Belgium vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 5.6 times as many people as Belgium (65.49 million vs 11.78 million). Belgium's economy is 75% larger than South Africa's ($742.86 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Belgium and South Africa: South Africa leads on Oil Imports (521,400) against Belgium (1.01); Belgium leads on Apple Import Volume (97.50 million tonnes) against South Africa (48,832 tonnes); Belgium leads on Share of population in poverty ($3 a day) (0.08) against South Africa (31.21). Across 176 compared metrics, Belgium wins on 104 and South Africa wins on 61.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 65 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 41 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 44.23 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★ | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 95.78 %★ | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 94.63 %★ | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 95% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 44.23 Mbps★ | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 80.12 points★ | 75.71 points | |
| Radios | 8.08 | 17★ | |
| Televisions | 4.72 | 6★ | |
| Waterways | 1,570 | NA |
Economy
65 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 752,840★ | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | -3,755.99 % | 87,566.02 %★ | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 11.29 °C | 18.35 °C★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 112.08★ | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | not specific; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 761.49 mm★ | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | most 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 areas | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 16.63 sq km★ | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 16.4 %★ | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 0.9 Cubic meters per year | 4.8 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 18.3 | 51.35★ | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 3 species★ | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 22.29 %★ | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 172.3★ | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 13,716.58 sq. km | 963,410 sq. km★ | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 30,494 | 1.21M★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 66.5 km | 2,798 km★ | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 12.18 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 57 | 16,700★ |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 88.74 %★ | 61.59 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 3 | 9★ | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 69 index | 41 index★ | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 69 index★ | 41 index | |
| Independence | 4 | 31★ | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 10 | 10.94★ | |
| Prison Population Rate | 113 per 100,000★ | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 69 | 41★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 23,000 personnel | 74,000 personnel★ | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.01 % | 0.74 %★ | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 24,000 | 89,000★ |
People and Society
41 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.32★ | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 48 | 573★ | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 47 | 90★ | |
| Heliports | 112★ | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇿🇦 South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 10.45B USD★ | 6.72B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About Belgium vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Belgium or South Africa?▾
South Africa. South Africa has 5.6 times as many people as Belgium (65.49 million vs 11.78 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Belgium or South Africa?▾
Belgium. Belgium's economy is 75% larger than South Africa's ($742.86 billion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Belgium or South Africa?▾
Belgium is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $63,070 in Belgium vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).