Belgium

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief, drainage, and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups and languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- The Spanish Netherlands
  - Administration
  - Economic developments
- The Austrian Netherlands
- French administration
- The Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Independent Belgium before World War I
  - Liberal dominance
  - Period of Catholic government
- Through two world wars
  - Belgium and World War I
  - The interwar period
  - Nazi occupation
- Belgium after World War II
- Federalized Belgium

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Exploring Antwerp, Belgium

Belgium: National composition

ethnic and linguistic composition of Belgium

Belgium: Religious affiliation

For Students

Belgium summary

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Belgium: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2025

News •

Canada to join major European rearmament deal as early as June 23: sources • June 13, 2025, 11:32 AM ET (CBC)

Fewer people from India, Britain and Poland look for jobs in NL • June 11, 2025, 11:53 PM ET (DutchNews.nl)

Wales fan released from Belgium hospital after stadium fall • June 11, 2025, 2:58 AM ET (BBC)

Football: Soccer-World Cup dream is still alive despite loss to Belgium, Wales manager Bellamy says • June 10, 2025, 2:22 AM ET (The Star)

Football: Soccer-De Bruyne to the rescue as Belgium hold off gallant Welsh fightback • June 10, 2025, 2:22 AM ET (The Star)

Facts

Also Known As	Koninkrijk België • Königreich Belgien • Kingdom of Belgium • Royaume de Belgique
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Alexander De Croo
Capital	Brussels
Population	(2024 est.) 11,863,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 0.937 euro
Head Of State	King Philippe
Form Of Government	federal constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses (Senate [60¹]; House of Representatives [150])
Official Languages	Dutch; French; German
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Koninkrijk België (Dutch); Royaume de Belgique (French); Königreich Belgien (German) (Kingdom of Belgium)
Total Area (Sq Km)	30,689
Total Area (Sq Mi)	11,849
Monetary Unit	euro (€)
Population Rank	(2025) 84
Population Projection 2030	11,905,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2024) 1,001.2
Density: Persons Per Km	(2024) 386.6
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 98.2% • Rural: (2024) 1.8%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 79.5 years • Female: (2022) 83.8 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: 100% • Female: 100%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 643,394
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 54,580
¹In May 2014 membership decreased from 71 to 60; regional and community parliaments select 50 members; those members select the remaining 10.

Photos and Videos

ethnic and linguistic composition of Belgium

Belgium: royal family

Exploring Antwerp, Belgium

How to make Belgian chocolates

National anthem of Belgium

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

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Map showing the countries of Europe with national capitals and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.

Europe

continent

Limburg

province, Belgium

Antwerp

province, Belgium

East Flanders

province, Belgium

Hainaut

province, Belgium

Luxembourg

province, Belgium

Malmédy

Belgium

Flemish Brabant

province, Belgium

Namur

province, Belgium

Dinant

Belgium

Liège

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Walloon Brabant

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Turnhout

Belgium

Quiz

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The Country Quiz

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Countries of the World

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You Name It!

7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia

Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz

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Geography Fun Facts

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Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz

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Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz

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Countries & Their Features

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List

Guild houses along the Lys River in Ghent, Belgium.

11 Buildings That Reveal Belgium’s History