Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Slovakia instead of Belgium, you would:
Health
be 46.0% less likely to die by suicide
Belgium has a suicide rate of 18.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Slovakia, it is 9.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 3.9 years less
In Belgium, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024. In Slovakia, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.
be 25.1% more likely to be obese
In Belgium, 20.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Slovakia, that number is 26.1% of people as of 2024.
see 56.9% less spent on your healthcare
Belgium spends $7,489 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Slovakia spends $3,230 as of 2023.
Economy
be 11.4% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Belgium, 12.3% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Slovakia, however, that number is 13.7% as of 2021.
make 53.0% less money
Belgium has a GDP per capita of $60,750 as of 2025, while in Slovakia, the GDP per capita is $28,544 as of 2025.
Life
be 71.0% more likely to die during infancy
In Belgium, approximately 3.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Slovakia, on the other hand, 5.3 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 25.8% less on education
Belgium spends 6.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Slovakia spends 4.7% of total GDP on education as of 2022.
spend 31.9% less on healthcare
Belgium spends 10.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Slovakia, that number is 7.3% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 39.1% more likely to die in a road accident
In Belgium, road accidents kill 4.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Slovakia, they kill 6.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 95.4% less strain on fresh water
Belgium withdraws 53% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Slovakia withdraws 2% as of 2022.
find 23.6% less home broadband
Belgium has 44.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Slovakia has 33.8 as of 2024.
use 34.1% less electricity
Belgium uses 7,099 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Slovakia uses 4,675 kWh as of 2024.
Environment
emit 24.6% less CO2
Belgium emits 7.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Slovakia emits 5.5 tonnes as of 2024.
be 100.0% more likely to die from air pollution
In Belgium, air pollution causes 15.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Slovakia, it causes 30.0 as of 2019.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Belgium vs. Slovakia
Slovakia: At a glance
How big is Slovakia compared to Belgium? See an in-depth size comparison.