Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Belgium instead of West Virginia, you would:
Health
live 9.1 years longer
In West Virginia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.
Economy
make 35.8% more money
West Virginia has a GDP per capita of $46,834 as of 2024, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.
be 24.5% less likely to live below the poverty line
In West Virginia, 16.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.
be 25.2% more likely to be unemployed
In West Virginia, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Compare further: West Virginia vs. Belgium
Belgium: At a glance
How big is Belgium compared to West Virginia? See an in-depth size comparison.