Side by side
the Netherlands 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 Netherlands 13.4% against Belgium 10.9%, 2.5 points apart.
One question per row
People
Money and work
Family and home
Health and daily life
Education
Public spending
Country and infrastructure
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 Netherlands
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 Netherlands and Belgium
Which government owes more: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 63.5 points: Belgium 107.9%, the Netherlands 44.4%. Consolidated gross debt of the general government, against GDP. Eurostat · Government debt · 2025. See the figure
Where are there more hospital beds per 100,000 people: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 2.42×: Belgium 534, the Netherlands 221. Beds available in hospitals, per 100,000 residents. Eurostat · Hospital beds · 2025. See the figure
Which has more forest: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 11.1 points: Belgium 22.0%, the Netherlands 10.9%. Share of the land area under forest. Eurostat · Land under forest · 2025. See the figure
Which spends a larger share on protecting the environment: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 1.5 points: the Netherlands 3.6%, Belgium 2.1%. Waste and waste water, pollution control, biodiversity and landscape protection. Eurostat · Public spending by function · 2024. See the figure
Where is unemployment higher: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 2.3 points: Belgium 6.2%, the Netherlands 3.9%. Share of 15 to 74 year olds in the labour force who are without work and looking for it. Eurostat · Out of work · 2025. See the figure
Where do more people live: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 51.8%: the Netherlands 18m, Belgium 11.9m. People usually resident in the country on 1 January. Eurostat · People & Women in the population · 2025. See the figure
Which spends a larger share of its budget on defence: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 1.3 points: the Netherlands 3.7%, Belgium 2.4%. Armed forces, defence equipment, military aid abroad, and defence research. Eurostat · Public spending by function · 2024. See the figure
Where is there more railway per 1,000 km²: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 32.6%: Belgium 118.7, the Netherlands 89.5. Railway line in use for every 1,000 square kilometres of the country. Eurostat · Railway network & Railway density · 2024. See the figure
Where do more households have children: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 6.1 points: Belgium 32.0%, the Netherlands 25.9%. Share of private households with at least one dependent child. Eurostat · Households with children · 2025. See the figure
Where are there more university students per 1,000 people: the Netherlands or Belgium?
The gap is 15.9%: the Netherlands 54.0, Belgium 46.6. People in higher education, per 1,000 residents. Eurostat · University students & Students per 1,000 people · 2024. 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.