Belgium

Kingdom of Belgium
ISO: BE / null Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)

📊 Quick Facts

Capital
Brussels
Population (2024)
11,977,634
Total Area
30,528 km²
GDP (PPP)
$749.23 billion
Government Type
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Independence
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

🌍 Geography

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

Area & Boundaries

Total Area 30,528 km²
Land Area 30,278 km²
Water Area 250 km²
World Rank by Area #null
Land Boundaries 1,297 km
Coastline 66.5 km

Bordering Countries

France (556 km)

Terrain & Climate

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

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

Elevation

Highest Point : N/Am
Lowest Point : nullm
Mean Elevation 181m

Natural Resources

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land

👥 Demographics

Population Overview

Total Population (2024) 11,977,634
World Rank #null
Growth Rate 0.53%
Urbanization null%

Age & Life Expectancy

Median Age 42 years
Life Expectancy null years
Birth Rate 10.8 per 1,000
Death Rate 9.5 per 1,000

Major Urban Areas

Education

Literacy Rate: null% (Male: null%, Female: null%)

💼 Economy

<p>high-income, core EU and eurozone economy; slow growth with weakened domestic consumption and export demand; high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending; aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates</p>

GDP & Economic Indicators

GDP (PPP) $749.23 billion
GDP (Official Rate) $664.56 billion
GDP per Capita (PPP) $63,100
World GDP Rank #null
GDP Growth Rate 1%
Unemployment Rate null%
Inflation Rate 3.1%
Public Debt (% of GDP) null%

GDP Composition by Sector

Agriculture 0.8%
Industry 17.6%
Services 72.1%

Major Industries

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

Trade

Exports N/A
Imports N/A
Foreign Exchange Reserves N/A
Currency (null)

🏛️ Government

Government Type federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive Branch

Chief of State:

Head of Government:

Legislative Branch

National Holiday

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

📈 Social Indicators

Physicians 6.53 per 1,000
Hospital Beds 5.5 per 1,000
Health Expenditure 11% of GDP
Education Expenditure 6.3% of GDP

🎨 Cultural Heritage

UNESCO World Heritage Sites 16

Notable Sites

Data Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank, United Nations, IMF, OECD
Reference Year: 2024
Last Updated: 2026-01-11