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

Health

be 98.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zimbabwe, 9.8% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 19.2 years longer

In Zimbabwe, the average life expectancy is 63 years (60 years for men, 65 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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see 72.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Zimbabwe spends $103 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Belgium spends $7,489 as of 2023.

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have 26.3 times more doctors per person

Zimbabwe has 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Belgium has 35.7 as of 2022.

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have 56.4% more access to essential health services

Zimbabwe scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Belgium scores 86 as of 2021.

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be 41.7% more likely to be obese

In Zimbabwe, 14.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 36.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Zimbabwe, 9.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.

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be 67.9% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zimbabwe, 38.3% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

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make 20.1 times more money

Zimbabwe has a GDP per capita of $3,021 as of 2025, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $60,750 as of 2025.

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Life

be 98.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zimbabwe, approximately 358.0 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 95.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62.4 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 69.2% fewer children

In Zimbabwe, there are approximately 29.9 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 61.3% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62% of people have electricity access (84% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.3 times more likely to have internet access

In Zimbabwe, approximately 41.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Belgium, about 95.8% do as of 2024.

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be 48.8% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Zimbabwe, approximately 67% of people have access to drinking water (94% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 16.5 times more on education

Zimbabwe spends 0.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Belgium spends 6.3% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 3.7 times more on healthcare

Zimbabwe spends 2.9% 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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Safety

be 84.0% less likely to be murdered

Zimbabwe has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 84.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Zimbabwe, road accidents kill 29.9 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 22.8 times more home broadband

Zimbabwe has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Belgium has 44.2 as of 2024.

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use 14.1 times more electricity

Zimbabwe uses 504 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Belgium uses 7,099 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 14.6% more strain on fresh water

Zimbabwe withdraws 46% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Belgium withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 73.2% less likely to die from air pollution

In Zimbabwe, air pollution causes 56.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Belgium, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.

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emit 9.5 times more CO2

Zimbabwe emits 0.8 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 (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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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