Netherlands
37.43% of adults
33% higher
Fuel Poverty
NetherlandsBelgium
4.8% of adults 16+
Netherlands
7.1% of adults 16+
32% lower
Solar Electricity Share
NetherlandsBelgium
14.34%
Netherlands
21.12%
32% lower
Tourism Revenue
NetherlandsBelgium
$7,447,000,000
Netherlands
$10,926,200,195.31
32% lower
Milk Consumption per Person
NetherlandsBelgium
236.19 kg/person/yr
Netherlands
341.47 kg/person/yr
31% lower
Obesity Rate
BelgiumBelgium
22%
Netherlands
16.91%
30% higher
Social Time
NetherlandsBelgium
6.0 hrs/week
Netherlands
8.4 hrs/week
29% lower
Protected Land (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
16.3%
Netherlands
22.9%
29% lower
Population Density
NetherlandsBelgium
386.3 /km²
Netherlands
530.95 /km²
27% lower
Total CO2 Emissions
NetherlandsBelgium
86.65 Mt CO2e
Netherlands
118.79 Mt CO2e
27% lower
Green Space Access
NetherlandsBelgium
57.65% of urban pop.
Netherlands
78.21% of urban pop.
26% lower
Low Reading Skills
NetherlandsBelgium
15.23% of students
Netherlands
20.2% of students
25% lower
Low Math Skills
NetherlandsBelgium
15.23% of students
Netherlands
20.2% of students
25% lower
Low Science Skills
NetherlandsBelgium
15.23% of students
Netherlands
20.2% of students
25% lower
Smoking Rate
BelgiumBelgium
26.7%
Netherlands
21.3%
25% higher
Wind Electricity Share
NetherlandsBelgium
18.82%
Netherlands
24.97%
25% lower
Political Voice
NetherlandsBelgium
29.47% who feel heard by government
Netherlands
39% who feel heard by government
24% lower
Time Dissatisfaction
BelgiumBelgium
7.4% of adults 16+
Netherlands
6.0% of adults 16+
24% higher
Land Border Length
BelgiumBelgium
1.3K km
Netherlands
1.1K km
23% higher
Housing Cost Burden
BelgiumBelgium
15.47% of households
Netherlands
12.83% of households
21% higher
Chronic Pain
BelgiumBelgium
31.5% of adults 15+
Netherlands
26% of adults 15+
21% higher
Education Spending (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
6.3% of GDP
Netherlands
5.2% of GDP
21% higher
Airports
BelgiumBelgium
49
Netherlands
41
20% higher
Railway Network
BelgiumBelgium
3.6K km
Netherlands
3.0K km
19% higher
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
104 per 100 people
Netherlands
129 per 100 people
19% lower
Energy Use (Per Capita)
BelgiumBelgium
4.1K kg oil eq/person
Netherlands
3.4K kg oil eq/person
19% higher
Highest Elevation
NetherlandsBelgium
694 m
Netherlands
862 m
19% lower
Income Gap (Rich vs Poor)
NetherlandsBelgium
3.6 vs bottom 20%
Netherlands
4.3 vs bottom 20%
18% lower
Wealth Concentration
NetherlandsBelgium
45.94% of wealth
Netherlands
55.7% of wealth
18% lower
Railway Length
BelgiumBelgium
3.6K km
Netherlands
3.1K km
18% higher
Shipping Traffic
NetherlandsBelgium
12.30M
Netherlands
14.93M
18% lower
Homicide Rate
BelgiumBelgium
0.70 per 100k
Netherlands
0.60 per 100k
17% higher
Agricultural Land (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
44.38%
Netherlands
53.55%
17% lower
High-Tech Exports (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
19.58%
Netherlands
23.47%
17% lower
Food Waste per Person
BelgiumBelgium
151 kg/person/yr
Netherlands
129 kg/person/yr
17% higher
Overcrowded Housing
BelgiumBelgium
4.0% of households
Netherlands
3.5% of households
16% higher
CO2 Per Capita
BelgiumBelgium
7.3 t/person/yr
Netherlands
6.3 t/person/yr
16% higher
Women in Senior Management
BelgiumBelgium
33.09% of managers
Netherlands
28.5% of managers
16% higher
Political Corruption Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.03
Netherlands
0.03
15% higher
Tobacco Use Prevalence
BelgiumBelgium
23.5% of adults
Netherlands
20.5% of adults
15% higher
Birth Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
9.1 per 1k
Netherlands
10.68 per 1k
15% lower
Safety at Night
NetherlandsBelgium
71% feeling safe at night
Netherlands
82.5% feeling safe at night
14% lower
Spirits Consumption
NetherlandsBelgium
1.1 L/person/yr
Netherlands
1.3 L/person/yr
14% lower
Infant Mortality
NetherlandsBelgium
3.0 per 1k births
Netherlands
3.5 per 1k births
14% lower
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
NetherlandsBelgium
$72,236.91
Netherlands
$84,221.98
14% lower
Meat Consumption per Person
NetherlandsBelgium
65.78 kg/person/yr
Netherlands
75.82 kg/person/yr
13% lower
Voter Turnout
BelgiumBelgium
87.42% of votes
Netherlands
77.74% of votes
12% higher
Lack of Support
BelgiumBelgium
9.6% of adults 15+
Netherlands
8.5% of adults 15+
12% higher
Corruption Perceptions Index
NetherlandsBelgium
69 pts
Netherlands
78 pts
12% lower
Average Weekly Work Hours
BelgiumBelgium
33.8 hrs/week
Netherlands
30.3 hrs/week
12% higher
Imports (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
79.66% of GDP
Netherlands
71.4% of GDP
12% higher
GNI Per Capita
NetherlandsBelgium
$55,290
Netherlands
$62,520
12% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
BelgiumBelgium
6.9K kWh/person
Netherlands
6.2K kWh/person
12% higher
Road Deaths
BelgiumBelgium
4.2 per 100k
Netherlands
3.8 per 100k
11% higher
Time Use Inequality
BelgiumBelgium
2.1 vs bottom 20%
Netherlands
1.9 vs bottom 20%
11% higher
Researchers
BelgiumBelgium
7.0K per 1M
Netherlands
6.3K per 1M
11% higher
Employment Rate (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
75.83% of adults 25-64
Netherlands
83.82% of adults 25-64
10% lower
Job Strain
BelgiumBelgium
25.77% of employees
Netherlands
23.37% of employees
10% higher
Depression Rate
BelgiumBelgium
9.0% of adults 15+
Netherlands
8.2% of adults 15+
10% higher
Child Mortality
NetherlandsBelgium
3.6 per 1k births
Netherlands
4.0 per 1k births
10% lower
Fertility Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
1.5 children/woman
Netherlands
1.6 children/woman
10% lower
Tax Revenue (% GDP)
NetherlandsBelgium
22.8% of GDP
Netherlands
25.25% of GDP
10% lower
Can Raise Emergency Money
BelgiumBelgium
96.2% of adults
Netherlands
87.64% of adults
10% higher
Reading Score Gap
NetherlandsBelgium
1.8 vs bottom 10%
Netherlands
2.0 vs bottom 10%
9% lower
Land Area
NetherlandsBelgium
30.5K km²
Netherlands
33.7K km²
9% lower
Alcohol Consumption
BelgiumBelgium
9.4 L/adult/yr
Netherlands
8.7 L/adult/yr
8% higher
Urban Population (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
87.61%
Netherlands
95.64%
8% lower
Home Internet Access
NetherlandsBelgium
91.97% of households
Netherlands
98.56% of households
7% lower
Self-Rated Health
BelgiumBelgium
74.6% reporting good health
Netherlands
69.9% reporting good health
7% higher
Women in Parliament (%)
BelgiumBelgium
41.33%
Netherlands
38.67%
7% higher
Electoral Democracy Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.89
Netherlands
0.83
7% higher
Health Spending (% GDP)
BelgiumBelgium
10.76% of GDP
Netherlands
10.1% of GDP
7% higher
Health Spending Per Capita
NetherlandsBelgium
$5,404.62
Netherlands
$5,796.03
7% lower
Loneliness
NetherlandsBelgium
5.3% of adults 16+
Netherlands
5.7% of adults 16+
6% lower
Math Score Gap
NetherlandsBelgium
1.7 vs bottom 10%
Netherlands
1.8 vs bottom 10%
6% lower
Science Score Gap
NetherlandsBelgium
1.8 vs bottom 10%
Netherlands
1.9 vs bottom 10%
6% lower
Hypertension Prevalence
BelgiumBelgium
34.5% of adults
Netherlands
32.4% of adults
6% higher
Seafood Consumption per Person
BelgiumBelgium
22.75 kg/person/yr
Netherlands
21.48 kg/person/yr
6% higher
Inflation Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
3.1%
Netherlands
3.3%
6% lower
Youth Population (%)
BelgiumBelgium
16%
Netherlands
15.03%
6% higher
Freedom of Expression Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.97
Netherlands
0.91
6% higher
Firms with Female Top Manager
NetherlandsBelgium
12.82% of firms
Netherlands
13.65% of firms
6% lower
Job Insecurity
NetherlandsBelgium
2.4% of earnings at risk
Netherlands
2.5% of earnings at risk
5% lower
University Enrollment Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
82.15%
Netherlands
86.59%
5% lower
Dependency Ratio
BelgiumBelgium
57.61% of working-age pop.
Netherlands
55.09% of working-age pop.
5% higher
Women's Political Empowerment
BelgiumBelgium
0.95
Netherlands
0.90
5% higher
Disposable Income (Per Capita)
NetherlandsBelgium
$45,273
Netherlands
$47,171
4% lower
Reading Skills
BelgiumBelgium
478.85 pts
Netherlands
459.24 pts
4% higher
Earnings Inequality
BelgiumBelgium
2.6 vs bottom 10%
Netherlands
2.5 vs bottom 10%
4% higher
Relationship Dissatisfaction
NetherlandsBelgium
2.1% of adults 16+
Netherlands
2.2% of adults 16+
4% lower
Inequality (Gini)
BelgiumBelgium
26.8
Netherlands
25.7
4% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
11.7%
Netherlands
12.2%
4% lower
Exports (% GDP)
NetherlandsBelgium
79.27% of GDP
Netherlands
82.43% of GDP
4% lower
Life Evaluation Score
NetherlandsBelgium
6.9 pts
Netherlands
7.2 pts
4% lower
Beer Consumption
BelgiumBelgium
3.6 L/person/yr
Netherlands
3.5 L/person/yr
3% higher
Relationship Inequality
NetherlandsBelgium
1.6 vs bottom 20%
Netherlands
1.6 vs bottom 20%
3% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
BelgiumBelgium
0.79
Netherlands
0.77
3% higher
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
BelgiumBelgium
11.22 µg/m³
Netherlands
10.89 µg/m³
3% higher
Time Satisfaction
NetherlandsBelgium
7.2 pts
Netherlands
7.3 pts
2% lower
Adult Numeracy
NetherlandsBelgium
283.02 pts
Netherlands
287.74 pts
2% lower
Broadband Access (%)
BelgiumBelgium
44 per 100 people
Netherlands
43 per 100 people
2% higher
Sanitation Access (%)
BelgiumBelgium
99.49%
Netherlands
97.66%
2% higher
Death Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
9.6 per 1k
Netherlands
9.7 per 1k
2% lower
Vehicles per 1,000 People
BelgiumBelgium
646.94 per 1k people
Netherlands
635.05 per 1k people
2% higher
Poverty Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
6.9% of population
Netherlands
7.0% of population
1% lower
Average Earnings
BelgiumBelgium
$76,108.82
Netherlands
$75,370.1
1% higher
Job Satisfaction
BelgiumBelgium
7.7 pts
Netherlands
7.7 pts
1% higher
Housing Affordability
NetherlandsBelgium
80.91% of income
Netherlands
81.76% of income
1% lower
Math Skills
NetherlandsBelgium
489.49 pts
Netherlands
492.68 pts
1% lower
Adult Literacy
NetherlandsBelgium
278.46 pts
Netherlands
282.32 pts
1% lower
Social Support
NetherlandsBelgium
90.21% of adults 15+
Netherlands
90.98% of adults 15+
1% lower
Relationship Satisfaction
NetherlandsBelgium
7.9 pts
Netherlands
8.0 pts
1% lower
Air Pollution Exposure
BelgiumBelgium
99.96% of population
Netherlands
99.41% of population
1% higher
Happiness Inequality
NetherlandsBelgium
1.6 vs bottom 20%
Netherlands
1.7 vs bottom 20%
1% lower
Internet Users (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
95.78%
Netherlands
97%
1% lower
Life Expectancy
BelgiumBelgium
82.4 years
Netherlands
81.9 years
1% higher
GDP Growth Rate
NetherlandsBelgium
1.1%
Netherlands
1.1%
1% lower
Digital Payments Used
NetherlandsBelgium
97.41% of adults
Netherlands
98.79% of adults
1% lower
Leisure Time
BelgiumBelgium
15.52 hrs/day
Netherlands
15.45 hrs/day
equal
Gender Gap in Work
BelgiumBelgium
18.75 min/day
Netherlands
-4.83 min/day
ranked higher
Science Skills
BelgiumBelgium
490.58 pts
Netherlands
488.32 pts
equal
Extreme Temperature Exposure
BelgiumBelgium
0% of population
Netherlands
0% of population
ranked higher
Human Development Index
NetherlandsBelgium
0.95
Netherlands
0.95
equal
Life Satisfaction
NetherlandsBelgium
7.6 pts
Netherlands
7.6 pts
equal
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
BelgiumBelgium
20 days/yr
Netherlands
20 days/yr
equal
Coal Electricity Share
NetherlandsBelgium
0%
Netherlands
7.1%
ranked lower
Median Age
BelgiumBelgium
41.4 years
Netherlands
41.4 years
equal
Electricity Access (%)
BelgiumBelgium
100%
Netherlands
100%
equal
Safe Drinking Water (%)
NetherlandsBelgium
99.55%
Netherlands
99.96%
equal
Elderly Population (%)
BelgiumBelgium
20.56%
Netherlands
20.5%
equal
Capital Elevation
BelgiumBelgium
70 m
Netherlands
-2 m
ranked higher
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
BelgiumBelgium
0.75 per 1M people
Netherlands
0 per 1M people
ranked higher
Lowest Elevation
BelgiumBelgium
0 m
Netherlands
-7 m
ranked higher
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
NetherlandsBelgium
-2.1% of GDP
Netherlands
8.8% of GDP
ranked lower
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
NetherlandsBelgium
-6.16% of GDP
Netherlands
-1.4% of GDP
ranked lower
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
BelgiumBelgium
16 sites
Netherlands
0 sites
ranked higher
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