Belgium Belgium vs France France development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Belgium
Belgium, Value
France
France, Value
Belgium
Belgium, Rank
France
France, Rank
Belgium Belgium as % of
France France
Current account balance (% of GDP) -0.855 0.392 61 49
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 79.2 33.2 13 75 238 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) -5.35 1.75 104 63
GDP per capita (current US$) 55,955 46,150 16 26 121 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 72,126 61,322 19 28 118 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 79.2 34 12 85 233 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 3.14 2 76 114 157 %
Net migration 36,243 90,527 30 20 40 %
Population, total 11,876,844 68,516,699 81 23 17.3 %

Demography and Health

Belgium has a slightly lower crude birth rate at 9.4 per 1,000 people compared to France's 9.9, placing Belgium at rank 32 while France ranks 19. The crude death rate reveals Belgium at 9.4 and France at 9.2, highlighting Belgium's marginally higher mortality rate. Life expectancy in Belgium stands at 82.4 years, slightly below France's 82.9 years. Moreover, Belgium has a lower under-5 mortality rate (3.6 per 1,000 live births) than France (4.3), reflecting better child health outcomes. On mental health front, Belgium has a higher suicide mortality rate (18.4 per 100,000 population) compared to France (16.6), signaling a potential area for concern. Overall, the demographic indicators suggest that both countries have strong healthcare systems, but slight variations exist that could impact public health policy.

Economy

Belgium's GDP per capita is higher than that of France, standing at $55,955 compared to France's $46,150, which places Belgium at rank 21 versus France's 37 in this metric. In terms of purchasing power, Belgium again outperforms France with a GDP per capita, PPP of $72,126 against $61,322. The inflation rate in Belgium is slightly higher at 3.1% compared to France's 2%, suggesting relatively more significant price increases affecting citizens. The high share of exports in Belgium's GDP (79.2%) significantly outstrips France's 33.2%, indicating a more export-driven economy. Furthermore, Belgium faces a net outflow of foreign direct investment at -5.4% of GDP, whereas France benefits from net inflows at 1.8%. These realities reflect Belgium's robust economic positioning but also indicate challenges in attracting long-term investments.

Trade and Investment

Belgium's economy is highly internationalized, with both exports and imports of goods and services representing 79.2% of its GDP, surpassing France's respective figure of 34%. In terms of innovation, Belgium showcases strong capability in high-tech exports, valued at $50.6 billion, although it lags behind France’s $115.3 billion. Belgium ranks 11th in patent applications compared to France’s exceptional 2nd place, illustrating Belgium's potential for innovation may still benefit from enhancements in R&D and patenting processes. Furthermore, the current account balance shows Belgium's deficit at -0.9% of GDP, while France has a modest surplus at 0.4%, emphasizing Belgium's trade vulnerability in comparison.

Governance and Institutions

Both countries exhibit a relatively high level of governance metrics. Belgium has a slightly higher Control of Corruption score (1.3) compared to France (1.2), suggesting more effective measures to combat corruption. In terms of Government Effectiveness, Belgium scores 1.0 while France slightly edges ahead with a score of 1.1. Political stability is somewhat comparable, with Belgium ranking 69th and France at 73rd on the Political Stability and Absence of Violence index. Unemployment in Belgium is notably lower at 5.5% of the labor force compared to France's 7.3%, indicating stronger labor market performance. Both countries face regulatory quality challenges, sitting at similar ranks, further underscoring the need for improved legislative frameworks.

Infrastructure and Technology

Belgium scores better in the Logistics Performance Index with a score of 4.1, compared to France's 3.8, indicating that Belgium possesses higher quality trade and transport-related infrastructure. The percentage of individuals using the internet reveals Belgium at a commendable 94.6%, significantly outpacing France at 86.8%. This indicates that digital connectivity and access to technology is stronger in Belgium, possibly correlated with its higher GDP per capita figures. Belgium's research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP is notable at 3.4%, whereas France trails with 2.2%, highlighting Belgium's commitment to innovation which, in the long run, can result in technological advancements benefitting economic growth.

Environment and Sustainability

When assessing environmental metrics, Belgium reports renewable energy consumption at 11.7% of total energy consumption, which is considerably lower than France's 16.2%, reflecting France's stronger emphasis on sustainable energy practices. Belgium's per capita greenhouse gas emissions stand at 9.0 tons of CO2e, while France's emissions are lower at 5.6 tons, indicating Belgium's relatively higher carbon output per individual. Regarding water stress, Belgium shows a critical level with 51.9% freshwater withdrawal compared to France's 21.6%. Both countries share a similar prevalence of undernourishment at 2.5%, yet the challenges in sustainability are deeply pronounced in Belgium, making the case for a more intensified focus on environmental policies to enhance sustainability and compliance with global standards.