Belgium

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.

50 50 N, 4 00 E

flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

about the size of Maryland

urbanization; possible risks from industry and intensive farming; air and water pollution

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

66.5 km

Total: 1,297 km

Border countries (4): France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km

Agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 28.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 15.3% (2023 est.)

Forest: 22% (2023 est.)

Other: 33.6% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: Geographic coordinates define outer limit

Continental shelf: Median line with neighbors

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land

crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the EU and NATO

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Europe

57 sq km (2013)

18.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Botrange 694 m

Lowest point: North Sea 0 m

Mean elevation: 181 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

Total : 30,528 sq km

Land: 30,278 sq km

Water: 250 sq km

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,038,578/female 990,215)

15-64 years: 62.8% (male 3,796,844/female 3,730,784)

65 years and over: 20.2% (2024 est.) (male 1,073,635/female 1,347,578)

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Belgian(s)

Adjective: Belgian

Total: 19 years (2022 est.)

Male: 18 years (2022 est.)

Female: 20 years (2022 est.)

Urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023)

6.53 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

29.2 years (2020 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 25.3 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 32.1 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.)

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%

Major-language sample(s):
Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

11% of GDP (2021)

15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.86 (2024 est.)

52.4% (2021 est.)

Women married by age 15: 0% (2020)

Women married by age 18: 0.1% (2020)

Total: 16.8% (2024 est.)

Male: 18.6% (2024 est.)

Female: 14.7% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 42 years (2024 est.)

Male: 40.8 years

Female: 43.1 years

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 11,977,634 (2024 est.)

Male: 5,909,057

Female: 6,068,577

Total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 24.1% (2025 est.)

Male: 26.4% (2025 est.)

Female: 22% (2025 est.)

22.1% (2016)

9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

10.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

0.3% (2023 est.)

Total: 9.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 1.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 82.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 79.7 years

Female: 85 years

6.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

12% national budget (2022 est.)

0.53% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 740.19 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 4.14 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 41.97 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.766 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.7% (2022 est.)

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

112.083 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 8.166 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 76.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 27.282 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

190.416 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Bill WHITE (since 17 November 2025)

Embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels

Mailing address: 7600 Brussels Place, Washington DC  20521-7600

Telephone: [32] (2) 811-4000

FAX: [32] (2) 811-4500

Email address and website:
UscitizenBrussels@state.gov

https://be.usembassy.gov/

3 regions (French: régions, singular - région; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Région Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Région Wallonne (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)

Note: As a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities

Name: Brussels

Geographic coordinates: 50 84 N, 4 35 E

Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology: The name is of Germanic origin, from broca (marsh) and sali (room or building)

History: Drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state)

Amendment process: "revisions" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament

Chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013)

Head of government: Prime Minister Bart DE WEVER (since 3 February 2025)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch

Election/appointment process: The monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, which the legislature approves

Description: Three equal vertical bands of black (left side), yellow, and red

History: The vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are from the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

Highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)

Judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life

Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace

civil law system based on the French Civil Code; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislature name: Federal Parliament (Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament)

Legislative structure: Bicameral

Note: The 1993 constitutional revision that further devolved Belgium into a federal state created three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this results in six governments, each with its own legislative assembly

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831)

Flemish parties:
Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V 
Vooruit or Forward (formerly Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A)
Groen or Green (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens)
New Flemish Alliance or N-VA 
Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD 
Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB 

Francophone parties:
Ecolo (Francophone Greens) 
Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi 
Les Engages (formerly Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH)
Reform Movement or MR 
Socialist Party or PS 
Workers' Party or PVDA-PTB

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium

Conventional short form: Belgium

Local long form: Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)

Local short form: Belgique/Belgie/Belgien

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.

Chief of mission: Ambassador Frédéric BERNARD (since 25 February 2025)

Chancery: 1430 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005

Telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900

FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960

Email address and website:
Washington@diplobel.fed.be

https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en

Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York

Title: "La Brabançonne" (The Song of Brabant)

Lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET [French] and Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT

History: Adopted 1830; according to legend Louis-Alexandre DECHET, an actor at the theater where the revolution against the Netherlands began, wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

golden rampant lion

Citizenship by birth: No

Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Belgium

Dual citizenship recognized: Yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 16 (15 cultural, 1 natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c)

red, black, yellow

12.3% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.)

Highest 10%: 22.2% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

refined petroleum, natural gas, vaccines, cars, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

France 20%, Netherlands 15%, Germany 14%, Italy 6%, USA 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, maize, chicken, barley, pears (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $220.657 billion (2022 est.)

Expenditures: $235.767 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

cars, natural gas, vaccines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

$664.564 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 50.4% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 23.8% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 24.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 1% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 84.2% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -84.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Netherlands 20%, Germany 13%, France 11%, USA 7%, Ireland 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

5.416 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$41.449 billion (2024 est.)
$40.813 billion (2023 est.)
$41.274 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

92.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

5.5% (2024 est.)
5.6% (2023 est.)
5.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$749.229 billion (2024 est.)
$741.672 billion (2023 est.)
$732.865 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

3.1% (2024 est.)
4% (2023 est.)
9.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$5.679 billion (2024 est.)
-$4.503 billion (2023 est.)
-$7.031 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$63,100 (2024 est.)
$62,900 (2023 est.)
$62,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$531.029 billion (2024 est.)
$546.426 billion (2023 est.)
$573.192 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$525.458 billion (2024 est.)
$542.508 billion (2023 est.)
$565.233 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1% (2024 est.)
1.2% (2023 est.)
4.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-0.6% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 0.8% (2024 est.)

Industry: 17.6% (2024 est.)

Services: 72.1% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Production: 1.269 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption: 4.372 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports: 184,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 4.046 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 4.1 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 24.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear: 40.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 20% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: -0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) note: Belgium has negative net hydroelectric power generation based on losses from use of pumped storage hydropower

Biomass and waste: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Production: 12.938 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Consumption: 14.382 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports: 8.461 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports: 23.007 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 596,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 28.248 million kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 74.537 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 18.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 18.626 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 3.147 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)

.be

a segmented market with the three major linguistic communities (Flemish-, French-, and German-speaking) each responsible for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community;  over 90% of households are connected to cable and can access TV broadcasts from neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network coexisting with private broadcasters

Total subscriptions: 12.1 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2022 est.)

Total: 5.12 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 2.667 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

Total: 3,602 km (2020) 3,160 km electrified

OO

48 (2025)

Total: 198 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 17, container ship 2, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 142

112 (2025)

2% of GDP (2025 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Belgian Armed Forces (Defensie or La Défense): Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Component, Cyber Command (2025)

Note: The Belgian Federal Police is the national police force and responsible for internal security and nationwide law and order, including migration and border enforcement

the Belgian military's responsibilities include territorial defense, humanitarian/disaster relief, assistance to the police if required, international peacekeeping missions, and support to its NATO and EU security commitments, which Belgium considers vital components of its national security policy; outside of the country, the military operates almost always within an international organization or a coalition; Belgium was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949; it hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels; Belgium also cooperates bilaterally with neighboring countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in conducting joint patrols of their respective air spaces and in a composite combined special operations command with Denmark and the Netherlands (2025)

approximately 23,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

the armed forces have a mix of weapons systems from European suppliers and the US; Belgium has an export-focused defense industry that focuses on components and subcontracting (2025)

has on average about 1,000 personnel deployed on foreign missions, including more than 300 ground forces deployed in Eastern Europe for the defense of NATO's eastern flank (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; maximum age varies by position; conscription abolished in 1995 (2025)

Note 1: In 2024, women comprised about 11% of the military's full-time personnel

Note 2: 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

USG identification:
Major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees: 236,689 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 849 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Note: Details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.46GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 41.2% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025)

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 (2025)

Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy-Interfederal Space Agency of Belgium (BIRA-IASB; established 1964; IASB added 2017); Belgium Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) (2025)

Total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024)

Global geoparks and regional networks: Famenne-Ardenne; Schelde Delta (includes Netherlands) (2024)

Total ports: 7 (2024)

Large: 1

Medium: 2

Small: 2

Very small: 2

Ports with oil terminals: 5

Key ports: Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Ghent, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Chamber name: House of Representatives (Chambre des Représentants)

Number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 6/9/2024

Parties elected and seats per party: New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) (24); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) (20); Movement for Reform (MR) (20); Socialist Party in Wallonia (PS) (16); Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB*PVDA) (15); LES ENGAGÉS (14); Vooruit (13); Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) (11); Other (17)

Percentage of women in chamber: 41.3%

Expected date of next election: June 2029

Chamber name: Senate (Sénat - Senaat - Senat)

Number of seats: 60 (all indirectly elected)

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 7/18/2024

Percentage of women in chamber: 47.5%

Expected date of next election: July 2029

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

26.4 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality