| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 2.02 | 2.23 | 2.05 | 0.4 | 0.79 | 6.2 | 4.23 | 1.25 | 1.0 | 0.84 |
| CPI % | 4.58 | 1.95 | 2.32 | 1.16 | 1.63 | 3.22 | 10.33 | 2.29 | 4.32 | 3.2 |
| Unemployment rate | 9.58 | 8.5 | 7.73 | 8.19 | 7.26 | 6.27 | 5.55 | 5.52 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
| Debt/GDP % | 117.39 | 127.12 | 97.45 | 100.05 | 104.05 | 108.37 | 102.56 | 103.12 | 104.47 | 106.42 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | 0.41 | 4.83 | 2.33 | 1.64 | 0.25 | 1.83 | -1.31 | -0.69 | -0.85 | -1.08 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 30,528 km2
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Natural resources: construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land
Groups: Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)
Languages: 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.
Religions: 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.)
Capital: Brussels
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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 monarchelection/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: legislature name: Federal Parliament (Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament)legislative structure: bicameralnote: 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
Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"