Belgium - BE - BEL - BEL - Europe

Last updated: April 16, 2024

Belgium Images

The historic center of Brugge (Bruges) is interwoven by canals. The Dijver Canal connects the old part of the city with the outer canal ring, which ultimately connects to the North Sea.
This satellite photo shows Northwest Europe. Visible are the Republic of Ireland (top leftmost), the United Kingdom (top left), France (middle left), Belgium (middle), the Netherlands (top middle), Germany (right), Denmark (top right), Luxembourg (between France, Germany, and Belgium), Switzerland (bottom middle), Italy (bottom middle), and Austria (bottom right); the latter three all cloud covered. Image courtesy of NASA.
Sightseeing boat on a Brugge canal. The name of Brugge, often called the Venice of the North, is believed to come from the Old Norse word Bryggia meaning 'mooring place.' The canals were important in getting trading goods to their destination. Today, they are used exclusively for tourist boats.
A bridge over a quiet Brugge canal.
Weather vanes, tall windows, and distinctive roof lines along a Brugge canal.
The Church of Our Lady in Brugge. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, it contains both Romanesque and Gothic features; its spire stretches upward for 122 m (401 ft) and remains the tallest structure in the city. The interior contains many important works of art.
At the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival in Brugge. The festival runs from the end of November until the middle of January and is located on Station Square.
Antwerp's City Hall (Stadhuis) stands on the western side of the Grote Markt (Great Market Square). Built between 1561 and 1565, it displays both Flemish and Italian architectural influences.
The Saint-Cyr House in Brussels was built between 1901-03 for painter Georges de Saint-Cyr; it is an Art Nouveau masterpiece.
The uppermost window of the Saint-Cyr House in Brussels
L'Orangerie (a greenhouse to grow oranges or other tropical fruit) at the Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens) just north of Brussels.
The Grand Place (Grand Square) or Grote Markt (Grand Market) is the central square of Brussels; it is bounded by opulent guildhalls and two major edifices, the Hotel de Ville/Stadhuis (City Hall) and the King's House or Breadhouse building that houses the Brussels City Museum. Measuring 68 by 110 m (223 by 361 ft), the Grand Place is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. Considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
The Hotel de Ville/Stadhuis (City Hall) with Winter Festival lighting.
The imposing main tower of the Hotel de Ville/Stadhuis (City Hall) in Brussels. Built in the Gothic style, parts of the structure date back to the early 15th century. Its spire is topped by a gilt metal statue of the Archangel Michael, patron saint of Brussels. The facade is decorated with statues of nobles, saints, and allegorical figures.
The Maison du Roi (King's House) or Broodhuis (Breadhouse) on the Grand Place/Grote Markt in Brussels houses the Brussels City Museum. The Grand Place (or Grand Square) is the central square of Brussels; it is bounded by opulent guildhalls and two major edifices, the city's Town Hall and the King's House or Breadhouse building. Measuring 68 by 110 m (223 by 361 ft), the Grand Place is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. Considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
Six guild houses on the northeast side of the Grand Place/Grote Markt in Brussels. From right to left they are: Le Cerf, Joseph et Anne, L'Ange, La Chaloupe d'Or, Le Pigeon, and Le Marchand d'Or.
A statue of Saint Homobonus of Cremona, patron saint of tailors, caps the House of the Corporation of Tailors in the Grand Place/Grote Markt in Brussels. The house is also referred to as La Chaloupe d'Or/De Gulden Boot (The Golden Boat).
Evening view in the Grand Place/Grote Markt in Brussels; the Hotel de Ville/Stadhuis (City Hall) is on the left.
Our Lady of the Sablon Church in Brussels was built in the 15th century in a late Gothic style known as Brabantine. It is renowned for its brightly colored stained-glass windows.
The Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, located in the Sablon/Zavel district in the historic center of Brussels, dates to the 15th century. Its distinctive style is characterized as late Brabantine Gothic.
The Church of Our Lady of the Sablon, located in the Sablon/Zavel district in the historic center of Brussels, dates to the 15th century. Its distinctive style is characterized as late Brabantine Gothic.
The Sablon is a neighborhood and hill in the historic upper town of Brussels. At its heart are the twin squares of the larger Grand Sablon (Large Sablon) square in the northwest and the smaller Petit Sablon (Small Sablon) square and garden in the southeast, divided by the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon. In the center of the Petit Sablon gardenlies a fountain of Counts Edgmont and Horne, who were symbols of resistance against Spanish tyranny that sparked the Dutch Revolt in the 16th century.
The fence around the Petit Sablon garden is punctuated by tall stone pillars; atop each pillar is a statue of one or more historical professions.
Manneken Pis is a landmark 61 cm (24 in) bronze fountain sculpture in the center of Brussels, depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Erected in 1618 or 1619, the current statue is a replica that dates from 1965. The original is preserved in the Brussels City Museum. While Manneken Pis is one of the best-known attractions of Brussels, many tourists are taken aback by its small size.
Rooftop view of Antwerp with the distinctive Gothic steeple of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (the Cathedral of Our Lady) in the distance. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Michael Theberge.
A close-up of the distinctive Gothic steeple of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (the Cathedral of Our Lady) in Antwerp. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Michael Theberge.
A view of Antwerp showing the Het Steen fortress in the middle distance. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Michael Theberge.
The expansive Market Square in Brugge (Bruges). The city is famous for its lace industry and canals. Market Square is the central gathering point for tourists and shops.
Outdoor cafes in the Brugge (Bruges) Market Square as seen from the Belfort, the city's medieval belfry.
The historic center of Brugge (Bruges) is interwoven by canals. The Dijver Canal connects the old part of the city with the outer canal ring, which ultimately connects to the North Sea.
This satellite photo shows Northwest Europe. Visible are the Republic of Ireland (top leftmost), the United Kingdom (top left), France (middle left), Belgium (middle), the Netherlands (top middle), Germany (right), Denmark (top right), Luxembourg (between France, Germany, and Belgium), Switzerland (bottom middle), Italy (bottom middle), and Austria (bottom right); the latter three all cloud covered. Image courtesy of NASA.

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Belgium Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ADLER (since 15 March 2022)

embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels

mailing address: 7600 Brussels Place, Washington DC 20521-7600

telephone: [32] (2) 811-4000

FAX: [32] (2) 811-4500

email address and website:
uscitizenBrussels@state.gov

https://be.usembassy.gov/

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.03% (male 1,038,921/female 990,288)

15-64 years: 63.06% (male 3,788,406/female 3,724,202)

65 years and over: 19.91% (2023 est.) (male 1,049,402/female 1,322,414)

This is the population pyramid for Belgium. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Heliports

108 (2024)

Natural hazards

flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Area - comparative

about the size of Maryland

about the size of Maryland

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 1995 (2024)

note 1: in 2023, women comprised nearly 11% of the military's full-time personnel

note 2: foreign nationals 18-34 years of age who speak Dutch or French and are citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland may apply to join the military

Background

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country has since prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, longstanding tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.

Environment - current issues

intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Population below poverty line

13.2% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7%

highest 10%: 21.4% (2020 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

vaccines and cultures, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, diamonds, natural gas (2021)

note: Belgian amphetamine production and MDMA (ecstasy) production remain significant illicit trade commodities

Exports - partners

Germany 17%, France 14%, Netherlands 13%, United Kingdom 8%, United States 6%, Italy 5% (2019)

Administrative divisions

3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)

note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities

Agricultural products

sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, poultry, maize, barley, pears

Military and security forces

Belgian Armed Forces (Defensie or La Défense): Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Component (2024)

note: the Belgian Federal Police is the national police force and responsible for internal security and nationwide law and order, including migration and border enforcement; the force reports to the ministers of interior and justice

Budget

revenues: $267.105 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $277.492 billion (2019 est.)

Capital

name: Brussels

geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: may derive from the Old Dutch bruoc/broek, meaning "marsh" and sella/zele/sel signifying "home" to express the meaning "home in the marsh"

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, natural gas (2019)

Climate

temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Coastline

66.5 km

Constitution

history: drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state)

amendments: "revisions" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament; amended many times, last in 2019

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH (daughter of the monarch, born 25 October 2001)

head of government: Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 1 October 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Paul Van TIGCHELT (since 22 October 2023), Vincent VAN PETEGHEM, Frank VANDENBROUCKE, Pierre-Yves DERMAGNE, Petra DE SUTTER, Georges GILKINET (all since 1 October 2020), David CLARINVAL (since 15 July 2022)

cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by Parliament

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)

Illicit drugs

a transit point for precursor chemicals from China and India destined for clandestine synthetic drug laboratories in the Netherlands and to some labs in Belgium; a primary entry point for cocaine into Europe; one of the top methamphetamine producers in Europe; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

Independence

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

Industries

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace

Land boundaries

total: 1,297 km

border countries (4): France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km

Land use

agricultural land: 44.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 16.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 22.4% (2018 est.)

other: 33.5% (2018 est.)

Legal system

civil law system based on the French Civil Code; note - Belgian law continues to be modified in conformance with the legislative norms mandated by the European Union; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate or Senaat (in Dutch), Senat (in French) (60 seats; 50 members indirectly elected by the community and regional parliaments based on their election results, and 10 elected by the 50 other senators; members serve 5-year terms)
Chamber of Representatives or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers (in Dutch), Chambre des Representants (in French) (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 26 May 2019 (next to be held on 9 June 2024)
Chamber of Representatives - last held on 26 May 2019 (next to be held on 9 June 2024); note - elections coincided with the EU parliamentary elections

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 15%, VB 12%, PS 12%, MR 12%, CD&V 8.3%, Open VLD 8.3%, Ecolo 15%, SP.A 6.7%, CDH 3.3%, PVDA-PTB 8.3%; seats by party - N-VA 9, VB 7, PS 7, MR 7, CD&V 5, Open VLD 5, Ecolo 9, SP.A 4, CDH 2, PVDA-PTB 5; composition as of February 2024 - men 34, women 26, percent percentage women 43.3%

Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N-VA 16.7%, VB 12%, PS 13.3%, CD&V 8%, PVDA-PTB 8%, Open VLD 8%, MR 9.3%, SP.A 6%, Ecolo 8.7%, Green 5.3%, CDH 3.3%, Defi 1.3%; seats by party - N-VA 25, VB 18, PS 20, CD&V 12, PVDA+PTB 12, Open VLD 12, MR 14, SP.A 9, Ecolo 13, Green 8, CDH 5, Defi 2; composition as of February 2024 - men 86, women 64, percent age women 42.7%; note - total Parliament percentage women 42.9%

note: the 1993 constitutional revision that further devolved Belgium into a federal state created three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments, each with its own legislative assembly; changes above occurred since the sixth state reform

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

continental shelf: median line with neighbors

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831)

Nationality

noun: Belgian(s)

adjective: Belgian

Natural resources

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land

Geography - note

crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the EU and NATO

Economic overview

high income economy with strong but moderate growth; high public debt; aging labor force; low labor force participation of low-skilled, migrant, and older workers; strong welfare system; high congestion; complex business permitting and judicial systems

Pipelines

3,139 km gas, 154 km oil, 535 km refined products (2013)

Political parties and leaders

Flemish parties:
Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V [Sammy MAHDI]
Vooruit or Forward [Melissa DEPRAETERE] (formerly Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A)
Groen or Green [Nadia NAJI and Jeremie VANEECKHOUT] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens)
New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]
Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Tom ONGENA]
Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Tom VAN GRIEKEN]
Francophone parties:
Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Marc NOLLET and Rajae MAOUANE]
Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi [Francois DE SMET]
Les Engages [Maxime PREVOT] (formerly Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH)
Reform Movement or MR [George-Louis BOUCHEZ]
Socialist Party or PS [Paul MAGNETTE]
Workers' Party or PVDA-PTB [Raoul HEDEBOUW]

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Oostende, Zeebrugge

container port(s) (TEUs): Antwerp (12,020,000) (2021)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Zeebrugge

river port(s): Antwerp, Gent (Schelde River)

Brussels (Senne River) Liege (Meuse River)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: mobile networks have been upgraded to support growing mobile data use among subscribers, with near-comprehensive LTE coverage; operators have also trialed 5G in preparation for launching services; the auction of 5G-suitable spectrum has been delayed to the beginning of 2022, while the onerous restrictions on radiation have meant that some 5G trials have been suspended; there is effective competition in Belgium between the DSL and cable platforms, while in recent years government support has also encouraged investment in fiber networks; in a bid to encourage investment in under served areas, the regulator in 2018 amended the conditions by which market players grant wholesale access to copper and fiber infrastructure; in May 2019 it opened a further consultation on cost models for access to the networks of cablecos and fiber infrastructure (2021)

domestic: about 28 per 100 fixed-line and 101 per 100 mobile-cellular; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network (2021)

international: country code - 32; landing points for Concerto, UK-Belgium, Tangerine, and SeaMeWe-3, submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2019)

Terrain

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium

conventional short form: Belgium

local long form: Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)

local short form: Belgique/Belgie/Belgien

etymology: the name derives from the Belgae, an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C.

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Map references

Europe

Irrigated land

57 sq km (2013)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Arthur REGIBEAU (since 17 September 2020)

chancery: 1430 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005

telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900

FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960

email address and website:
Washington@diplobel.fed.be

https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York

Internet country code

.be

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 20,086 (Syria), 7,049 (Afghanistan), 5,769 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 75,030 (Ukraine) (as of 29 February 2024)

stateless persons: 1,190 (2022)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$583.436 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: AA- (2016)

Moody's rating: Aa3 (2011)

Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

18.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years

male: 18 years

female: 20 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

a segmented market with the three major communities (Flemish, French, and German speaking) each having responsibility for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community; additionally, in excess of 90% of households are connected to cable and can access broadcasts of TV stations from neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network coexisting with private broadcasters

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)

lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET [French] and Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT

note: adopted 1830; according to legend, Louis-Alexandre DECHET, an actor at the theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began, wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Belgium. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physicians density

6.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

5.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)

National symbol(s)

golden rampant lion; national colors: red, black, yellow

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.2 years (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

66.7% (2018)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 51.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 23.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.3% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 85.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -84.4% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56.5

youth dependency ratio: 26.1

elderly dependency ratio: 30.4

potential support ratio: 3.3 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belgium

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Population distribution

most of the population 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; approximately 97% live in urban areas

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 7 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 117

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 13,639,487 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,285,340,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.)

Languages

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%

major-language sample(s):
Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

French audio sample

Dutch audio sample

Imports - partners

Netherlands 16%, Germany 13%, France 10%, United States 8%, Ireland 5%, China 5% (2019)

Disputes - international

none identified

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Elevation

highest point: Botrange 694 m

lowest point: North Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 181 m

Current health expenditure

11.1% of GDP (2020)

Military - note

the Belgian military’s responsibilities include territorial defense, humanitarian/disaster relief, assistance to the police if required, international peacekeeping missions, and support to its NATO and EU security commitments, which Belgium considers vital components of its national security policy; outside of the country, the military operates almost always within an international organization or a coalition, such as its ongoing deployments to Africa for the EU and UN, eastern Europe as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission, and the Middle East with an international coalition to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; Belgium was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949; it hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels; Belgium also cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in conducting joint patrols of their respective air spaces and in a composite combined special operations command with Denmark and the Netherlands

the Belgian military is a small, professional, and all-volunteer force equipped with modern Western equipment; the Land Component’s combat forces are a motorized brigade and a special operations regiment; the Marine Component is a compact but active force that conducts a variety of missions ranging from territorial water patrols to humanitarian and counterpiracy operations, as well as support to multinational security operations; it has two frigates, which are supported by several patrol boats and mine warfare vessels; the Air Component has about 50 US-made F-16 fighter aircraft, which are slated to be replaced by US F-35 stealth multirole fighter aircraft by 2025 (2023)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active-duty personnel (10,000 Land Component; 1,500 Marine Component; 5,000 Air Force Component; 1,500 Medical Component; 7,000 other, including joint staff, support, and training schools) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the armed forces have a mix of weapons systems from European countries, Israel, and the US; Belgium has an export-focused defense industry that focuses on components and subcontracting (2024)

Military deployments

125 France (EuroCorps); 325 Eastern Europe (NATO); 100 Middle East; 325 Niger (2023)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 740 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 3.47 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.708 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,614,985 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.3% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 13.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 4.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 11.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 96.89 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 7.78 megatons (2020 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 16 (15 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

Coal

production: 1.105 million metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 4.167 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 504,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 3.467 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 33.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 38.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 5.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 15% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 7.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Natural gas

production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 18.17 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 3.943 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

imports: 22.61 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 11,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 642,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 666,700 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.86 (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

43.2% (2023 est.)

Remittances

2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.28% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.44% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 5 (2023)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 0

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.93GW (2023)

Percent of total electricity production: 50.8% (2021)

Percent of total energy produced: 71% (2021)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2

Space program overview

founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA), which acts as the de facto Belgian space agency as most programs are carried out under the ESA or bi-laterally with its member states; builds satellites, particularly research/science/technology and remote sensing (RS) platforms; also researches, develops, and produces a wide variety of other space technologies, including telecommunications, optics, robotics, scientific instruments, and space launch vehicle (SLV) components; supports the ESA’s SLV program with economic assistance (6% of the funding for the Ariane-5 SLV, for example), as well as legal, scientific, and technological expertise; hosts the European Space Security and Education Center (established 1968); participates in international astronomy efforts, particularly through the European Southern Observatory (ESO); participates in multiple ESA and EU space-related programs and research efforts; in addition to the ESA and EU, has cooperated with a variety foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, China, India, Russia, South Africa, UAE, Vietnam, and the US (2023)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Space agency/agencies

Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy-Interfederal Space Agency of Belgium (BIRA-IASB; established 1964; IASB added 2017); Belgium Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) (2023)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks: Famenne-Ardenne; Schelde Delta (includes Netherlands) (2024)

Labor force

5.374 million (2022 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 19.6% (2021 est.)

male: 18.9%

female: 20.4%

Net migration rate

4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 41.9 years (2023 est.)

male: 40.7 years

female: 43 years

Debt - external

$1,317,513,000,000 (2019 est.)
$1,332,358,000,000 (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$41.274 billion (2022 est.)
$41.872 billion (2021 est.)
$33.296 billion (2020 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Waterways

2,043 km (2012) (1,528 km in regular commercial use)

Refined petroleum products - imports

601,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Public debt

108.06% of GDP (2021 est.)
119.24% of GDP (2020 est.)
103.38% of GDP (2019 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022)
1.1% of GDP (2021)
1% of GDP (2020)
0.9% of GDP (2019)

Unemployment rate

5.56% (2022 est.)
6.26% (2021 est.)
5.55% (2020 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

11,913,633 (2023 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Internet users

total: 10.92 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 91% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

128.247 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.301 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 83.474 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 34.472 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Area

total: 30,528 sq km

land: 30,278 sq km

water: 250 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

23.1% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$622.704 billion (2022 est.)
$604.509 billion (2021 est.)
$565.749 billion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Roadways

total: 118,414 km

paved: 118,414 km (2015) (includes 1,747 km of expressways)

Airports

49 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 11,740,118 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

26 (2020 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.6% (2022 est.)
2.44% (2021 est.)
0.74% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Refined petroleum products - exports

680,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Current account balance

-$5.304 billion (2022 est.)
$8.233 billion (2021 est.)
$7.325 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$53,300 (2022 est.)
$52,200 (2021 est.)
$49,000 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 4,734,210 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 23.4% (2020 est.)

male: 25.8% (2020 est.)

female: 21% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.1% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

234.216 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Death rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Birth rate

10.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 26.929 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 81,171,300,000 kWh (2020 est.)

exports: 14.053 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 13.394 billion kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 3.444 billion kWh (2020 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 198 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 2, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 142

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1% (2014/15)

Imports

$567.164 billion (2022 est.)
$516.8 billion (2021 est.)
$403.359 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$558.271 billion (2022 est.)
$527.746 billion (2021 est.)
$413.773 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,952,930 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

731,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 79.5 years

female: 84.8 years

Real GDP growth rate

3.01% (2022 est.)
6.85% (2021 est.)
-5.26% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-0.1% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 3,602 km (2020) 3,160 km electrified

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.)

industry: 22.1% (2017 est.)

services: 77.2% (2017 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.55% (2023 est.)

Sources: