Belgium vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 174 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

Malaysia has 3.1 times as many people as Belgium (36.4 million vs 11.78 million). Belgium's economy is 59% larger than Malaysia's ($742.86 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP).

Comparing Belgium and Malaysia: Malaysia leads on Oil Imports (355,300) against Belgium (1.01); Malaysia leads on Revenue from Forest Resources (1.57) against Belgium (0.02); Malaysia leads on Irrigated Land (4,420) against Belgium (57). Across 174 compared metrics, Belgium wins on 81 and Malaysia wins on 85.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 66 metrics compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration44.23 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…13.55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)95.78 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)95.78 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 95% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed44.23 Mbpsā˜…13.55 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score80.12 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios8.0810.9ā˜…
Televisions4.7210.8ā˜…
Waterways2,0437,200ā˜…

Economy

66 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country4.31B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars742.86B $ā˜…466.53B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)24.5 %ā˜…21.95 %
Apple Import Volume97.50M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate98.24 %ā˜…88.69 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0 %3 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)2.08 %4.61 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends29.58 %ā˜…24 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)10.3 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index7583.3ā˜…
Electricity Consumption82.16136.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports8.47ā˜…3
Electricity from Fossil Fuels3578ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants118ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels28ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables36ā˜…4
Electricity Imports14.6533ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity21.5633ā˜…
Electricity Production79.83148.3ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)190.42 USD per capitaā˜…113.16 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate67.17 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gini Index Coefficient26.440.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment22.125.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving24.528.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage56.41 %63.18 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries63,488.42 USDā˜…35,461.45 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-0.6 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate2.47 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)3.1 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption17.6130.44ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports736.2ā˜…38.23
Natural Gas Imports18.09ā˜…2.8
Natural Gas Production069.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves01.18ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed8 patentsā˜…5 patents
Oil Consumption622,600ā˜…561,000
Oil Exports353,000644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports1.01355,300ā˜…
Oil Production11,220664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves04ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line12.3 people6.2 peopleā˜…
Public Debt92.564.3ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)3.2 %ā˜…1.01 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption648,600704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports680,800ā˜…208,400
Refined Petroleum Products Imports601,400ā˜…304,600
Refined Petroleum Products Production731,700ā˜…528,300
Remittances2.3ā˜…0.4
Researchers in R&D per Million5,818.71 researchersā˜…1,218.33 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.021.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding3.2 USDā˜…1.01 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.040.01ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)22.96 %12.43 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)22.96 % of GDPā˜…12.43 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues22.7ā˜…12.6
Top Exporting Countries532.22B USDā˜…301.22B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-6.16 %3.69 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires1119ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP3.43 %ā˜…2.67 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)3.43 %ā˜…2.67 %
Unemployment Rate5.5 %3.9 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate54.27 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate17.78 %11.95 %ā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)752,840ā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-3,755.99 %ā˜…-55,896.09 %
Average Annual Temperature11.29 °C25.87 °Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions112.08ā˜…260.01
Continental Shelfnot specific;200
Global Precipitation Distribution761.49 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionmost of the population is concentrated in the northern two thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, with approximately 97% living in urban areasa highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation16.63 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage16.4 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country0.9 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources18.3580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species3 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization22.29 %ā˜…4.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)172.3209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land13,716.58 sq. km85,710 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km30,494328,550ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)66.5 km4,675 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita12.18 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land574,420ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country88.74 %ā˜…67.87 %
Administrative Divisions313ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index69 index50 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score69 indexā˜…50 index
Independence431ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score10ā˜…-2.46
Prison Population Rate113 per 100,000ā˜…244 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception6950ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water99.55 %ā˜…94.7 %
Average BMI for Adults26.6 kg/mĀ²ā˜…25.3 kg/m²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate96 %96 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)9.12ā˜…13.01
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)5.921.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders82.3 yearsā˜…76.82 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.31 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.48 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita8,638.85 USDā˜…1,703.34 USD
Health Coverage Index Score86 scoreā˜…80 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)11 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy82.3 yearsā˜…76.82 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA0.3 %
Hospital Bed Density5.5 people/sq kmā˜…2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita5.42 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.96 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence6.76 %ā˜…13.81 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)4 %ā˜…26 %
Nurses and Midwives Density12.89 per 1,000 peopleā˜…3.97 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)22.1 %15.6 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending21.51 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDSNA92,000
Total Number of Doctors3.57ā˜…2.29
Underweight Children Under 50.3ā˜…15.3

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel23,000 personnel113,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)2.01 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)24,000136,000ā˜…

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)50.3 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.77ā˜…0.65
Life expectancy at birth84.77 yearsā˜…80.87 years
Median age of population42.19 yearsā˜…31.44 years
Population Change7,999.1 persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density390.59 per sq. km110.8 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population11.78M persons36.40M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.95ā˜…0.29
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsA-Bā˜…AA
Beer Consumption per Capita3.89 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)9.09 %14.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate66.7 %ā˜…52.2 %
Crude Birth Rate9.2 per 1,000 people12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)9.55 %5.8 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6.3 % of GDPā˜…3.5 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age2.54M persons9.69M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)95.59 %ā˜…44.3 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate44.23 %ā˜…13.55 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth104.76 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.74ā˜…0.48
Labor Force Participation Rate5.4218.26ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school11.22 yearsā˜…9.72 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother120 daysā˜…0 days
Major Urban Areas Population2.12 people8.62 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)181.7ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling11.57 years11.96 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1921ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio31.65 %10.6 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization79.32 %83.21 %ā˜…
Physician Density6.53 people/sq kmā˜…2.34 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.45 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums0 %0.2 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.28ā˜…11.66
Total deaths116,107.9 personsā˜…179,998.3 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)66.05 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate1.29 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration30,580.2 persons162,673.4 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate3.23 per live birthsā˜…5.53 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.77 %1.79 %ā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.321.58ā˜…
Airports48100ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel4753ā˜…
Heliports112ā˜…24

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡§šŸ‡Ŗ BelgiumšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita10.45B USD24.59B USDā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Belgium vs Malaysia

Which has a larger population, Belgium or Malaysia?ā–¾

Malaysia. Malaysia has 3.1 times as many people as Belgium (36.4 million vs 11.78 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Belgium or Malaysia?ā–¾

Belgium. Belgium's economy is 59% larger than Malaysia's ($742.86 billion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Belgium or Malaysia?ā–¾

Belgium is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $63,070 in Belgium vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons

Belgium vs Malaysia: Population & GDP Compared | Geo Factbook