Updated
Overview
Egypt has 9.9 times the population of Belgium: 118.37 million people against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is 2.0 times the size of Egypt's, at $725.47B versus $365.25B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $389.06B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | 28.3% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $7,044 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 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
Egypt is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 2.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 41.9 years.
Life expectancy is 10.5 years longer in Belgium (82.3 vs 71.8).
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in Belgium (96% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 33 times the size of Belgium: 1,002,450 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 118.
Military
Belgium spends 3.6 times as much on defence as Egypt: $8.56B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Belgium?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Egypt is 33 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Belgium?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Belgium?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).