Updated
Overview
Chile has about 65% more people than Belgium: 19.86 million against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is 2.0 times the size of Chile's, at $725.47B versus $357.37B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $17,995 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Chile | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $357.37B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $330.27B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $17,995 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.5% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 4.2% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | 4.3% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 9.0% | Lower: 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 48 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,024 | Higher: $7,044 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $530 | Higher: $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.41 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.86 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 19.09 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 36.9 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.13 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 756,102 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.3/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 79 Mt | 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.0 t | 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.11B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 114,000 | 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
Chile is growing faster: 2.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 4.2% in Chile and 2.5% in Belgium.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Chile: a price level of 48 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $1,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Chile is the younger society: median age 36.9 versus 41.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Chile is 25 times the size of Belgium: 756,102 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 26.
Military
Belgium spends about 70% more on defence than Chile: $8.56B versus $5.11B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Chile fields the larger armed forces: 114,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Chile bigger than Belgium?
- Chile is larger by land area. Chile covers 756,102 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Chile is 25 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Chile or Belgium?
- Chile has the larger population: 19.86 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Chile richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $17,995. Total GDP tells the same story: $357.37B for Chile versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Chile or Belgium?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $5.11B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).