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

Health

live 2.5 years longer

In Albania, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 13.6% less likely to be obese

In Albania, 24.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 5.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Albania spends $1,465 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Belgium spends $7,489 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 90.2% more doctors per person

Albania has 18.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2020. Belgium has 35.7 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

have 34.4% more access to essential health services

Albania scores 64 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Belgium scores 86 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 6.7 times more likely to die by suicide

Albania has a suicide rate of 2.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Belgium, it is 18.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 45.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Albania, 10.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 37.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Albania, 19.7% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

make 4.7 times more money

Albania has a GDP per capita of $12,998 as of 2025, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $60,750 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 42.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Albania, approximately 7.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Belgium, 4.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 62.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Albania, approximately 8.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Belgium, on the other hand, 3.1 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 11.6% more likely to have internet access

In Albania, approximately 85.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Belgium, about 95.8% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 2.0 times more on education

Albania spends 3.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Belgium spends 6.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

View global rankings →

spend 53.2% more on healthcare

Albania spends 7.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 10.8% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Geography

see 81.6% less coastline

Albania has a total of 362 km of coastline. In Belgium, that number is 66 km.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 22.3% less likely to be murdered

Albania has a homicide rate of 1.4 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 57.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Albania, road accidents kill 10.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Belgium, they kill 4.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

find 77.8% more home broadband

Albania has 24.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Belgium has 44.2 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 2.5 times more electricity

Albania uses 2,892 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Belgium uses 7,099 kWh as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live with 11.0 times more strain on fresh water

Albania withdraws 5% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Belgium withdraws 53% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 74.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Albania, air pollution causes 59.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Belgium, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 4.1 times more CO2

Albania emits 1.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Belgium emits 7.3 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

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 Albania? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

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