Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Belgium instead of Russia, you would:
Health
live 8.9 years longer
In Russia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (68 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.
see 2.3 times more spent on your healthcare
Russia spends $3,204 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Belgium spends $7,489 as of 2023.
be 14.1% less likely to die by suicide
Russia has a suicide rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Belgium, it is 18.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 18.4% more likely to be obese
In Russia, 17.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.
have 30.1% fewer doctors per person
Russia has 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Belgium has 35.7 as of 2022.
Economy
make 3.5 times more money
Russia has a GDP per capita of $17,547 as of 2025, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $60,750 as of 2025.
be 2.8 times more likely to be unemployed
In Russia, 2.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.
be 70.8% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Russia, 7.2% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.
Life
be 55.6% less likely to die during childbirth
In Russia, approximately 9.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Belgium, 4.0 women do as of 2023.
be 24.4% less likely to die during infancy
In Russia, approximately 4.1 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.
Expenditures
spend 51.0% more on education
Russia spends 4.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Belgium spends 6.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.
spend 53.4% more on healthcare
Russia spends 7.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 10.8% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 99.8% less coastline
Russia has a total of 37,653 km of coastline. In Belgium, that number is 66 km.
Safety
be 84.0% less likely to be murdered
Russia has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Belgium, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 56.6% less likely to die in a road accident
In Russia, road accidents kill 10.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Belgium, they kill 4.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 31.6% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night
In Russia, 90% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 62% as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 63.0% more home broadband
Russia has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Belgium has 44.2 as of 2024.
live with 12.8 times more strain on fresh water
Russia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Belgium withdraws 53% as of 2022.
Environment
be 61.5% less likely to die from air pollution
In Russia, air pollution causes 39.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Belgium, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.
emit 47.7% less CO2
Russia emits 14.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Belgium emits 7.3 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: Russia vs. Belgium
Belgium: At a glance
How big is Belgium compared to Russia? See an in-depth size comparison.