Belgium Travel Podcast with Lucas Peeters

Location

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

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

Botrange 694 m

Lowest point

North Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

181 m

Area

Total

30,528 sq km

Land

30,278 sq km

Water

250 sq km

Size comparison

About the size of Maryland

Coastline

66.5 km

Land borders

Total

1,297 km

Border countries

France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km

Natural resources

Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land

Land use

Agricultural land

44.4% (2023 est.)

Arable land

28.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0.8% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

15.3% (2023 est.)

Forest

22% (2023 est.)

Other

33.6% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Note

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

Population

Total

11,960,170 (2025 est.)

Male

5,907,498

Female

6,052,672

Nationality

Noun

Belgian(s)

Adjective

Belgian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Languages

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

Major-language sample(s)

Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)

Religions

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.)

Median age

Total

42.4 years (2025 est.)

Male

40.8 years

Female

43.1 years

Life expectancy

Total population

82.3 years (2024 est.)

Male

79.7 years

Female

85 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

98.2% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

Most of the population is 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, with approximately 97% living in urban areas

Largest cities

2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023)

Background

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, longstanding tensions 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.

Government

Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital

Brussels

Time zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)

Independence

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

National day

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

Overview

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$63,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$62,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$62,700 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

9.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Main industries

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

Agriculture

Sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, maize, chicken, barley, pears (2023)

Airports

48 (2025)

Railways

Total 3,602 km (2020) 3,160 km electrified

Ports

Total ports

7 (2024)

Large

1

Medium

2

Small

2

Very small

2

Ports with oil terminals

5

Key ports

Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Ghent, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Internet domain

.be

Internet users

Percent of population 95% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

12.2 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

104 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Urbanization; possible risks from industry and intensive farming; air and water pollution

Fresh water

18.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

2 (2024)

Global geoparks and regional networks

Famenne-Ardenne; Schelde Delta (includes Netherlands) (2024)