Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 7.1 years longer

In Nicaragua, the average life expectancy is 75 years (73 years for men, 77 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 8.7 times more money

Nicaragua has a GDP per capita of $7,300 as of 2023, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

be 50.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Nicaragua, 24.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

be 14.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Nicaragua, 4.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

pay a 79.0% higher top tax rate

Nicaragua has a top tax rate of 30.0% as of 2016. In Belgium, the top tax rate is 53.7% as of 2016.

Life

be 93.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Nicaragua, approximately 78.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

be 83.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Nicaragua, approximately 19.1 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 34.1% fewer children

In Nicaragua, there are approximately 16.4 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 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Nicaragua, approximately 86% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Belgium, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 59.6% more likely to have internet access

In Nicaragua, approximately 57.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Belgium, about 91.0% do as of 2021.

be 20.2% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Nicaragua, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 45.7% more on education

Nicaragua spends 4.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Belgium spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 29.1% more on healthcare

Nicaragua spends 8.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 92.7% less coastline

Nicaragua has a total of 910 km of coastline. In Belgium, that number is 66 km.

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

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 Nicaragua? See an in-depth size comparison.

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