National Identity
- Official name
- Kingdom of Belgium
- Official name (in Dutch)
- Koninkrijk België
- Official name (in French)
- Royaume de Belgique
- Official name (in German)
- Königreich Belgien
- Name etymology
the name derives from the Belgae, an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C.
Sources:- The Belgian Constitution - March 2021 ↗ - The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium
- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- National anthem
- La Brabançonne1:03
- Title (in French)
- La Brabançonne
- Title (in English, translated)
- The Song of Brabant
- Lyrics
O Belgique, ô mère chérie, A toi nos coeurs, à toi nos bras, A toi notre sang, ô Patrie ! Nous le jurons tous, tu vivras ! Tu vivras toujours grande et belle Et ton invincible unité Aura pour devise immortelle: Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté ! Aura pour devise immortelle: Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté ! Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté ! Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté !
Source: - Citizens
- Belgians
- Official name:The Belgian Constitution - March 2021 ↗ - The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Coat of arms:Image credit
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
- Total area
- 30,528 km²
- Land area
- 30,278 km²
- Water area
- 250 km²
- Land borders
- 1,297 km(4 countries)
- France
- 556 km
- Netherlands
- 478 km
- Germany
- 133 km
- Luxembourg
- 130 km
Source:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Coastline
- 66.5 km
- Terrain
Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast - Mean elevation
- 181 m
- Highest point
- 694 mBotrange
- Lowest point
- 0 mNorth Sea
- Climate
Temperate mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy - Avg. temperature
- 10.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 6.9 to 13.7 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 894 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 5.2 3.1 1 78 February 6.1 3.5 1 70 March 9.8 6.4 3 68 April 13.7 9.6 5.3 60 May 17.2 13.2 8.7 72 June 20.1 16.1 11.5 77 July 22.2 18.1 13.7 82 August 22 17.8 13.4 83 September 18.5 14.5 10.8 68 October 14 10.8 7.8 70 November 9 6.6 4.4 75 December 5.8 3.8 1.8 90 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable28.3%Perm. crops0.8%Pasture15.3%Forest22.0%Other33.6%
- Arable land
- 863,154 hectares (28.3%)
- Permanent crops
- 23,206 hectares (0.8%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 466,940 hectares (15.3%)
- Forest
- 670,520 hectares (22.0%)
- Other land
- 1,025,580 hectares (33.6%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Coastal floods7.7Very high#17/191River floods6.2High#63/191Earthquakes2.9Low#102/191Epidemics2.6Very low#167/191Drought1.3Very low#141/191Tsunamis0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +0.14% per year+16,039 people/yearWorld Rank167thof 237
- Birth rate
- 8.6 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 9.8 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +2.5 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 42.1 yearsWorld Rank45thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years15.4%15-64 years63.2%65 years +21.4%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 21.4%
- Share aged under 18
- 19.0%
- Total dependency ratio
- 58
- Youth dependency ratio
- 24
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 34
- Sex ratio
- 0.97 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 2.3% 3.6% 70-79 4.4% 5.0% 60-69 6.3% 6.5% 50-59 6.6% 6.5% 40-49 6.4% 6.4% 30-39 6.4% 6.4% 20-29 6.0% 5.8% 10-19 5.9% 5.7% 0-9 5.0% 4.8% - 2026
- 0.70 below the replacement level for Belgium ()1.40 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank194thof 237
- 0.68 daughters per woman0.32 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −1.3 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 1.3 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- +2.5 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 87.7% live in cities10,330,043 urban residents
- Largest cities2026
- Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, BrusselsRankCity or MunicipalityPopulation (2026 estimate)1Antwerp565,6152Ghent274,0423Charleroi206,9004Brussels198,6745Liège198,1026Anderlecht129,6007Schaerbeek129,2788Bruges120,4589Namur115,45710Leuven105,357Source:
- Statistics Belgium (2026 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Most of the population is concentrated in the northern two thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, with approximately 97% living in urban areas.
- Ethnic groups2012
- Belgian75.2%Italian4.1%Moroccan3.7%French2.4%Turkish2.0%Dutch2.0%Other10.6%
- Religions2018
- Roman Catholic57.1%Protestant2.3%Other Christian2.8%Muslim6.8%Other1.7%Atheist9.1%Non-believer/agnostic20.2%
- Languages
- Dutch (Nederlands), French (Français), German (Deutsch)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Statistics Belgium (2026 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyThe King's constitutional powers are hereditary by primogeniture, and the King has only the powers formally conferred by the Constitution and laws made under it; the Constitution calls Belgium "a federal State made up of communities and regions" (Arts. 1, 85, 105).
- System of government
- ParliamentaryThe King appoints the ministers, who are responsible to the Chamber of Representatives; the Chamber can replace the Prime Minister by constructive no confidence, and may be dissolved only after a failed confidence vote or a non-constructive censure (Arts. 46, 96, 101).Source:
- Territorial organisation
- Federal
- Official websites
- Government
- Parliament (in Dutch)
- Capital
- Brussels196,828 people(2024)
- National holidays
- 12 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- SunApr 5Easter Sunday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- SunMay 24Pentecost
- MonMay 25Pentecost Monday
- TueJul 21National Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- SunNov 1All Saints' Day
- WedNov 11Armistice Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +32
- Internet TLD
- .be
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- BE, BEL
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 11,390,665 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 112
- Aircraft departures
- 112,605 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 1,831.5 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- OO
Sources:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Brussels AirlinesPrivately owned (Lufthansa Group)
- Passenger rail
- SNCB/NMBS
- 2025
- 69 / 100World Rank21stof 182
Significant declinerDown 8 points since 2016, when it scored 77.
Confidence intervalCorruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 75 71 78 2013 75 71 79 2014 76 72 80 2015 77 75 79 2016 77 74 79 2017 75 72 78 2018 75 73 77 2019 75 73.2 76.8 2020 76 74.3 77.7 2021 73 70.6 75.4 2022 73 70.5 75.5 2023 73 69.5 76.5 2024 69 66.3 71.7 2025 69 66.7 71.3 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:La Constitution belge, coordinated text of 17 February 1994, edition of March 2021 (D/2021/4686/02) ↗ - Chamber of Representatives of Belgium
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +0.7% per yearWorld Rank174thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $64,774 (18th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services71.2% of GDPIndustry18.6% of GDPAgriculture0.7% of GDPManufacturing11.2%part of industry
- Households
- +52.3%
- Government
- +24%
- Investment
- +25.7%
- Exports
- +75.5%
- Imports
- −77.5%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 3.8%up 0.8 percentage points0.8pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 5.4 million (46% of population)World Rank81stof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 54.5% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 5.7%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 17.3% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $90.4 per hour worked at PPP
- Labor cost2024
- €48.20 per hour$52.17 (USD), $64.08 (PPP)
- Budget balance2026
- 5.3% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 2.8% of GDP, $21.4 billion deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt104.5% of GDPHousehold debt57.3% of GDPCompany debt122.5% of GDPInterest on debt2.3% of GDPCentral government debt85.4% of GDP
- Trade2025
- Goods$387.4 billion70.8%
- Services$159.9 billion29.2%
- Total exports
- $547.2 billion
- Change from 2024
- up 2.9 percent on the previous year2.9%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- 2024
- +0.99World Rank24thof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +1.3% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Lettuce and chicory, Sugar beet, Potatoes, and 7 more
- 1Lettuce and chicory10.3×
- 2Sugar beet8.7×
- 3Potatoes5.9×
- 4Pears5.7×
- 5Meat of pig with the bone (fresh or chilled)4.4×
- 6Carrots and turnips4.2×
- 7Raw milk of cattle3.4×
- 8Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)2.4×
- 9Meat of cattle with the bone (fresh or chilled)2.1×
- 10Onions and shallots (dry)1.2×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Gold reserves2025
- 227 tonnesWorth $31.9 billion, 57% of total official reserves by value
- Industries
- engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade, Gold reserves:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity, Labor cost:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2025
- €6,234 per month$7,044 (USD), $8,077 (PPP)
- Median
- €5,780 per month($6,531)
- Men
- €6,882 per month($7,777)
- Women
- €5,597 per month($6,325)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2025
- €2,112 per month, gross$2,387 (USD), $2,737 (PPP)
- Share of the average gross salary
- 34%
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.951Very highWorld Rank10thof 193BelgiumWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Belgium World 1990 0.824 0.608 1991 0.829 0.611 1992 0.845 0.614 1993 0.860 0.617 1994 0.868 0.620 1995 0.875 0.625 1996 0.881 0.631 1997 0.884 0.636 1998 0.886 0.641 1999 0.889 0.646 2000 0.894 0.651 2001 0.899 0.657 2002 0.901 0.662 2003 0.903 0.669 2004 0.909 0.675 2005 0.911 0.681 2006 0.913 0.688 2007 0.916 0.694 2008 0.917 0.698 2009 0.919 0.701 2010 0.921 0.707 2011 0.923 0.713 2012 0.923 0.717 2013 0.925 0.721 2014 0.930 0.726 2015 0.933 0.731 2016 0.936 0.735 2017 0.940 0.739 2018 0.942 0.741 2019 0.945 0.745 2020 0.939 0.742 2021 0.948 0.742 2022 0.945 0.752 2023 0.951 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2023
- 26.8
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 12.7 years
- Expected for a child today
- 19 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Education expenditure2022
- 6.3% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 12%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 95.8% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 94.6%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 12.2 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 2,486,403
- Fixed broadband
- 44.2 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2021
- 50% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 96%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 99%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 97%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 186,406 people
- Asylum seekers
- 56,786
- Stateless persons
- 824
- Internally displaced persons
- 1,900(2021)All due to disasters
- Refugees from Belgium abroad
- 64
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2024
- 9.6 million arrivalsup 3% against 20193% above 2019World Rank31stof 139
- Per resident
- 8.2 arrivals per 10 residents
- $10.5 billion
- Spending per arrival
- $1,084
- Share of GDP
- 3.4% tourism direct GDP(2022)
- 5.7 million overnight trips by residents
- 17.9 million overnight trips
- $28.2 billion
- 148,602
- Average hotel stay
- 1.9 nights
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2024A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 16 sites15 cultural1 natural
Site Type Belfries of Belgium Cultural Historic Brugge Cultural The Grand Place, Brussels Cultural Major Town Houses of Victor Horta Cultural Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai Cultural Spa, Liege Cultural Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood Natural Stoclet Palace Cultural The Factbook names 8 of the 16 sites.
Source:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2021
- Low by global standards1.1 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank75thof 115
- Crime rates
- 7 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 1.1 125 2021 Serious assault 567.9 66,517 2023 Sexual violence 99.2 11,620 2023 Kidnapping 10.3 1,170 2017 Burglary 444.1 51,698 2022 Theft 1,682.5 195,873 2022 Vehicle theft 92.0 10,708 2022 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 102.3 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 11,983
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 82.6 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 10.8% of GDP$5,931 per person
- Physicians2022
- 3.57 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2023
- 5.4 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 2.7 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 4 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 8.7 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2022
- 24% of adults
- Men
- 27.1%
- Women
- 20.9%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 4.0% of household spendingWorld Rank30thof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 5.8 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 86.6 Mt per yearup 1.1 percent on the previous year1.1% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 7.4 t per personWorld Rank34thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.22%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 11.7 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 7.45 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 1.99 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 107.8 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 8.5 µg/m³ of PM2.50.3 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted147thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 10 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- urbanization
- possible risks from industry and intensive farming
- air and water pollution
- International agreements
- 20 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 191 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2017 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1996 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1989 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1989 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1997 CITES in force 1984 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 1990 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2004 Nagoya Protocol in force 2016 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1986 World Heritage Convention in force 1996 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1997 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1994 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2004 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2006 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2018 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1998 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 1984 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 0% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 18 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 1,572 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 34% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 4.9 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 1%
- Water stress
- 53% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity2024
- 20.8% of adults
- Men
- 19.7%
- Women
- 22%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2023
- 0.3% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 205.2 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.38%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 19% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Net importer, net 10 TWh in 2024, 13% of consumption72 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 72 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 79 TWh per year
- Imports
- 28 TWh per year
- Exports
- 17 TWh per year
- Net
- −10 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 1.3% of GDP$8.6 billion, 2.4% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 23,000active-duty military personnel
- Military service2025
- Voluntaryno conscription since 1995; men and women 18+, maximum age varies by position
In 2024, women comprised about 11% of the military's full-time personnel.Foreign nationals 18-34 years of age who speak Dutch or French and are citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland may apply to join the military.
Source:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Space program2025
- Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy-Interfederal Space Agency of Belgium (BIRA-IASB; established 1964; IASB added 2017); Belgium Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO)
Builds satellites, particularly research/science/technology and remote sensing platforms; researches, develops, and produces a wide variety of space technologies, including telecommunications, optics, robotics, scientific instruments, and space launch vehicle components; founding member of the ESA and participates in a variety of ESA and EU projects, such as Space Surveillance and Tracking, Copernicus Earth observation, and Galileo global navigation satellite system; hosts the European Space Security and Education Center (established 1968); participates in international astronomy efforts, particularly through the European Southern Observatory (ESO); has worked with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities outside Europe, including those of Argentina, China, India, Russia, South Africa, UAE, Vietnam, and the US
- 1986
- Joined first European Earth Observation program; founding member of European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
- 1992
- First Belgian astronaut in space on the US Space Shuttle
- 2001
- First remote sensing satellite (PROBA-1) launched by India
- 2024
- Signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: Belgium - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
