Side by side
the European Union and Belgium
The same question asked of every column. Numbers that break down by age or sex follow the controls; the rest stay country-wide and say so.
The widest gap is At risk of poverty: the European Union 16.3% against Belgium 10.9%, 5.4 points apart.
One question per row
People
Money and work
Family and home
Health and daily life
Education
Public spending
Country and infrastructure
Environment
Where €100 of public spending goes
Every euro each general government spends, sorted into the ten functions all 27 countries report against. Open a row for the ranking of 27 and what sits inside it.
the European Union
Belgium
Reference year 2024. Total public spending €100.00 in every column, so the ten shares always add up to one hundred.
Frequently asked: the European Union and Belgium
Which covers more ground: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 137.77×: the European Union 4,225,104, Belgium 30,667. Total area of the country, inland water included. Eurostat · Land area & People per square kilometre · 2026. See the figure
Where do more people live: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 37.92×: the European Union 450.6m, Belgium 11.9m. People usually resident in the country on 1 January. Eurostat · People & Women in the population · 2025. See the figure
Which is more crowded: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 3.55×: Belgium 390, the European Union 110. People per square kilometre of that total area. Eurostat · Land area & People per square kilometre · 2026. See the figure
Where is there more railway per 1,000 km²: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 2.42×: Belgium 118.7, the European Union 49.1. Railway line in use for every 1,000 square kilometres of the country. Eurostat · Railway network & Railway density · 2024. See the figure
Where does more energy come from renewables: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 11.3 points: the European Union 26.2%, Belgium 14.9%. Share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources. Eurostat · Renewable energy · 2025. See the figure
Which government spends more per resident: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 44.0%: Belgium €28,373, the European Union €19,707. Total general government expenditure divided by the population: all levels of government together. Eurostat · Public spending by function · 2024. See the figure
Where is the risk of poverty higher: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 5.4 points: the European Union 16.3%, Belgium 10.9%. Share living on less than 60% of the national median equivalised income. Eurostat · At risk of poverty · 2025. See the figure
Where do more adults hold a degree: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 10.6 points: Belgium 47.5%, the European Union 36.9%. Share of adults whose highest completed education is a university or other tertiary degree. Eurostat · With a degree · 2025. See the figure
Where are there more doctors per 100,000 people: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 11.5%: the European Union 374, Belgium 335. Practising doctors, per 100,000 residents. Eurostat · Doctors · 2024. See the figure
Where do more households have children: the European Union or Belgium?
The gap is 3.3 points: Belgium 32.0%, the European Union 28.7%. Share of private households with at least one dependent child. Eurostat · Households with children · 2025. See the figure
Medians where possible, per-capita averages for spending. This person is a composite of published statistics, not the most common person in the country.