Belgium Belgium vs Poland Poland development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Belgium
Belgium, Value
Poland
Poland, Value
Belgium
Belgium, Rank
Poland
Poland, Rank
Belgium Belgium as % of
Poland Poland
Current account balance (% of GDP) -0.855 0.196 61 52
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 79.2 52.3 13 37 151 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) -5.35 2.02 104 53
GDP per capita (current US$) 55,955 25,023 16 48 224 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 72,126 50,378 19 42 143 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 79.2 48.3 12 58 164 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 3.14 3.79 76 56 82.9 %
Net migration 36,243 -238,062 30 207
Population, total 11,876,844 36,554,707 81 42 32.5 %

Demography and Health

Belgium has a birth rate of 9.4 per 1,000 people while Poland's is lower at 7.4, ranking Belgium 32nd and Poland 72nd globally. In contrast, the death rate in Belgium is 9.4 per 1,000 people, similar to Poland's higher rate of 11.1, where Belgium ranks 64th compared to Poland's 40th. Life expectancy at birth reflects a healthier population in Belgium, with an average of 82.4 years versus Poland’s 78.5 years, ranking them 18th and 54th respectively. Belgium's mortality rate for under-5s is 3.6 per 1,000 live births, markedly lower than Poland's 4.4, placing them 38th and 16th. Net migration is another significant factor, with Belgium receiving a positive influx of 36,243 people, contrasting sharply with Poland's negative net migration of -238,062.

Economy

Belgium boasts a significantly higher GDP per capita at $55,955 compared to Poland's $25,023, leading in global ranks at 21st versus Poland's 75th. When it comes to GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), Belgium again outperforms Poland, with $72,126 versus $50,378, ranking 16th and 64th respectively. However, Belgium faces challenges with a net outflow of foreign direct investment at -5.4% of GDP, in stark contrast to Poland's positive inflow of 2%. Additionally, inflation rates are slightly lower in Belgium at 3.1% compared to Poland's 3.8%, indicating a marginally more stable price environment.

Trade and Investment

Belgium has a considerably higher proportion of exports of goods and services relative to GDP at 79.2%, compared to Poland's 52.3%, with Belgium ranking 39th and Poland 73rd globally. Imports follow a similar trend, with Belgium again at 79.2% of GDP while Poland is at 48.3%. The high-technology exports figure also shows Belgium leading with $50.6 billion against Poland’s $29.6 billion. The stark difference in Belgium's export-centric economy may reflect its role as a logistics and trade hub in Europe.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, Belgium consistently scores higher across various indicators. The control of corruption index shows Belgium at 1.3, significantly better than Poland's 0.6. Similarly, government effectiveness is rated at 1.0 in Belgium against Poland's 0.4. Both countries face political and administrative challenges, with Belgium ranking 40th globally for government effectiveness, compared to Poland's 66th. The rule of law ranks Belgium at 29th, while Poland lags at 62nd, demonstrating the former's stronger institutional integrity.

Infrastructure and Technology

Belgium excels in logistics performance, ranking 5th with a quality score of 4.1 for trade and transport-related infrastructure compared to Poland’s 3.5, which ranks 16th. Belgium also leads in internet accessibility, with 94.6% of the population using the internet compared to Poland's 86.4%, showcasing a more advanced technological adoption among its citizens. In terms of research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP, Belgium again outpaces Poland at 3.4% versus Poland's 1.5%, underlining its commitment to innovation.

Environment and Sustainability

When examining environmental concerns, Belgium and Poland have similar per capita greenhouse gas emissions at 9.0 and 9.9 t CO2e per capita, ranking 25th and 18th respectively. However, Belgium's renewable energy consumption percentage is lower at 11.7% compared to Poland’s 15.2%, suggesting Poland is slightly ahead in the adoption of renewable energy solutions. Additionally, Belgium faces significant water stress, with 51.9% of freshwater resources being withdrawn, placing it high in global rankings for water stress, while Poland is lower at 32.1%. This indicates Poland's relatively better management of its freshwater resources.