Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.5 years less

In Singapore, the average life expectancy is 86 years (84 years for men, 89 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 3.6 times more likely to be obese

In Singapore, 6.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Belgium, that number is 22.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 50.1% less money

Singapore has a GDP per capita of $127,500 as of 2023, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

be 58.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Singapore, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

pay a 2.4 times higher top tax rate

Singapore has a top tax rate of 22.0% as of 2016. In Belgium, the top tax rate is 53.7% as of 2016.

Life

be 28.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Singapore, approximately 7.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

have 22.7% more children

In Singapore, there are approximately 8.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belgium, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Singapore, approximately 1.6 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.

Expenditures

spend 2.4 times more on education

Singapore spends 2.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Belgium spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 82.0% more on healthcare

Singapore spends 6.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 65.5% less coastline

Singapore has a total of 193 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, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

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.
Read more

How big is Belgium compared to Singapore? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Belgium.or Singapore It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.