Belgium Belgium vs Denmark Denmark development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Belgium
Belgium, Value
Denmark
Denmark, Value
Belgium
Belgium, Rank
Denmark
Denmark, Rank
Belgium Belgium as % of
Denmark Denmark
Current account balance (% of GDP) -0.855 13 61 8
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 79.2 69.7 13 24 114 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) -5.35 4.21 104 26
GDP per capita (current US$) 55,955 71,852 16 11 77.9 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 72,126 79,514 19 13 90.7 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 79.2 58.9 12 36 134 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 3.14 1.37 76 129 229 %
Net migration 36,243 25,639 30 34 141 %
Population, total 11,876,844 5,976,992 81 114 199 %

Demography and Health

Belgium has a total population of approximately 11.9 million, while Denmark's population is around 6 million. The crude birth rate in Belgium is 9.4 per 1,000 people, slightly lower than Denmark's 9.7, placing Belgium at rank 32 and Denmark at rank 24. Regarding death rates, Belgium's figure stands at 9.4 per 1,000, while Denmark's is at 9.8, with Belgium ranked 64 and Denmark ranked 54. Life expectancy at birth in Belgium is 82.4 years compared to Denmark’s 81.9 years. Both countries show a prevalence of undernourishment at 2.5% of the population. Mortality rates for children under five are comparable, with Belgium at 3.6 and Denmark at 3.4 per 1,000 live births. Belgium has a higher number of hospital beds per 1,000 people, at 5.5, compared to Denmark's 2.5. However, Belgium's suicide mortality rate is significantly higher at 18.4 per 100,000 population compared to Denmark's 10.5.

Economy

Denmark outperforms Belgium in terms of GDP per capita, with Denmark at $71,852 and Belgium at $55,955, ranking 9th and 21st globally, respectively. In terms of GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP), Denmark again leads with $79,514 against Belgium's $72,126, ranking 10th and 16th. Belgium has a higher percentage of exports of goods and services relative to GDP at 79.2%, compared to Denmark's 69.7%, but both have significant export economies. Conversely, Belgium's inflation rate is higher at 3.1% than Denmark's 1.4%.

Trade and Investment

Belgium has a similar but slightly higher net inflow of foreign direct investment, at -5.4% of GDP, compared to Denmark’s 4.2%. In terms of high-technology exports, Belgium exports $50.6 billion worth, significantly more than Denmark's $16.1 billion. The logistics performance index indicates both countries are equal in quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure, each scoring 4.1. Belgium has a current account balance of -0.9% of GDP, while Denmark boasts a strong surplus of 13% of GDP, ranking it 2nd globally in this aspect.

Governance and Institutions

Denmark generally ranks higher in terms of governance and institutional quality. For instance, the country has a control of corruption score of 2.4 compared to Belgium's 1.3, placing Denmark among the top 2 in the world. Additionally, Denmark scores 2 in government effectiveness, making it the top country compared to Belgium's rank of 40. The regulatory quality is similarly more favorable in Denmark at a score of 1.8 versus Belgium's 1.2. The rule of law is also stronger in Denmark with a score of 1.9 against Belgium's 1.3. Political stability reflects this, with Denmark at 0.9 and Belgium at 0.4.

Infrastructure and Technology

In terms of infrastructure, both Belgium and Denmark maintain a similar logistics performance index of 4.1, indicating robust trade and transport-related infrastructure. Research and development expenditure represents a significant investment in the future, with Belgium committing 3.4% of its GDP compared to Denmark's 2.9%. Belgium's patent applications per resident stand at 799, while Denmark leads with 1,090 applications, indicative of a more active innovation landscape.

Environment and Sustainability

Denmark excels in renewable energy consumption, with 39.5% of its total energy consumption derived from renewable sources, ranking it 4th globally. Belgium lags significantly in this category at 11.7%, placing it at rank 26. Denmark also shows a lower level of water stress with a freshwater withdrawal proportion of 26.4%, compared to Belgium's 51.9%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Belgium has a per capita emission of 9 tons CO2 equivalent, while Denmark's figure is lower at 7 tons, reflecting Denmark's commitment to sustainability.