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

Health

live 7.0 years longer

In Mexico, the average life expectancy is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 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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be 44.2% less likely to be obese

In Mexico, 37.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.

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see 5.5 times more spent on your healthcare

Mexico spends $1,368 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Belgium spends $7,489 as of 2023.

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have 38.1% more doctors per person

Mexico has 25.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Belgium has 35.7 as of 2022.

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have 14.7% more access to essential health services

Mexico scores 75 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Belgium scores 86 as of 2021.

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be 2.6 times more likely to die by suicide

Mexico has a suicide rate of 7.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Belgium, it is 18.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 58.4% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Mexico, 29.6% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

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make 4.4 times more money

Mexico has a GDP per capita of $13,889 as of 2025, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $60,750 as of 2025.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Mexico, 2.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.

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Life

be 90.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Mexico, approximately 42.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Belgium, 4.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 74.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Mexico, approximately 12.1 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.

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have 40.5% fewer children

In Mexico, there are approximately 15.5 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 15.2% more likely to have internet access

In Mexico, approximately 83.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Belgium, about 95.8% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 54.7% more on education

Mexico spends 4.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Belgium spends 6.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 96.4% more on healthcare

Mexico spends 5.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 10.8% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 99.3% less coastline

Mexico has a total of 9,330 km of coastline. In Belgium, that number is 66 km.

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Safety

be 95.7% less likely to be murdered

Mexico has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 60.5% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Mexico, 39% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 62% as of 2021.

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be 61.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In Mexico, road accidents kill 12.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Belgium, they kill 4.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 2.0 times more home broadband

Mexico has 21.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Belgium has 44.2 as of 2024.

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use 2.7 times more electricity

Mexico uses 2,658 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Belgium uses 7,099 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 17.5% more strain on fresh water

Mexico withdraws 45% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Belgium withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 50.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Mexico, air pollution causes 30.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Belgium, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.0 times more CO2

Mexico emits 3.6 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 (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), 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.
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How big is Belgium compared to Mexico? See an in-depth size comparison.

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