Netherlands vs Belgium
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Netherlands and Belgium: the larger economy is Netherlands ($1.21T vs $671.4B GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Netherlands ($67,520 vs $56,615). Life expectancy is higher in Belgium (82.0 vs 82.3 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Netherlands vs Belgium: side by side
| Indicator | Netherlands | Belgium | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $1.21T | $671.4B | Netherlands |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $67,520 | $56,615 | Netherlands |
| Population, total | 17,993,485 | 11,858,610 | Netherlands |
| Population growth (annual %) | 0.6% | 0.7% | Belgium |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 1.1% | 1.1% | Netherlands |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 3.3% | 3.1% | Belgium |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 3.9% | 5.9% | Netherlands |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 82.0 | 82.3 | Belgium |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 97.0% | 95.8% | Netherlands |
| Urban population (% of total) | 95.6% | 87.6% | Netherlands |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 6.60 | 7.31 | Netherlands |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): Netherlands
- GDP per capita (income): Netherlands
- Life expectancy: Belgium
- Internet users: Netherlands
- Lower inflation: Belgium
- Lower unemployment: Netherlands
Frequently asked questions
Is Netherlands or Belgium richer?
Netherlands is richer on GDP per capita — Netherlands at $67,520 versus $56,615 for Belgium (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Netherlands ($1.21T vs $671.4B).
Which has a bigger economy, Netherlands or Belgium?
Netherlands has the larger economy: Netherlands's GDP is $1.21T and Belgium's is $671.4B in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Netherlands or Belgium?
Netherlands is more populous: Netherlands has about 18.0 million people and Belgium about 11.9 million.
Where do people live longer, Netherlands or Belgium?
Life expectancy is higher in Belgium: 82.0 years in Netherlands versus 82.3 in Belgium (World Bank).
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Last updated: 2026-06-20