Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 12.2 years longer

In Gabon, the average life expectancy is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 47.3% more likely to be obese

In Gabon, 15.0% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Belgium, that number is 22.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 3.2 times more money

Gabon has a GDP per capita of $19,800 as of 2023, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

be 72.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Gabon, 20.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 63.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Gabon, 33.4% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

pay a 53.4% higher top tax rate

Gabon has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Belgium, the top tax rate is 53.7% as of 2016.

Life

be 97.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Gabon, approximately 227.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

be 88.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Gabon, approximately 28.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Belgium, on the other hand, 3.2 children do as of 2022.

have 58.0% fewer children

In Gabon, there are approximately 25.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belgium, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 26.4% more likely to have internet access

In Gabon, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Belgium, about 91.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 2.1 times more on education

Gabon spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Belgium spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 3.3 times more on healthcare

Gabon spends 3.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 92.5% less coastline

Gabon has a total of 885 km of coastline. In Belgium, that number is 66 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, General Direction of Taxes.

Belgium: At a glance

Belgium is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 30,278 sq km. Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
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How big is Belgium compared to Gabon? See an in-depth size comparison.

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