Filed under Europe and more precisely Western Europe, Belgium is a sovereign state. The long form of the name is Kingdom of Belgium. Brussels is the capital.
By land area it covers 30,528 km², which ranks it 142nd of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Moldova and just ahead of Lesotho. For scale, it is around a fifth smaller than Switzerland.
Around 11.9 million people live there, placing it 82nd of 250 by population — between South Sudan above it and Haiti below. Among the 8 entries in Western Europe it ranks 5th by area and 4th by population.
Where Belgium is and what surrounds it
The coordinates the dataset gives are 50.8° N, 4.0° E, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 5,659 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
Its land neighbours number 4: France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The largest of them by area is France, while the most populous is Germany. Together those neighbours hold about 170.7 million people.
It has both a coastline and land borders, which is the most common arrangement of all.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Spread across 30,528 km², that works out at about 388 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
3 languages carry official status: Dutch, French and German. Dutch, the first listed, is shared with 6 other entries worldwide.
Someone from Belgium is a Belgian.
Inside Europe it places 11th of 53 by population, and it accounts for 6.2% of everyone living in Western Europe.
Currency, domain and dialling code
Money there is the Euro (€, EUR). That is a shared currency: 37 other entries use it, including Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Belgium, the answer is Brussels.
Websites there use the .be domain. Calls from overseas start with +32. Standard country codes: be and BEL.
Belgium is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Belgium shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Belgium
- In land area it is around a fifth smaller than Switzerland.
- Within Western Europe it is the 5th largest of 8.
- Ranked by land area, Belgium is 142nd out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- It lies about 5,659 km from the equator, in temperate latitudes.
- Its full official name is Kingdom of Belgium.
- Its currency, the Euro, is shared with 37 other entries.
- Population density works out at roughly 388 people per square kilometre.
Belgium — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Belgium?
- The capital of Belgium is Brussels.
- What is the population of Belgium?
- Belgium has a population of about 11.9 million, which makes it the 82nd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. South Sudan sits just above it and Haiti just below.
- Which countries border Belgium?
- Belgium borders 4 countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. France is the largest of them by area.
- What language is spoken in Belgium?
- Belgium lists 3 official languages: Dutch, French and German.
- What currency does Belgium use?
- Belgium uses the Euro, written € (currency code EUR). It is shared with 37 other entries.
- Where is Belgium located?
- Belgium is in Western Europe, part of Europe. Its reference coordinates are 50.8° north and 4.0° east, roughly 5,659 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- How big is Belgium?
- Belgium covers 30,528 km², ranking 142nd of 250 by land area. That makes it around a fifth smaller than Switzerland.
- Is Belgium a country?
- Yes. Belgium is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
