Belgium

In brief

Belgium is a country in Western Europe. Its capital is Brussels. With 11.9 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 81st in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 30,528 km². It shares land borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

GDP per capita stands at $60,750 (2025), 16th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 82.3 years (2024). 88% of the population lives in cities.

History of Belgium

The Belgian lands passed in turn to the dukes of Burgundy, the Spanish and then Austrian Habsburgs, revolutionary France and, in 1815, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The revolution of 1830 created an independent Belgium, whose first king, Leopold I, took the throne in 1831. Occupied in both world wars, the country is a founding member of European integration and NATO, and Brussels hosts their main institutions. Since 1993 Belgium has been a federal state with three regions and three language communities.

Geography of Belgium

Belgium has a short North Sea coast, low, flat Flanders in the north and the Ardennes hills in the south, where Signal de Botrange (694 m) is the highest point. The Scheldt and the Meuse flow through it.

Map of Belgium

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Flag of Belgium

The flag of Belgium is red, yellow and black. Its official proportions are 13:15 (height to width).

• Black33%
• Yellow33%
• Red33%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Black, yellow and red vertical bands are the colours of the arms of the Duchy of Brabant: a gold lion with red claws on black. The flag was adopted in 1831, with unusual proportions of 13 by 15.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Belgium” and “Flag of Belgium”.

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Fact file

Economy and society