Updated
Overview
Belgium has 11% more people than Portugal: 11.94 million against 10.80 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is 2.1 times the size of Portugal's, at $725.47B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Belgium | Portugal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $725.47B | $346.64B | 2025 | $664.56B / $308.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,750 | $32,082 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 1.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.5% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | 3.1% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.9% | 6.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 81 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $7,044 | $1,426 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,387 | $1,147 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 11.94 million | 10.80 million | 2025 | 11.96 million / 10.19 million |
| Population growth | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.9 yrs | 46.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.39 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.3 yrs | Higher: 82.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 30,528 km² | 92,090 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 391.2/km² | 117.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 85 Mt | Lower: 36 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.3 t | Lower: 3.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.56B | $4.64B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 24,000 | 52,000 | 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
Portugal is growing faster: 1.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.5% in Belgium and 2.3% in Portugal.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Belgium is the younger society: median age 41.9 versus 46.9 years.
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Geography
By land area, Belgium is 67% smaller than Portugal: 30,528 km² versus 92,090 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 117.
Military
Belgium spends about 85% more on defence than Portugal: $8.56B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Portugal fields the larger armed forces: 52,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Belgium bigger than Portugal?
- Portugal is larger by land area. Belgium covers 30,528 km² while Portugal covers 92,090 km², so Portugal is 3.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Belgium or Portugal?
- Belgium has the larger population: 11.94 million versus 10.80 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Belgium richer than Portugal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $725.47B for Belgium versus $346.64B for Portugal.
- Who spends more on their military, Belgium or Portugal?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).