Updated
Overview
Belgium has 2.2 times the population of Ireland: 11.94 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $725.47B for Belgium and $721.70B for Ireland.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $60,750 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Belgium | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $725.47B | $721.70B | 2025 | $664.56B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $60,750 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.5% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 3.1% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.9% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 81 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $7,044 | $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,387 | Higher: $2,579 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 11.94 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 11.96 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.7% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.9 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.39 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.3 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 30,528 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 391.2/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 85 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.3 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.56B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 24,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.5% in Belgium and 2.2% in Ireland.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $5,697 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 41.9 years.
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Belgium is 57% smaller than Ireland: 30,528 km² versus 70,273 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 78.
Military
Belgium spends 6.4 times as much on defence as Ireland: $8.56B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Belgium carries the heavier military burden: 1.3% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Belgium fields the larger armed forces: 24,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Belgium bigger than Ireland?
- Ireland is larger by land area. Belgium covers 30,528 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Ireland is 2.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Belgium or Ireland?
- Belgium has the larger population: 11.94 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Belgium richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $60,750. Total GDP tells a different story: $725.47B for Belgium versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Belgium or Ireland?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).