Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,689 km (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376 per square kilometer (970/sq mi). The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, and Liège.
Legally, Belgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.
Brussels is the smallest and most densely populated region, as well as the richest region in terms of GDP per capita.
Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups or Communities: the Dutch-speaking Flemish Community, which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French-speaking Community, which comprises about 40 percent of all Belgians. A small German-speaking Community, numbering around one percent, exists in the East Cantons. The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual (French and Dutch), although French is the dominant language.
Historically, Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, a somewhat larger region than the current Benelux group of states that also included parts of northern France and western Germany.
Belgium is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and its capital, Brussels, hosts the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Council, as well as one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other being Strasbourg). Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD, and WTO, and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area. Brussels hosts several of the EU's official seats as well as the headquarters of many major international organizations such as NATO.
Capital
and largest city
Brussels
50°51′N 4°21′E
Official languages Dutch
French
German
Ethnic groups see Demographics
Religion (2018)
62.8%% Christianity
29.3% No religion
6.8% Islam
1.1% Other religions
Demonym(s) Belgian
Government Federal parliamentary
constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Philippe
• Prime Minister
Sophie Wilmès
Legislature Federal Parliament
• Upper house
Senate
• Lower house
Chamber of Representatives
Independence (from the Netherlands)
• Declared
4 October 1830
• Recognised
19 April 1839
Area
• Total
30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi)
• Water (%)
6.5
Population
• 1 November 2019 census
11,515,793 Increase
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,689 km (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376 per square kilometer (970/sq mi). The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, and Liège.
Legally, Belgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.
Brussels is the smallest and most densely populated region, as well as the richest region in terms of GDP per capita.
Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups or Communities: the Dutch-speaking Flemish Community, which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French-speaking Community, which comprises about 40 percent of all Belgians. A small German-speaking Community, numbering around one percent, exists in the East Cantons. The Brussels-Capital Region is officially bilingual (French and Dutch), although French is the dominant language.
Historically, Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, a somewhat larger region than the current Benelux group of states that also included parts of northern France and western Germany.
Belgium is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and its capital, Brussels, hosts the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Council, as well as one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other being Strasbourg). Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD, and WTO, and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area. Brussels hosts several of the EU's official seats as well as the headquarters of many major international organizations such as NATO.
Capital
and largest city
Brussels
50°51′N 4°21′E
Official languages Dutch
French
German
Ethnic groups see Demographics
Religion (2018)
62.8%% Christianity
29.3% No religion
6.8% Islam
1.1% Other religions
Demonym(s) Belgian
Government Federal parliamentary
constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Philippe
• Prime Minister
Sophie Wilmès
Legislature Federal Parliament
• Upper house
Senate
• Lower house
Chamber of Representatives
Independence (from the Netherlands)
• Declared
4 October 1830
• Recognised
19 April 1839
Area
• Total
30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi)
• Water (%)
6.5
Population
• 1 November 2019 census
11,515,793 Increase
