01
Physical geography
Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast.
Local timeBrussels ·
Europe / Western Europe · Card 006
Belgium
Belgium is a country in Western Europe. Its capital is Brussels.
Find Belgium
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Brussels
- Languages
- German & French & Dutch
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Population
- 11.9 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 30,528 km²11,786.92 square miles
- Independence
- 1830
Belgium in context
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Brussels; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Dutch, French and German are official languages. Their use is organized through language areas and community institutions.
03
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of black (left side), yellow, and red
History & independence
Belgium emerged from a revolution against Dutch rule in 1830. A constitution and monarchy followed in 1831. Over time, constitutional reforms transformed a centralized state into a federation with regional and language-community institutions.
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The Belgian Revolution leads to independence
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The constitution and monarchy are established
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Belgium is formally defined as a federal state
Economy
Main activities
Services, logistics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing are major activities. Ports and transport connections make Belgium an important European trading hub. Brussels hosts major EU institutions.
Industry and production
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people11.92025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9,655,549 | 9.656 |
| 1980 | 9,859,242 | 9.859 |
| 1990 | 9,967,379 | 9.967 |
| 2000 | 10,251,250 | 10.251 |
| 2010 | 10,895,586 | 10.896 |
| 2020 | 11,538,604 | 11.539 |
| 2025 | 11,941,781 | 11.942 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars539.12025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 295,130,312,078 | 295.130 |
| 1991 | 300,540,270,315 | 300.540 |
| 1992 | 305,140,504,243 | 305.141 |
| 1993 | 302,205,439,886 | 302.205 |
| 1994 | 311,957,523,164 | 311.958 |
| 1995 | 319,396,952,810 | 319.397 |
| 1996 | 323,617,566,813 | 323.618 |
| 1997 | 335,894,554,717 | 335.895 |
| 1998 | 342,484,242,937 | 342.484 |
| 1999 | 354,617,493,818 | 354.617 |
| 2000 | 367,797,580,320 | 367.798 |
| 2001 | 371,841,895,843 | 371.842 |
| 2002 | 378,188,843,981 | 378.189 |
| 2003 | 382,114,274,684 | 382.114 |
| 2004 | 395,760,365,337 | 395.760 |
| 2005 | 404,948,883,847 | 404.949 |
| 2006 | 415,284,559,725 | 415.285 |
| 2007 | 430,554,259,966 | 430.554 |
| 2008 | 432,478,429,045 | 432.478 |
| 2009 | 424,233,482,719 | 424.233 |
| 2010 | 435,731,531,599 | 435.732 |
| 2011 | 444,146,182,963 | 444.146 |
| 2012 | 445,104,666,469 | 445.105 |
| 2013 | 446,464,436,962 | 446.464 |
| 2014 | 454,346,946,886 | 454.347 |
| 2015 | 461,044,767,545 | 461.045 |
| 2016 | 466,547,349,432 | 466.547 |
| 2017 | 473,426,439,011 | 473.426 |
| 2018 | 482,317,238,282 | 482.317 |
| 2019 | 494,099,718,081 | 494.100 |
| 2020 | 470,417,598,102 | 470.418 |
| 2021 | 499,839,663,859 | 499.840 |
| 2022 | 519,956,253,599 | 519.956 |
| 2023 | 528,074,098,662 | 528.074 |
| 2024 | 533,871,052,349 | 533.871 |
| 2025 | 539,119,634,586 | 539.120 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.951Very High human developmentRank 10 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.824
20000.894
20100.921
20200.939
20230.951
82.1 yearsLife expectancy at birth
12.7 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Federal Parliament (Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Belgium.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Belgium?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.