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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 4,502,950 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2018 est.)

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

Internet country code [time series]

.be

Internet users [time series]

total: 10,258,638 | percent of population: 88.66% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; LTE availability is nearly universal in mobile sector; ongoing investments in developing applications and services for migration to 5G, operators are looking into repurposing 3G infrastructure and spectrum as they gear up for 5G; Europe-wide approach to simultaneous movement to 5G on going; 5G will be main motivation for growth and revenue in years to come; consumer are interested in quad-play/bundled services (broadband +television +telephone +wireless services) which will mean MNOs (mobile network operators) are enhancing their fixed-line offerings (2020) | domestic: 34 per 100 fixed-line, 100 per 100 mobile-cellular; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network (2019) | 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) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 3,967,054 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34.06 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 11,616,970 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99.74 (2019 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 253.5 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 258.6 billion (2017 est.)

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

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

Credit ratings [time series]

Fitch rating: AA- (2016) | Moody's rating: Aa3 (2011) | Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)

Current account balance [time series]

$1.843 billion (2019 est.) | -$4.135 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.281 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) | $1.214 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores [time series]

75.0 (2020)

Economic 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. Service and high-tech industries are concentrated in the northern Flanders region while the southern region of Wallonia is home to industries like coal and steel manufacturing. Belgium is completely 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, and the port of Zeebrugge conducts almost half its trade with the United Kingdom alone, leaving Belgium’s economy vulnerable to the outcome of negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU. Belgium’s GDP grew by 1.7% in 2017 and the budget deficit was 1.5% of GDP. Unemployment stood at 7.3%, however the unemployment rate is lower in Flanders than Wallonia, 4.4% compared to 9.4%, because of industrial differences between the regions. The economy largely recovered from the March 2016 terrorist attacks that 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 104% of GDP, but such efforts would 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 labor market rules and welfare benefits. These changes have generally made Belgian wages more competitive regionally, but have raised tensions with trade unions, which have called for extended strikes. In 2017, Belgium approved a tax reform plan to ease corporate rates from 33% to 29% by 2018 and down to 25% by 2020. The tax plan also included benefits for innovation and SMEs, intended to spur competitiveness and private investment.

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.82771 (2020 est.) | 0.90338 (2019 est.) | 0.87789 (2018 est.) | 0.885 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$474.278 billion (2019 est.) | $469.48 billion (2018 est.) | $466.732 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 16.6%, France 14.9%, Netherlands 12%, UK 8.4%, Italy 4.9%, US 4.8% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$533.028 billion (2019 est.)

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

$493.888 billion (2019 est.) | $485.425 billion (2018 est.) | $476.784 billion (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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.)

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

agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) | industry: 22.1% (2017 est.) | services: 77.2% (2017 est.)

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

$47,478 (2019 est.) | $46,896 (2018 est.) | $46,313 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

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

1.41% (2019 est.) | 1.49% (2018 est.) | 1.9% (2017 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

24.5% of GDP (2017 est.) | 24% of GDP (2016 est.) | 23.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$473.129 billion (2019 est.) | $469.546 billion (2018 est.) | $463.706 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 17.3%, Germany 13.8%, France 9.5%, US 7.1%, UK 4.9%, Ireland 4.2%, China 4.1% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.2% (2017 est.)

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]

1.4% (2019 est.) | 2% (2018 est.) | 2.1% (2017 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.122 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

15.1% (2013 est.)

Public debt [time series]

103.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 106% of GDP (2016 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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$26.16 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $24.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

51.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.36% (2019 est.) | 5.96% (2018 est.)

Energy

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

134.7 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

687,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

82.16 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

8.465 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

35% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

28% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

36% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

14.65 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

21.56 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

79.83 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

17.61 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

736.2 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

18.09 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

648,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

680,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

601,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

731,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 30,528 sq km | land: 30,278 sq km | water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about the size of Maryland | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Belgium Print Image Description 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 | 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% (2011 est.) | arable land: 27.2% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.8% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 16.1% (2011 est.) | forest: 22.4% (2011 est.) | 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 | exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit | contiguous zone: 24 nm | 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 [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 | 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"

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

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 Ronald GIDWITZ (since 4 July 2018) | telephone: [32] (2) 811-4000 | embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels | mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 | FAX: [32] (2) 811-4500

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Arthur REGIBEAU (since 17 September 2020) | 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, born 25 October 2001) | head of government: Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 1 October 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Koen GEENS (27 October 2019), Didier REYNDERS (since 27 October 2019), David CLARINVAL (30 November 2019), Petra DE SUTTER (since 1 October 2020) | 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 courts: 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: 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 in 2024) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 26 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - elections coincided with the EU elections | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition men 32, women 28, percent of women 46.7% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N-VA 16.0%, VB 11.9%, PS 9.5%, CD&V 8.9%, PVDA+/PTB 8.62%, Open VLD 8.5%, MR 7.6%, SP.A 6.7%, Ecolo 6.1%, Groen 6.1%, CDH 3.7%, Defi 2.2%, PP 1.1%, other 20.1%; 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, Groen 8, CDH 5, Defi 2; composition - men 86, women 64, percent of women 42.7% | 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

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]

Flemish parties: 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] Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Marc NOLLET, Zakia KHATTABI] Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi [Olivier MAINGAIN] Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Maxine PREVOT] People's Party or PP [Mischael MODRIKAMEN] Reform Movement or MR [Charles MICHEL] Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO] Workers' Party or PTB [Peter MERTENS] other minor parties

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. In recent years, political divisions 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.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020

Military and security forces [time series]

Belgian Armed Forces: Land Component, Naval Component, Air Component, Medical Service (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]

the Belgian Armed Forces have approximately 27,000 active duty personnel (10,500 Army; 1,500 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 1,200 Medical Service; 9,000 other, including joint staff, support, and training schools) (2019)

Military deployments [time series]

125 France (contributing member of EuroCorps); 100 Mali (EUTM/MINUSMA); est. 260 Baltic States (NATO) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]

the Belgian Armed Forces have a mix of weapons systems from European countries, Israel, and the US; since 2010, France, Germany, and Switzerland are the leading suppliers of armaments; Belgium has an advanced, export-focused defense industry that focuses on components and subcontracting (2019 est.)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.93% of GDP (2019) | 0.93% of GDP (2018) | 0.9% of GDP (2017) | 0.91% of GDP (2016) | 0.92% of GDP (2015)

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: 17.22% (male 1,033,383/female 984,624) | 15-24 years: 11.2% (male 670,724/female 642,145) | 25-54 years: 39.23% (male 2,319,777/female 2,278,450) | 55-64 years: 13.14% (male 764,902/female 775,454) | 65 years and over: 19.21% (male 988,148/female 1,263,109) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Belgium Print Image Description 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 under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

11.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

66.7% (2018)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

10.3% (2017)

Death rate [time series]

9.8 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 57 | youth dependency ratio: 26.7 | elderly dependency ratio: 30.2 | potential support ratio: 3.3 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.4% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Hospital bed density [time series]

5.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.4 years | male: 78.8 years | female: 84.2 years (2020 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

2.081 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.042 million Antwerp (2020)

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

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 41.6 years | male: 40.4 years | female: 42.8 years (2020 est.)

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

29 years (2018 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belgian(s) | adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate [time series]

4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

22.1% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.07 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population [time series]

11,720,716 (July 2020 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.63% (2020 est.)

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 (2018)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.77 children born/woman (2020 est.)

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

total: 15.8% | male: 16.2% | female: 15.3% (2018 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 98.1% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0.62% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s) [time series]

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (2020) | 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

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): 16,604 (Syria), 5,602 (Iraq), 5,070 (Afghanistan) (2019) | stateless persons: 10,933 (2019)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

41 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 26 (2019) | 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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 15 (2013) | 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: 201 | by type: bulk carrier 21general cargo 17, oil tanker 26, other 137 (2019)

National air transport system [time series]

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 mt-km (2018)

Pipelines [time series]

3139 km gas, 154 km oil, 535 km refined products (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Oostende, Zeebrugge | container port(s) (TEUs): Antwerp (10,450,000) (2017) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Zeebrugge | river port(s): Antwerp, Gent (Schelde River) | Brussels (Senne River) Liege (Meuse River)

Railways [time series]

total: 3,592 km (2014) | standard gauge: 3,592 km 1.435-m gauge (2,960 km electrified) (2014)

Roadways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

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