Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Palau instead of Belgium, you would:

Health

live 7.2 years less

In Belgium, the average life expectancy is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.5 times more likely to be obese

In Belgium, 22.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Palau, that number is 55.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 69.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Belgium, 5.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 1.7% as of 2015.

make 75.2% less money

Belgium has a GDP per capita of $63,600 as of 2023, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $15,800 as of 2023.

be 2.0 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Belgium, 12.3% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

Life

be 3.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In Belgium, approximately 3.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Palau, on the other hand, 11.3 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 59.1% less likely to have internet access

In Belgium, approximately 91.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Palau, about 37.2% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 65.8% more on healthcare

Belgium spends 11.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Palau, that number is 18.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 22.8 times more coastline

Belgium has a total of 66 km of coastline. In Palau, that number is 1,519 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Belgium? See an in-depth size comparison.

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