If you lived in Belgium instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 57.6% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.

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live 1.9 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 49.3% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.

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make 2.7 times more money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $60,750 as of 2025.

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Life

be 29.5% less likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Belgium, on the other hand, 3.1 children do as of 2024.

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have 13.9% fewer children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belgium, there are 9.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 31.7% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Belgium, about 95.8% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 97.4% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Belgium, that number is 66 km.

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Infrastructure

find 24.4% more home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Belgium has 44.2 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 2.1 times more CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Belgium emits 7.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024). 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.
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How big is Belgium compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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