Updated
Overview
Australia has 2.3 times the population of Belgium: 27.61 million people against 11.94 million (2025).
Australia's economy is 2.5 times the size of Belgium's, at $1.80T versus $725.47B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Australia | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.80T | $725.47B | 2025 | $1.75T / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $65,130 | $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | 3.2% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.1% | 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 90 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,436 | Higher: $7,044 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,655 | $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.95 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 27.61 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 27.49 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | 1.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.3 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 7,692,024 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 3.6/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 387 Mt | Lower: 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.5 t | Lower: 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $33.82B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 60,000 | 24,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.4% for Australia, 1.0% for Belgium).
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in Australia and 2.5% in Belgium.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Belgium: a price level of 81 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $4,436 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Australia is the younger society: median age 38.3 versus 41.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Australia is 252 times the size of Belgium: 7,692,024 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 4.
Military
Australia spends 4.0 times as much on defence as Belgium: $33.82B versus $8.56B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Australia fields the larger armed forces: 60,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Australia bigger than Belgium?
- Australia is larger by land area. Australia covers 7,692,024 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Australia is 252 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Australia or Belgium?
- Australia has the larger population: 27.61 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Australia richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $60,750. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.80T for Australia versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Australia or Belgium?
- Australia spends more: $33.82B versus $8.56B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).