Country Profile: Belgium

Belgium, located in Western Europe, is bordered by the North Sea and shares its borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The country has a diverse population of approximately 11.96 million people, characterized by a mix of ethnic groups and languages, reflecting its complex history and governance. Economically, Belgium is a high-income nation and a significant member of the EU, but it faces challenges such as slow growth, high public debt, and structural deficits. The nation’s governance is structured as a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with recognized autonomy for its Dutch-speaking and French-speaking regions.

Geography

Belgium is situated in Western Europe, approximately the size of the US state of Maryland, with a total area of 30,528 sq km. The country features flat coastal plains in the northwest, rolling hills in the central region, and the rugged Ardennes mountains in the southeast. It has a mild, temperate climate with significant rainfall and is known for its high population density, with about 97% of its residents living in urban areas.

1,297 km of land boundaries with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands
Highest point at 694 m is Botrange
Coastline measures 66.5 km
44.4% of land classified as agricultural (2023 est.)
22% forested area (2023 est.)

People and Society

Belgium's population is estimated at 11,960,170 in 2025, with a gender distribution of 49.3% male and 50.7% female. The nation is composed of diverse ethnic groups, predominantly Belgian, alongside Italian, Moroccan, and French communities. Dutch and French are the official languages, with a minority speaking German. The demographic structure shows a significant portion of the population is over 65 years old, and urbanization is remarkably high, with 98.2% of the population living in urban areas.

16.9% of the population is aged 0-14 years (2025 est.)
Life expectancy is 82.3 years (2024 est.)
Median age is 42.4 years (2025 est.)
Birth rate of 9.09 births/1,000 (2025 est.)
62.8% of the population aged 15-64 (2025 est.)

Economy

Belgium boasts a high-income economy, with a GDP (PPP) estimated at $749.229 billion in 2024. The economy has shown slow growth, with a projected growth rate of 1% for 2024, impacted by high public debt and structural deficits. The service sector dominates the economy, accounting for 72.1% of the GDP, while agriculture contributes a modest 0.8%.

5.5% unemployment rate projected for 2024
12.3% of the population lives below the national poverty line (2022 est.)
Belgium has 16.8% youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) in 2024
Agricultural products include sugar beets, milk, and wheat (2023)
84.2% of GDP contributed by exports of goods and services (2023 est.)

Government

Belgium is a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with Brussels as its capital. The government comprises three regions: the Brussels-Capital Region, the Flemish Region, and the Walloon Region. The Constitution, enacted in 1831, has undergone various revisions, with the most significant changes implemented in 1993, establishing the current federal structure.

King Philippe has been the head of state since 21 July 2013
Prime Minister Bart De Wever assumed office on 3 February 2025
The legislative body is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives (150 members) and the Senate (60 members).
Total dependency ratio is 57.6 (2025 est.)
Suffrage is universal at 18 years of age.

Military and Security

The Belgian Armed Forces consist of land, naval, and air components, along with a medical and cyber command unit. The military's responsibilities extend from territorial defense to humanitarian missions and international peacekeeping efforts, primarily under NATO frameworks. Military expenditures stand at 2% of GDP for 2025, reflecting Belgium's commitment to its defense obligations.

Approximately 23,000 active-duty personnel (2025)
Military service is voluntary from the age of 18; conscription was abolished in 1995
Belgium contributes about 1,000 personnel to foreign missions, particularly in NATO operations
Military expenditures were 1.3% of GDP in 2024
The country hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Energy

Belgium's energy sector is heavily reliant on nuclear energy, which constitutes 41.2% of total electricity production. The country has achieved 100% electrification of its population by 2022. Despite a significant focus on renewable sources like wind and solar, fossil fuels still represent a portion of energy generation, with goals to increase efficiency and sustainability.

Total electricity consumption reached 74.537 billion kWh (2023)
28.248 million kW of installed generating capacity (2023)
24.1% of total energy produced from fossil fuels (2023)
4 operational nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 3.46GW (2025)
Natural gas consumption was 14.382 billion cubic meters (2023)

Environment

Belgium faces various environmental challenges, including urbanization, industrial pollution, and intensive agricultural practices. Approximately 44.4% of the land is used for agriculture, and the country is actively involved in international environmental agreements to address issues like biodiversity and climate change.

31.7% of municipal waste is recycled (2022 est.)
112 heliports and 48 airports are available for civil aviation (2025)
Total renewable water resources are 18.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions totaled 112.083 million metric tonnes in 2023
The urban population constituted 98.2% of the total population (2023)

Transportation

Belgium has a well-developed transportation infrastructure, including extensive railways and numerous airports. The country operates 48 airports and maintains 3,602 km of rail lines, with a significant portion electrified. The merchant marine consists of 198 vessels, highlighting its active shipping industry.

The total length of railway lines is 3,602 km (2020)
7 major ports are operational (2024)
The civil aircraft registration prefix is OO
There are 5.12 million fixed broadband subscriptions (2023)
Approximately 12.2 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2024)

Communications

Belgium has a highly developed communication network with a broadband penetration rate of 95% internet users. The telecommunications market serves three major linguistic communities.

2.49 million fixed-line phone subscriptions (2024)
Over 90% of households are connected to cable television
12.2 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2024)
5.12 million broadband fixed subscriptions (2023)
The internet country code is .be.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	11,960,170 (2025 est.)
Area	30,528 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$749.229 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	5.5% (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	190.416 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	9.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth	82.3 years (2024 est.)
Percentage of Urban Population	98.2% (2023)
Military Expenditures	2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Total Agricultural Land	44.4% (2023 est.)