Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 5.0 years longer

In Macedonia, the average life expectancy is 77 years (75 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.7 times more money

Macedonia has a GDP per capita of $23,400 as of 2023, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

be 57.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Macedonia, 13.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 43.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Macedonia, 21.8% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

pay a 5.4 times higher top tax rate

Macedonia has a top tax rate of 10.0% as of 2016. In Belgium, the top tax rate is 53.7% as of 2016.

Life

be 56.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Macedonia, approximately 7.3 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.

be 66.7% more likely to die during childbirth

In Macedonia, approximately 3.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 40.5% more on healthcare

Macedonia spends 7.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, Public Revenue Office.

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 Macedonia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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