Belgium - Geography

Here, let us take a look at the Geography of Belgium. Crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the EU and NATO. Mother's mean age at first birth is 29.2 years (2020 est.) (), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Geographical data of Belgium
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references Europe
Tarrain flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Natural Resources construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land
Natural Hazards flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Irrigated Land 57 sq km (2013)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Major aquifers
Land Boundaries 1,297 km
Border Countries France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km
Coastline 66.5 km
Climate temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Area
Total Area
Land Area 30,278 sq km
Water Area 250 sq km
comparative Area about the size of Maryland
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Contiguous zone 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone geographic coordinates define outer limit
Continental shelf median line with neighbors
Elevations
Highest point Botrange 694 m
Lowest point North Sea 0 m
Mean elevation 181 m
Land Use
Agricultural land 44.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture permanent pasture: 16.1% (2018 est.)
Forest 22.4% (2018 est.)
Other 33.5% (2018 est.)
Population Distribution

Most of the population 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; approximately 97% live in urban areas

People and Society

In Belgium, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have: Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)

Population
Pop growth rate 0.53% (2024 est.)
Birth rate 10.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate 9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Health expenditure 11.1% of GDP (2020)
Physicians Density
Hospital bed Density 5.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Total fertility rate 1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate 0.86 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate 66.7% (2018)
Est married women (ages 15-49) 43.2% (2023 est.)
Literacy
Education expenditures 6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Net Migration rate 4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Nationality Belgian | Belgian(s)
Languages
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.)
Age Structure
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)
Dependency Ratios
Total dependency ratio 56.5
Youth dependency ratio 26.1
Elderly dependency ratio 30.4
Potential support ratio 3.3 (2021 est.)
Median Age
Total 42 years (2024 est.)
Male 40.8 years
Female 43.1 years
Urbanization
Urban population 98.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas (Pop) 2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023).
Sex Ratio
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.)
Infant Motality
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
Life Expectancy at birth
Total population 82.3 years (2024 est.)
Male 79.7 years
Female 85 years
Drinking Water Sources
Improved: urban urban: 100% of population
Improved: rural rural: 100% of population
Improved: total total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 0% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 0% of population
Unimproved: total total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility acess
Improved: urban urban: 100% of population
Improved: rural rural: 100% of population
Improved: total total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 0% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 0% of population
Unimproved: total total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
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.)
Tobacco use
Total 23.4% (2020 est.)
Male 25.8% (2020 est.)
Female 21% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile
All Important Facts about Belgium

Want to know more about Belgium? Check all different factbooks for Belgium below.

Belgium is found in Western Europe