Demographics & population — Belgium
Population size, age structure, migration, ethnicity, language, education, and health indicators.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Demographics & population at a glance
Population size, age structure, migration, ethnicity, language, education, and health indicators. Key figure for Belgium: 11,720,716
Immigration rules and fees change frequently — confirm current requirements on official government or embassy websites.
Population overview
- Population
11,720,716
- Population Growth Rate
0.05%
- Urban Population
- Population in Major Urban Areas
BRUSSELS (capital) 1.949 million; Antwerp 959,000
Age & family
- Age Structure
- Median Age
- Birth Rate - births/1,000 population
10
- Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population
10.7
- Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman
1.65
- Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49
70.4%
- Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49
70.4%
- Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)
28
- Mother's mean age at first birth
28
- Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female
Migration
- Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population
1.22
Ethnicity & language
- Ethnic Groups
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
- Language Note
Belgium has two official languages: Flemish, which is a form of Dutch, and French. Flemish is spoken in the northern region known as Flanders. French is spoken in the southern region known as Wallonia. As a result of having two languages, many cities have two or three names, and some Belgians cannot speak with other Belgians. The language is also reflected in the media, which offers both French and Flemish versions of TV, news, and radio. Many Belgians speak more than one language and are therefore sought after as employees for international companies.
- Nationality Noun
Belgian(s)
Education
- Literacy - total population
99%
- Literacy - male
99%
- Literacy - female
99%
- Literacy Definition
Age 15 and over can read and write
- Education Expenditures - percent of GDP
6.6%
- Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)
Health & living conditions
- Life Expectancy at Birth
- Infant Mortality Rate
- Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births
- Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births
8
- Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population
3.78
- Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population
6.5
- Health Expenditures - percent of GDP
10.6%
- Obesity - adult prevalence rate
22.1%
- Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved
- Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved