Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Belgium instead of Rhode Island, you would:

Health

be 34.0% less likely to be obese

In Rhode Island, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 34.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Rhode Island, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.

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be 19.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Rhode Island, 10.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023). How we calculate this

Compare further: Rhode Island vs. Belgium

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Belgium is 24.2% cheaper than Rhode Island
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Size Comparison · See true size
Rhode Island is about 11 times smaller than Belgium.
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Moving from Rhode Island to Belgium · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Providence vs Antwerp
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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 Rhode Island? See an in-depth size comparison.

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