Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Saint Martin instead of Belgium, you would:

Health

live 1.3 years less

In Belgium, the average life expectancy is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022. In Saint Martin, that number is 81 years (77 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 69.7% less money

Belgium has a GDP per capita of $63,600 as of 2023, while in Saint Martin, the GDP per capita is $19,300 as of 2005.

Life

have 28.7% more children

In Belgium, there are approximately 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Saint Martin, there are 13.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.1 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 Saint Martin, on the other hand, 6.7 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 46.7% less likely to have internet access

In Belgium, approximately 91.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Saint Martin, about 48.5% do as of 2022.

Geography

see 11.4% less coastline

Belgium has a total of 66 km of coastline. In Saint Martin, that number is 59 km.

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

Saint Martin: At a glance

Saint Martin is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 54 sq km. Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced African slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010, the southern Dutch portion of the island became the independent nation of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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How big is Saint Martin compared to Belgium? See an in-depth size comparison.

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