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Austria vs Czechia
Belgium vs Sweden
Side-by-side comparison of Belgium and Sweden from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Belgium
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 196 years
Sweden
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,031 years
In short
Belgium scores 77.9 in the NationsTree Index (9th in the world) and Sweden scores 75.5 (20th), a gap of 2.4 points. Their trees are 20 m and 19 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Belgium has 13% more people than Sweden. Sweden is 17 times larger than Belgium by land area. The economy of Belgium is 16% larger than that of Sweden (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Belgium 11.9 million and Sweden 10.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $74,676 in Belgium and $72,529 in Sweden (2025, international dollars). People in Sweden live on average 1.8 years longer (84.1 vs 82.3 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Belgium ranks higher in the world on 11 and Sweden on 26. Sweden is clearly stronger in environment & energy, economy and natural resources.
As a nation, Sweden is the older of the two (statehood since 995, 1,031 years), compared with Belgium (since 1830). Over the last five years Belgium improved faster (direction score 47 vs 23 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Belgium and Sweden.
Belgium
107.9%
175th of 189
Swedenbetter
34.5%
45th of 189
Government budget balanceEconomy
Belgium
-5.2%
152nd of 192
Swedenbetter
-1.3%
59th of 192
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Belgium
1,027
125th of 183
Swedenbetter
16,306
37th of 183
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Belgiumbetter
5.4
23rd of 145
Sweden
1.9
90th of 145
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Belgium
11.7%
136th of 212
Swedenbetter
57.9%
40th of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Belgium overtook Sweden in GDP per person (PPP) in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Belgium overtook Sweden in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Belgium has been ahead of Sweden in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Sweden has been ahead of Belgium in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BelgiumSweden All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Belgium | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 30,689137th/216 · 2024 | 528,86050th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 30,494136th/216 · 2024 | 407,27059th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 11.9 m81st/217 · 2025 | 10.6 m92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.70%121st/217 · 2025 | 0.25%157th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 388.929th/216 · 2024 | 26.0180th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 87.7%42nd/217 · 2025 | 89.1%35th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.7%170th/217 · 2025 | 16.7%156th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 21.0%28th/217 · 2025 | 20.9%29th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $725.47 bn22nd/210 · 2025 | $669.00 bn25th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $891.76 bn37th/199 · 2025 | $768.56 bn41st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $758.16 bn38th/199 · 2025 | $671.43 bn41st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $60,75022nd/210 · 2025 | $63,13320th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $74,67624th/199 · 2025 | $72,52926th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $59,50021st/201 · 2025 | $63,01017th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.0%176th/210 · 2025 | 1.5%160th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.5%78th/180 · 2025 | 0.7%27th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.9%107th/187 · 2025 | 8.7%140th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 107.9%175th/189 · 2025 | 34.5%45th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -5.2%152nd/192 · 2025 | -1.3%59th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.7%176th/197 · 2025 | 1.5%157th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 18.6%134th/200 · 2025 | 21.0%121st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 11.2%87th/192 · 2025 | 12.5%73rd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 71.2%31st/200 · 2025 | 67.0%46th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $547.36 bn19th/182 · 2025 | $356.10 bn28th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $562.00 bn18th/182 · 2025 | $341.90 bn28th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 75.5%22nd/183 · 2025 | 53.2%50th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 77.5%24th/183 · 2025 | 51.1%80th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 152.9%20th/183 · 2025 | 104.3%56th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 10.2%48th/170 · 2025 | 6.0%68th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 69.4%43rd/171 · 2025 | 72.2%37th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.8%94th/171 · 2025 | 7.2%129th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 4.1%71st/171 · 2025 | 5.9%57th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 19.8%33rd/168 · 2024 | 17.7%40th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.9%99th/191 · 2025 | 6.7%26th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | -4.0%194th/196 · 2025 | 2.6%80th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%164th/209 · 2021 | 1.2%113th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.03%91st/197 · 2021 | 0.03%94th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%97th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 1.00%46th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%148th/209 · 2021 | 0.18%94th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 28.3%33rd/206 · 2024 | 6.2%127th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,027125th/183 · 2022 | 16,30637th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 2.6 m57th/194 · 2020 | 2.0 m67th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $7.45 bn25th/175 · 2020 | $10.67 bn2010 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.8%135th/168 · 2020 | 4.8%2010 |
| Outbound trips departures | 5.9 m27th/107 · 2020 | 6.1 m26th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.331st/217 · 2024 | 84.19th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.726th/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.5743rd/174 · 2022 | 4.4120th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 5.423rd/145 · 2023 | 1.990th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 97%29th/193 · 2024 | 96%48th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 88.9%51st/153 · 2023 | 95.4%28th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 143.0%2nd/173 · 2023 | 132.0%7th/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 33.1%27th/217 · 2025 | 33.5%22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.8%19th/193 · 2023 | 11.2%15th/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 82.1%22nd/150 · 2023 | 84.0%19th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.95110th/193 · 2023 | 0.9595th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 26.89th/108 · 2023 | 29.320th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.1%10th/108 · 2023 | 0.8%43rd/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 99.5%25th/150 · 2024 | 99.8%18th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 94.9%25th/144 · 2024 | 95.4%23rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 95.8%20th/186 · 2024 | 95.8%21st/186 · 2025 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 104134th/210 · 2024 | 14138th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 44.217th/208 · 2024 | 40.624th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.109th/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3,61237th/82 · 2021 | 9,71418th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 11.4 m46th/161 · 2023 | 19.6 m35th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 7.31173rd/203 · 2024 | 3.57122nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 11.7%136th/212 · 2021 | 57.9%40th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.435th/200 · 2023 | 5.316th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 22.0%128th/214 · 2024 | 68.6%19th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 4,07721st/149 · 2024 | 4,32920th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 79.325th/205 · 2025 | 89.59th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 75.623rd/207 · 2025 | 87.55th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 79.527th/207 · 2025 | 87.34th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 68.6101st/207 · 2025 | 80.553rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.322nd/205 · 2025 | 82.511th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 83.912th/205 · 2025 | 87.64th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.144th/145 · 2021 | 1.149th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $14.53 bn28th/156 · 2025 | $16.47 bn24th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.0%64th/156 · 2025 | 2.5%42nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.7%119th/154 · 2025 | 5.0%80th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 24,00096th/170 · 2020 | 15,000117th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.47%120th/168 · 2020 | 0.27%147th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 430.0 m25th/163 · 2025 | 146.0 m41st/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 86.0 m27th/65 · 2025 | 235.0 m15th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.27%7th/110 · 2023 | 3.60%4th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 64740th/137 · 2024 | 1,85121st/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 16,81628th/197 · 2023 | 21,24424th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Belgium or Sweden?
Belgium has the larger population: 11.9 m (2025) compared with 10.6 m for Sweden (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Belgium or Sweden?
Sweden is larger: 528,860 km² (2024) compared with 30,689 km² for Belgium (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Belgium or Sweden?
Belgium has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $891.76 bn intl. (2025) compared with $768.56 bn intl. for Sweden (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Belgium or Sweden?
Belgium has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $74,676 intl. (2025) compared with $72,529 intl. for Sweden (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Belgium or Sweden?
Sweden has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.1 years (2024) compared with 82.3 years for Belgium (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Belgium or Sweden?
Sweden spends more on the military: $16.47 bn (2025) compared with $14.53 bn for Belgium (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Belgium or Sweden?
Belgium: 77.9 points (9th in the world); Sweden: 75.5 points (20th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Ireland
Kazakhstan
Netherlands
Romania
Switzerland
Finland
Norway
UkraineSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Belgium vs Sweden — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/belgium-vs-sweden. Data as of 26 October 2026.