Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 15.6 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 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 2.7 times more likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Belgium, that number is 22.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 17.2 times more money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

be 79.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

pay a 53.4% higher top tax rate

Zambia 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 96.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 135.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

be 91.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Zambia, approximately 37.1 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 68.3% fewer children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 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 2.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Zambia, approximately 48% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Belgium, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 4.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Belgium, about 91.0% do as of 2021.

be 39.7% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access (90% in urban areas, and 57% 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 81.1% more on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Belgium spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 98.2% more on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% 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, Zambia Revenue Authority.

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 Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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