Compare countries & regions
Belgium vs Ireland
Belgium and Ireland side by side — economy, tax, company setup, visas, housing and study, from official and open data.
Belgium
Capital time zone: Europe/Brussels
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Ireland
Capital time zone: Europe/Dublin
Full guide →
Economy & society
| Metric | Belgium | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2024) | 11.86M | 5.40M |
| GDP (current US$) (2024) | $671.37B | $609.16B |
| GDP per capita (2024) | $56,615 | $112,895 |
| GDP growth (annual) (2024) | 1.1% | 2.6% |
| Inflation (annual) (2024) | 3.1% | 2.1% |
| Unemployment (2025) | 5.9% | 4.6% |
| FDI net inflows (2024) | -$41.36B | $4.82B |
Business & tax
| Metric | Belgium | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax General national corporate income tax rate, national surtaxes included — where a surtax starts above a profit threshold (Portugal, France) the rate is a large company's. Sub-national tax is excluded and shown separately where it applies — a cell reading "15.825% +7–20.3% municipal" means the national rate plus a local business tax. "on trading income" and "on distributed profit" mark countries whose headline rate does not reach all profit. | 25% | 12.5% on trading income |
| Top income tax Top marginal rate on employment income, NATIONAL layer only — that is what makes the column comparable. Where a sub-national layer applies it is added to the cell rather than folded into the number, so "20% +29–35% municipal" is Sweden's national rate plus its municipal one. National surtaxes are included (Germany's solidarity surcharge, France's high-income contribution). Social-security contributions are excluded throughout. | 50% +0–4.5% municipal | 48% |
| Capital gains Default rate on long-term gains from listed securities, for an individual. Varies by asset, holding period and residency. Where one percentage cannot state the answer the cell says so instead: "effective" = a fixed share of the gain is taxed as ordinary income; "on deemed return" = the tax falls on a notional return, not on realised gains; "as income" = there is no separate capital-gains tax; "Varies" = no single general rate; "No general CGT" = individuals are not taxed on capital gains, though gains that are trading in nature and gains realised in a business still can be. "Listed shares exempt" = long-term gains on listed shares are exempt while other gains are taxed. National surtaxes are included; a sub-national layer is shown beside the rate ("+5% local"). | 10% | 33% |
| VAT / GST Standard statutory rate. Where one percentage cannot state it the cell says so: "effective" = the statutory rate applies to a reduced tax base; "temporary" = a time-limited rate charged instead of the statutory one, with its end date; "by supply" / "by state" = a band structure with no single standard rate; "No VAT or GST" = the tax does not exist there, which is not a 0% rate. Reduced, zero and exempt categories are not shown. A sub-national sales tax, where one applies on top, is shown beside the rate ("+0–10% provincial"). | 21% | 23% |
| Common entity The private limited-liability form most commonly used by foreign founders. | SRL | Ltd |
| Min. capital Statutory minimum share capital in the local currency, with a USD conversion at the dated reference rate. "None" = no statutory minimum. Often not required to be paid up in full at registration. | — | None |
| Registration fee Government registration fee only, converted to USD. Notary, agent and filing services are not included. | — | $60 |
| Processing days Typical registry processing time once a complete filing is accepted — not the end-to-end setup time. | — | 5 |
| Remote setup Whether registration can be completed without the founder being physically present. | — | Yes |
| Digital nomad visa Whether a dedicated digital-nomad or remote-work visa exists. A country without one may still allow remote work on another status. | No | No |
Figures are headline national values gathered for comparison, not tax or legal advice. Definitions differ between countries — read each row's basis before comparing, and verify against the official authority before acting.
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Frequently asked questions
Which has lower corporate tax, Belgium or Ireland?
Ireland — Belgium 25%%, Ireland 12.5% on trading income%.
How do VAT rates compare in Belgium and Ireland?
Belgium 21%%, Ireland 23%%.
Is Belgium or Ireland wealthier per capita?
Ireland — Belgium $56,615, Ireland $112,895 (World Bank, 2024/2024).
Do Belgium and Ireland offer a digital nomad visa?
Neither does.
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