Belgium
Country Data Dashboard
| Government type: | federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy |
| Capital: | Brussels |
| Languages: | Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1% |
People & Society
Ethnicity (2012 est.)
Religion (2018 est.)
Age structure
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, core EU and eurozone economy; slow but steady growth supported by household consumption and energy shock recovery; high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending; aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) in Billion $
Real GDP per capita in $
Exports & Imports in billion $
Top 5 Import Partner in 2022 (52%)
Top 5 Import Commodities in 2022
- natural gas 💨
- refined petroleum ⛽
- cars 🚗
- packaged medicine 💊
- vaccines 💉
Top 5 Export Partner in 2022 (52%)
Top 5 Export Commodities in 2022
- natural gas 💨
- vaccines 💉
- refined petroleum ⛽
- packaged medicine 💊
- cars 🚗
Geography
Map
Area
Natural resources
- construction materials 🏗️
- silica sand 🏜️
- carbonates ⚪
- arable land 🌱
Climate
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Historical Background Information
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.