Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
GDP per capita (PPP)
$63,100
Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
median
Median age42.4 years44th of 224 · median 32.6 years
Life expectancy82.3 years30th of 224 · median 76.2 years
Fertility rate1.46 children per woman188th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
Population11,484,05580th of 235 · median 5,454,073
Total area30,528 km²139th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
Coastline67 km166th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Name
The name derives from "Belgae," an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited the area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
A temperate climate brings mild winters and cool summers, with rainy, humid, cloudy conditions. Flooding threatens areas along rivers and reclaimed coastal land protected from the sea by concrete dikes.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
People and society
Most of Belgium's population is concentrated in the north, while the southeast is more thinly populated. Belgium is considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, and people live in urban areas.
Belgium's population includes Belgian, Italian, Moroccan, French, Turkish, and Dutch people, as well as others. Dutch, French, and German are official languages. Religious affiliations include Roman Catholic, Protestant, other Christian, Muslim, atheist, and nonbeliever/agnostic.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Government
Under a constitutional monarchy, the government is a federal parliamentary democracy. Its civil law system is based on the French Civil Code, with judicial review of legislative acts. The constitution entered into force 26 July 1831 and was revised 14 July 1993, creating a federal state. A provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands on 4 October 1830, and King Leopold I ascended to the throne on 21 July 1831. Belgian National Day, on 21 July (1831), marks the ascension to the throne of King Leopold I.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
The flag has three equal vertical bands: black at the left, followed by yellow and red. The vertical design was based on the flag of France. The colors come from the arms of the duchy of Brabant: a yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field. The national symbol is a golden rampant lion.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
GDP (nominal)
$664.56 billion
Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
GDP (PPP)
$749.23 billion
Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
GDP per capita (PPP)
$63,100
Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
GDP growth
+1%
Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Inflation (consumer prices)
3.1%
Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Unemployment
5.5%
Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Exports
$525.46 billion
Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Imports
$531.03 billion
Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
Life expectancy
82.3 years
Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Median age
42.4 years
Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Birth rate
9.09 per 1,000
Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Death rate
9.55 per 1,000
Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Fertility rate
1.46 children per woman
Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Population growth
+0.45% a year
Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Urban population
98.2%
Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
Total area
30,528 km²Land 30,278 km² · Water 250 km²
Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Coastline
67 km
Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land borders
1,297 km
Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Mean elevation
181 m
Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Highest point
694 m Botrange
Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.