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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 (2009)

Internet country code [time series]

.be

Internet users [time series]

total: 9,870,734 | percent of population: 86.5% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities | domestic: nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network | international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 4,371,055 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 12,457,820 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Budget [time series]

revenues: $236.9 billion | expenditures: $249.1 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-2.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Central bank discount rate [time series]

0.25% (31 December 2016) | 0.3% (31 December 2010) | note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area | country comparison to the world: 139

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

2.01% (31 December 2016 est.) | 2.46% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.849 billion (2016 est.) | $1.936 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Debt - external [time series]

$1.281 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) | $1.214 trillion (31 March 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

25.9 (2013 est.) | 28.7 (1996) | country comparison to the world: 143

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Belgium’s central geographic location and highly developed transport network have helped develop a well-diversified economy, with a broad mix of transport, services, manufacturing, and high tech. Industry is concentrated mainly in the more heavily-populated region of Flanders in the north. Belgium is 100% reliant on foreign sources of fossil fuels, and the planned closure of its seven nuclear plants by 2025 should increase its dependence on foreign energy. Its role as a regional logistical hub makes its economy vulnerable to shifts in foreign demand, particularly with EU trading partners. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries. | Belgium’s GDP grew by 1.4% in 2016, unemployment at yearend was 8.4%, and the budget deficit was 2.7% of GDP. The economy largely recovered from the March 2016 terrorist attacks, which mainly impacted the Brussels region tourist and hospitality industry. Prime Minister Charles MICHEL's center-right government has pledged to further reduce the deficit in response to EU pressure to decrease Belgium's high public debt of about 107% of GDP, but such efforts could also dampen economic growth. In addition to restrained public spending, low wage growth and higher inflation promise to curtail a more robust recovery in private consumption. | The government has pledged to pursue a reform program to improve Belgium’s competitiveness, including changes to tax policy, labor market rules, and welfare benefits. These changes have generally made Belgian wages more competitive regionally, but risk worsening tensions with trade unions and triggering extended strikes.

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.9214 (2016 est.) | 0.885 (2015 est.) | 0.885 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.7752 (2012 est.)

Exports [time series]

$277.7 billion (2016 est.) | $254.8 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Exports - commodities [time series]

chemicals, machinery and equipment, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 16.7%, France 15.4%, Netherlands 11.2%, UK 8.9%, US 5.8%, Italy 5.2% (2016)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$466.6 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$509 billion (2016 est.) | $496.7 billion (2015 est.) | $484.2 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 38

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 0.7% | industry: 22.3% | services: 77% (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$45,000 (2016 est.) | $44,800 (2015 est.) | $44,300 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 36

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

1.2% (2016 est.) | 1.5% (2015 est.) | 1.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Gross national saving [time series]

22.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 23.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | 22.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.4% | highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$271.2 billion (2016 est.) | $251.9 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 16.1%, Germany 13.6%, France 9.5%, US 8.1%, UK 4.8%, Ireland 4.5%, China 4.3% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (2016 est.) | 0.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Labor force [time series]

5.291 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 1.3% | industry: 18.6% | services: 80.1% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$414.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $378.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $374.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Population below poverty line [time series]

15.1% (2013 est.)

Public debt [time series]

106% of GDP (2016 est.) | 106% of GDP (2015 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; general government debt is defined by the Maastricht definition and calculated by the National Bank of Belgium as consolidated gross debt; the debt is defined in European Regulation EC479/2009 concerning the implementation of the protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht) of 7 February 1992; the sub-sectors of consolidated gross debt are: federal government, communities and regions, local government, and social security funds | country comparison to the world: 17

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$23.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $24.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Stock of broad money [time series]

$525.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $524.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$1.016 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.012 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$1.054 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.034 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$684.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $661.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$198 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $181.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders | country comparison to the world: 22

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

50.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.9% (2016 est.) | 8.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

93.62 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Crude oil - imports [time series]

639,500 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 110

Electricity - consumption [time series]

81.96 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - exports [time series]

8.465 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

34.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

28% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

32.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - imports [time series]

14.65 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

21.15 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - production [time series]

64.78 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

23.01 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas - exports [time series]

1.694 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas - imports [time series]

18.81 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

662,400 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

597,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

585,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

701,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 30,528 sq km | land: 30,278 sq km | water: 250 sq km | country comparison to the world: 141

Area - comparative [time series]

about the size of Maryland

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

66.5 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 181 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: North Sea 0 m | highest point: Botrange 694 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

230 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,297 km | border countries (4): France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 44.1% | arable land 27.2%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 16.1% | forest: 22.4% | other: 33.5% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit | continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Citizenship [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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 2014 (2016)

Country name [time series]

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.

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Matthew LUSSENHOP (since 20 January 2017) | embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels | mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 | telephone: [32] (2) 811-4000 | FAX: [32] (2) 811-4500

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dirk Jozef M. WOUTERS (since 16 September 2016) | chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 | FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the monarch | head of government: Prime Minister Charles MICHEL (since 11 October 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Alexander DE CROO (since 22 October 2012), Jan JAMBON (since 11 October 2014), Kris PEETERS, Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008) | 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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)

Government type [time series]

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

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

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

description: bicameral Parliament consists of the 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) and the 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) | 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 | elections: Chamber of Representatives - last held on 25 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019); note - elections will coincide with the EU's elections | election results: Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N-VA 20.3%, PS 11.7%, CD&V 11.6%, Open VLD 9.8%, MR 9.6%, SP.A 8.8%, Groen! 5.3%, CDH 5.0% Workers' Party 3.7%, VB 3.7%, Ecolo 3.3%, Defi 1.8%, PP 1.5%, other 3.9%; seats by party - N-VA 33, PS 23, MR 20, CD&V 18, Open VLD 14, SP.A 13, Groen! 6, CDH 9, Workers' Party 2, VB 3, Ecolo 6, Defi 2, PP 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant) | lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] 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

National holiday [time series]

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V [Wouter BEKE] | Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Gwendolyn RUTTEN] | Groen! [Meyrem ALMACI] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) | New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER] | Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [John CROMBEZ] | Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Tom VAN GRIEKEN] | Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Patrick DUPRIEZ and Zakia KHATTABI] | Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi [Olivier MAINGAIN] | Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Benoit LUTGEN] | People's Party or PP [Mischael MODRIKAMEN] | Reform Movement or MR [Olivier CHASTEL] | Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO] | Workers' Party or PTB [Peter MERTENS] | other minor parties

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Belgian General Federation of Labor or ABVV or FGTB [Rudy DE LEEUW, Marc GOBLET] | Confederation of Christan Trade Unions or ACV or CSC [Marc LEEMANS, Marie-Helene SKA] | Federation of Enterprises in Belgium or VBO or FEB [Pieter TIMMERMANS, Bernard GILLIOT] | other: numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; trade unions; various organizations representing the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as BEPax and groups representing immigrants

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

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

Military and Security

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2012)

Military expenditures [time series]

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1994 (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.16% (male 1,010,201/female 961,994) | 15-24 years: 11.34% (male 665,483/female 637,700) | 25-54 years: 40.05% (male 2,320,845/female 2,281,411) | 55-64 years: 12.86% (male 732,062/female 746,212) | 65 years and over: 18.58% (male 929,594/female 1,205,844) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

66.8% | note: percent of women aged 15-54 (2013)

Death rate [time series]

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 54.2 | youth dependency ratio: 26.2 | elderly dependency ratio: 28 | potential support ratio: 3.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.4% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 30

Ethnic groups [time series]

Belgian 75%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 12.8% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

10.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 18

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.1 years | male: 78.5 years | female: 83.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Major urban areas - population [time series]

BRUSSELS (capital) 2.045 million; Antwerp 994,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Median age [time series]

total: 41.4 years | male: 40.2 years | female: 42.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

28.6 years (2013 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belgian(s) | adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate [time series]

5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

22.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 81

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.97 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population [time series]

11,491,346 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.7% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant and other Christian 2.5%, Muslim 5%, Jewish 0.4%, Buddhist 0.3%, atheist 9.2%, none 32.6% (2009 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 20 years | male: 19 years | female: 21 years (2014)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.78 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 22.1% | male: 23.8% | female: 20% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 97.9% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 9,080 (Syria) (2016) | stateless persons: 2,630 (2016)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

41 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 102

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 26 | over 3,047 m: 6 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | under 914 m: 8 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 15 | under 914 m: 15 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

OO (2016)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 87 | by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, container 4, liquefied gas 23, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 7 | foreign-owned: 15 (Denmark 4, France 7, Russia 1, UK 2, US 1) | registered in other countries: 107 (Bahamas 6, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, France 7, Gibraltar 1, Greece 17, Hong Kong 26, Liberia 1, Luxembourg 11, Malta 7, Marshall Islands 1, Mozambique 2, North Korea 1, Panama 1, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 1, Vanuatu 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 57

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 7 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 117 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,193,023 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,464,316,900 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Oostende, Zeebrugge | river port(s): Antwerp, Gent (Schelde River); Brussels (Senne River); Liege (Meuse River) | container port(s) (TEUs): Antwerp (9,654,000), Zeebrugge (1,569,000) (2015) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Zeebrugge

Railways [time series]

total: 3,592 km | standard gauge: 3,592 km 1.435-m gauge (2,960 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 50

Roadways [time series]

total: 154,012 km | paved: 120,514 km (includes 1,756 km of expressways) | unpaved: 33,498 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 33

Waterways [time series]

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 41