Belgium vs Malta development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Belgium has a total population of approximately 11.9 million people, while Malta's population is around 574,346. Both countries face demographic challenges reflected in their birth and death rates. Belgium's crude birth rate is 9.4 per 1,000 people, slightly higher than Malta's 8.1, while the death rate in Belgium is 9.4, which is notably higher than Malta’s 7.3. These figures suggest that Belgium experiences a slightly higher natural decrease in population. Life expectancy is another critical health indicator, with Belgium at 82.4 years, while Malta has a longer life expectancy of 83.5 years. The under-5 mortality rate in Belgium is 3.6 per 1,000 live births, indicating relatively good child health, though Malta has a slightly higher rate at 5.5. Belgium also reports a lower suicide mortality rate (18.4 per 100,000) in comparison to Malta (6.5), suggesting better mental health outcomes. However, both countries have similar prevalence of undernourishment, standing at 2.5% of the population.

Economy

In terms of economic performance, Belgium leads in GDP per capita at $55,955 compared to Malta's $42,347. Moreover, when adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), Belgium's GDP per capita is $72,126, whereas Malta's is $67,364. The reliance on exports differs significantly, with Belgium exporting 79.2% of its GDP, which is considerably lower than Malta's impressive 123%. Belgium also has a higher technological export figure, amounting to $50.6 billion compared to Malta's $1.2 billion. However, Belgium has a lower net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow of -5.4% of GDP, contrasting with Malta's robust inflow at 175%. The unemployment rate reflects different labor market conditions, with Belgium at 5.5%, while Malta enjoys a lower rate of 3.1%.

Trade and Investment

Belgium and Malta present distinct profiles in terms of trade and investment. Belgium's exports and imports of goods and services constitute 79.2% of its GDP, indicating a balanced trading environment. In contrast, Malta's trade is notably more pronounced, with imports reaching 106% of GDP and exports at 123%, highlighting a significant engagement in global trade. Malta ranks significantly higher in terms of FDI inflows, suggesting an investment climate that is more favorable for attracting foreign capital. Furthermore, Belgium's negative current account balance of -0.9% indicates a potential trade deficit, while Malta benefits from a strong current account surplus of 5.7% of GDP.

Governance and Institutions

Governance indicators reveal that Belgium performs better than Malta in several dimensions. Belgium ranks higher in control of corruption (1.3 versus 0.1), government effectiveness (1.0 versus 0.4), and rule of law (1.3 compared to 0.7). However, Malta shows a more favorable score in political stability (0.9 versus 0.4), indicating a more stable political environment. Both nations also differ in regulatory quality, with Belgium scoring 1.2 and Malta at 0.7. The military expenditure reflects Belgium's commitment to defense, standing at $7.6 billion, compared to Malta's modest expenditure of $112.6 million.

Infrastructure and Technology

Infrastructure and technology indicators reveal that Belgium maintains a higher standard in logistics performance, with a score of 4.1 compared to Malta's 3.7. Internet usage is widespread in both countries, with Belgium having 94.6% of its population online, slightly ahead of Malta at 92.1%. Belgium also excels in research and development expenditure, allocating 3.4% of its GDP toward R&D compared to Malta's mere 0.6%. Additionally, Belgium has a formidable number of patent applications per capita (799), indicating a strong innovation ecosystem, unlike Malta which registered only 5 applications.

Environment and Sustainability

In the context of environmental sustainability, Belgium's renewable energy consumption stands at 11.7% of total energy, which is higher than Malta's 8.6%. Belgium faces a water stress level of 51.9% of available freshwater resources, indicating a relatively efficient use of its resources, whereas Malta has a much higher level of 78.3%. Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, Belgium's emissions per capita are 9 tons of CO2 equivalent, which is substantially higher than Malta’s 3.7 tons, illustrating a larger environmental footprint in Belgium. This comparison reflects the ongoing challenges both nations face in achieving sustainability targets while maintaining their economic activities.