Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 5.1 years longer

In Illinois, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 10.0% less money

Illinois has a GDP per capita of $70,691 as of 2024, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

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be 14.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Illinois, 4.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The World Factbook.

Compare further: Illinois vs. Belgium
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Belgium is 4.9% more expensive than Illinois
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Size Comparison · See true size
Illinois is about 4.7 times bigger than Belgium.
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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 Illinois? See an in-depth size comparison.

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