Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.3 years longer

In Virginia, the average life expectancy is 78 years (77 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 62.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Virginia, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 30.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Virginia, 9.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), The World Factbook.

Compare further: Virginia vs. Belgium
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Belgium is 0.4% more expensive than Virginia
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Virginia is about 3.4 times bigger than Belgium.
→

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.
Read more

How big is Belgium compared to Virginia? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Belgium or United States. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.