Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has about 75% more people than Belgium: 20.84 million against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is 2.4 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $725.47B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $288.41B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | 8.8% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.8% | 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $7,044 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 2.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 41.9 years.
Life expectancy is 7.8 years longer in Belgium (82.3 vs 74.5).
Belgium is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 89 times the size of Belgium: 2,724,900 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 8.
Military
Belgium spends 7.1 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $8.56B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Belgium carries the heavier military burden: 1.3% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Belgium?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Kazakhstan is 89 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Belgium?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Belgium?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).