Belgium vs United Kingdom
Belgium vs United Kingdom: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 82.1 years in Belgium and 81.3 years in United Kingdom, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Belgium, by 0.8 years, or 1.01 times that in United Kingdom.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Belgium has been higher since 2016, when it overtook United Kingdom.
- In 2023, Belgium ranked 32 and United Kingdom ranked 42 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Belgium at 91.4 years and United Kingdom at 90.6 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Belgium | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82.1 | 81.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 81.2 | 81.1 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 81.7 | 80.7 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 80.8 | 80.4 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 81.8 | 81.4 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 81.5 | 81.1 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 81.4 | 81.2 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 81.3 | 81.1 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 80.9 | 80.9 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 81.1 | 81.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 80.5 | 80.9 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 80.3 | 80.9 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 80.4 | 80.8 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 80 | 80.4 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 79.9 | 80.2 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 79.6 | 79.7 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 79.5 | 79.5 | 69 |
| 2006 | 79.4 | 79.4 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 79.1 | 79.1 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 79 | 78.9 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 78.3 | 78.3 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 78.2 | 78.2 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 78.1 | 78.1 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 77.8 | 77.9 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 77.7 | 77.4 | 66 |
| 1998 | 77.5 | 77.3 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 77.4 | 77.1 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 77.2 | 76.9 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 76.8 | 76.6 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 76.7 | 76.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 76.4 | 76.2 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 76.4 | 76.3 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 76.2 | 75.9 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 76.1 | 75.7 | 64 |
| 1989 | 75.7 | 75.4 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 75.6 | 75.3 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 75.3 | 75.2 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 74.7 | 74.8 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 74.5 | 74.5 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 74.4 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 73.9 | 74.3 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 73.9 | 74 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 73.7 | 73.9 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 73.2 | 73.6 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 73.2 | 73.2 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 72.7 | 73 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 72.8 | 73.1 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 72.1 | 72.6 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 72 | 72.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 72 | 72.4 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 71.6 | 72.2 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 71.4 | 72 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 71.1 | 72.2 | 56 |
| 1970 | 70.9 | 71.9 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 70.7 | 71.7 | 56 |
| 1968 | 70.6 | 71.7 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 70.9 | 72.1 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 70.6 | 71.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 70.6 | 71.5 | 54 |
| 1964 | 70.7 | 71.5 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 70 | 70.8 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 70.2 | 70.9 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 70.5 | 70.8 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 69.6 | 71 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 70.3 | 70.8 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 69.9 | 70.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 69.2 | 70.5 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 68.8 | 70.4 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 68.6 | 70.1 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 68.6 | 70.2 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 68.4 | 69.8 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 68 | 69.5 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 66.8 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 66.3 | 68.6 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | 65.4 | 68.1 | – |
| 1948 | 64.9 | 68.4 | – |
| 1947 | 63.4 | 66.4 | – |
| 1946 | 61.9 | 66.2 | – |
| 1945 | 58.3 | 65.8 | – |
| 1944 | 56.9 | 64.8 | – |
| 1943 | 60.3 | 64 | – |
| 1942 | 59.1 | 64 | – |
| 1941 | 58.7 | 61.3 | – |
| 1940 | 56 | 60.9 | – |
| 1939 | 60.1 | 63.6 | – |
| 1938 | 60.1 | 63.2 | – |
| 1937 | 60 | 61.8 | – |
| 1936 | 59.9 | 61.8 | – |
| 1935 | 59.9 | 62 | – |
| 1934 | 60.3 | 61.3 | – |
| 1933 | 58.7 | 60.6 | – |
| 1932 | 58.5 | 60.5 | – |
| 1931 | 58.4 | 60 | – |
| 1930 | 57.1 | 60.8 | – |
| 1929 | 55 | 57.6 | – |
| 1928 | 57.5 | 59.9 | – |
| 1927 | 57.1 | 59 | – |
| 1926 | 56.9 | 59.6 | – |
| 1925 | 57.1 | 58.4 | – |
| 1924 | 57.4 | 58.1 | – |
| 1923 | 56.7 | 59.3 | – |
| 1922 | 55.2 | 57 | – |
| 1921 | 54.7 | 58.1 | – |
| 1920 | 54 | 57.3 | – |
| 1919 | 49.3 | 54.3 | – |
| 1918 | – | 47.3 | – |
| 1917 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1916 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | – | 51.2 | – |
| 1914 | – | 53.2 | – |
| 1913 | 52.5 | 53.4 | – |
| 1912 | 52.3 | 54.3 | – |
| 1911 | 49.3 | 51.2 | – |
| 1910 | 51.3 | 53.3 | – |
| 1909 | 50.7 | 51.7 | – |
| 1908 | 49.7 | 51 | – |
| 1907 | 51.1 | 50.6 | – |
| 1906 | 49.7 | 49.6 | – |
| 1905 | 50 | 49.9 | – |
| 1904 | 49.3 | 48.2 | – |
| 1903 | 49.2 | 49.5 | – |
| 1902 | 49.1 | 48.4 | – |
| 1901 | 49.4 | 46.9 | – |
| 1900 | 46.7 | 45.6 | – |
| 1899 | 46.5 | 45.2 | – |
| 1898 | 48.1 | 46.1 | – |
| 1897 | 48.8 | 46.5 | – |
| 1896 | 48.1 | 47.1 | – |
| 1895 | 45.5 | 45.4 | – |
| 1894 | 46.6 | 48.3 | – |
| 1893 | 44.4 | 44.7 | – |
| 1892 | 43.2 | 45.6 | – |
| 1891 | 44 | 44.4 | – |
| 1890 | 44.1 | 44.1 | – |
| 1889 | 45.1 | 45.9 | – |
| 1888 | 44.9 | 46.3 | – |
| 1887 | 46.1 | 45.1 | – |
| 1886 | 43.4 | 44.6 | – |
| 1885 | 45.5 | 44.6 | – |
| 1884 | 44.2 | 43.6 | – |
| 1883 | 44.9 | 44 | – |
| 1882 | 45.6 | 44 | – |
| 1881 | 44.4 | 45.1 | – |
| 1880 | 42.5 | 43 | – |
| 1879 | 43.8 | 43.5 | – |
| 1878 | 44.2 | 42 | – |
| 1877 | 44.5 | 43.7 | – |
| 1876 | 43.7 | 42.7 | – |
| 1875 | 42.2 | 41.5 | – |
| 1874 | 44.7 | 42.1 | – |
| 1873 | 43.5 | 43.3 | – |
| 1872 | 40 | 42.7 | – |
| 1871 | 34.4 | 41.1 | – |
| 1870 | 40.9 | 40.6 | – |
| 1869 | 42.6 | 41.3 | – |
| 1868 | 42.6 | 41.7 | – |
| 1867 | 43.1 | 42 | – |
| 1866 | 32.5 | 40.1 | – |
| 1865 | 37.7 | 39.8 | – |
| 1864 | 39.8 | 39.6 | – |
| 1863 | 41.3 | 40.4 | – |
| 1862 | 43.1 | 42.1 | – |
| 1861 | 41.3 | 41.6 | – |
| 1860 | 45.1 | 42 | – |
| 1859 | 39 | 40.4 | – |
| 1858 | 40.2 | 39.6 | – |
| 1857 | 40.5 | 40.9 | – |
| 1856 | 40.9 | 42.5 | – |
| 1855 | 37.5 | 40.7 | – |
| 1854 | 39.8 | 39.5 | – |
| 1853 | 41.4 | 40 | – |
| 1852 | 41.8 | 40.4 | – |
| 1851 | 41.9 | 41 | – |
| 1850 | 42.3 | 42.8 | – |
| 1849 | 34.5 | 37.7 | – |
| 1848 | 38.1 | 39.9 | – |
| 1847 | 35.1 | 38.5 | – |
| 1846 | 37.9 | 40.2 | – |
| 1845 | 41.1 | 42.2 | – |
| 1844 | 41.9 | 41.2 | – |
| 1843 | 40.4 | 41.6 | – |
| 1842 | 38.7 | 41 | – |
| 1841 | 40.3 | – | – |
| 1838 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1833 | – | 40.9 | – |
| 1828 | – | 41.4 | – |
| 1823 | – | 40.5 | – |
| 1818 | – | 40.8 | – |
| 1813 | – | 41.3 | – |
| 1808 | – | 40.6 | – |
| 1803 | – | 40 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Belgium | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.381.4–83.2 | 81.580.6–82.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 82.481.1–83.7 | 81.680.3–82.8 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 82.681–84.1 | 81.880.2–83.3 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 82.781–84.5 | 81.980–83.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 82.980.9–84.9 | 8279.9–83.9 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 83.180.8–85.1 | 82.279.9–84.3 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 83.280.8–85.4 | 82.479.9–84.6 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 83.480.8–85.7 | 82.579.9–84.9 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 83.580.7–85.9 | 82.779.9–85.1 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 83.780.9–86.3 | 82.879.9–85.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 83.880.9–86.5 | 82.979.9–85.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 83.980.9–86.6 | 83.179.8–85.9 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 84.181–86.9 | 83.279.9–86.1 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 84.281.1–87.2 | 83.479.9–86.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 84.381.1–87.5 | 83.579.8–86.5 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 84.581.1–87.7 | 83.679.8–86.7 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 84.681.1–88 | 83.879.8–87 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 84.781.2–88.2 | 83.980–87.3 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 84.981.2–88.5 | 8479.9–87.6 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 8581.4–88.7 | 84.279.9–87.8 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 85.181.4–89 | 84.379.9–88 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 85.381.4–89.2 | 84.579.9–88.3 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 85.481.3–89.4 | 84.680.2–88.4 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 85.581.4–89.7 | 84.780–88.6 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 85.681.4–89.9 | 84.880.1–88.9 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 85.781.5–90.2 | 84.980.2–89.1 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 85.981.6–90.2 | 85.180.2–89.2 | 77 |
| 2051 | 8681.7–90.3 | 85.280.4–89.5 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 86.181.8–90.6 | 85.380.6–89.7 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 86.281.8–90.8 | 85.580.7–90 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 86.381.8–91 | 85.680.8–90.2 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 86.581.8–91.1 | 85.780.8–90.4 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 86.682–91.4 | 85.880.8–90.5 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 86.782–91.7 | 85.980.8–90.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 86.882.1–91.9 | 86.180.9–91 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 86.982.1–92.2 | 86.281.1–91.1 | 78 |
| 2060 | 87.182.3–92.4 | 86.381.1–91.3 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 87.282.5–92.6 | 86.481.2–91.5 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 87.382.5–92.9 | 86.581.3–91.8 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 87.482.6–92.9 | 86.681.4–92 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 87.582.7–93 | 86.881.3–92.2 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 87.682.7–93.2 | 86.981.6–92.4 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 87.782.7–93.5 | 8781.7–92.5 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 87.882.7–93.6 | 87.181.8–92.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 87.982.9–93.7 | 87.281.7–92.9 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 88.182.8–93.9 | 87.381.9–93.1 | 79 |
| 2070 | 88.283–94.1 | 87.481.9–93.4 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 88.383–94.1 | 87.582.2–93.4 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 88.483.1–94.4 | 87.682.1–93.7 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 88.583.2–94.4 | 87.882.3–93.8 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 88.683.2–94.5 | 87.982.3–93.9 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 88.783.1–94.8 | 8882.4–94 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 88.883.2–94.9 | 88.182.3–94.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 88.983.3–95.1 | 88.282.4–94.5 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 8983.1–95.3 | 88.382.6–94.7 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 89.283.3–95.5 | 88.482.5–94.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 89.383.4–95.7 | 88.582.6–94.9 | 80 |
| 2081 | 89.483.4–95.9 | 88.682.5–95.1 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 89.583.5–96 | 88.782.5–95.4 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 89.683.4–96.2 | 88.882.5–95.5 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 89.783.5–96.4 | 88.982.6–95.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 89.883.4–96.5 | 8982.7–95.8 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 89.983.4–96.8 | 89.182.8–96.2 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 9083.3–96.9 | 89.283–96.4 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 90.183.4–97.1 | 89.382.9–96.6 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 90.383.3–97 | 89.482.9–96.8 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 90.483.4–97.3 | 89.582.9–96.9 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 90.583.4–97.5 | 89.683.1–97 | 81 |
| 2092 | 90.683.6–97.8 | 89.883.1–97.1 | 81 |
| 2093 | 90.783.5–97.9 | 89.983.2–97.2 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 90.883.4–97.9 | 9083.3–97.4 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 90.983.7–98.2 | 90.183.2–97.5 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 9183.6–98.1 | 90.283.3–97.6 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 91.183.9–98.5 | 90.383.4–97.7 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 91.283.9–98.7 | 90.483.5–98 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 91.384–98.9 | 90.583.4–98 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 91.484–98.9 | 90.683.7–98.3 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Belgium vs United Kingdom
Health
- Child mortalityBelgium: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityBelgium: 3.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterBelgium: 99.7% in 2022United Kingdom: 99.8% in 2022
- DepressionBelgium: 4.11% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateBelgium: 14.3 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationBelgium: 11.7 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthBelgium: 0.25% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateBelgium: 1.38 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationBelgium: 87.7% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median ageBelgium: 41.4 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overBelgium: 20.2% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateBelgium: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingBelgium: 2.01% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsBelgium: $13.6B in 2025United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personBelgium: $1,237 in 2025United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingBelgium: 3.7% of government spending in 2025United Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelBelgium: 24,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerBelgium: 0.22% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersBelgium: 0.47% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsBelgium: 430 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsBelgium: 86 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025