Belgium's population structure shows a slightly lower male to female ratio of 0.97 to 1, with a median male age of 41.67 years old and a median female age of 43.73 years old. The highest concentration of adults under 75 years old is in the 59 and 60 year-old age groups, while the lowest concentration is in the 74 and 73 year-old age groups.
Data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
* As of 2/6/2025
1 birth
Every 5.2 minutes
1 death
Every 4.5 minutes
1 immigrant
Every 16.4 minutes
1 person
Every 30.0 minutes
Belgium is located in Western Europe where it borders France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Belgium is home to the European Union headquarters as well as NATO. The February 2015 census in Belgium found an official population of 11.239 million.
Belgium is a population that boasts diverse cultures and ethnicities. However, even with the burgeoning immigrant population, the majority of French-speaking individuals live in and around the capital city of Brussels, while the Flemish-speaking population is more restricted towards the Flanders side of the country. Due to job opportunities, the immigrant population mostly settles down in the large cities, where they can earn their living in an easier manner than in the suburban areas of the country.
In terms of ethnicity, the Flemish community is a majority in the country. More than 6 million inhabitants of Belgium are Flemish, while the French-speaking Walloon are a minority but make up the next biggest population group with around 3.5 million inhabitants. Apart from the two major population groups, there are small groups of minorities present in small pockets around the country, including the roughly 79,000 German-speaking residents who live near the Belgian-German border.
Among the immigrants, the largest group of inhabitants is from Morocco, with around half a million residents living all over Belgium. The next biggest ethnic group of immigrants is from Turkey, and these people are also present in significant numbers all over Belgium.
Overall, Belgium represents a rich group of inhabitants who belong to different ethnicities. It is a country that is showing steady growth and can provide support for its growing population numbers. The official languages include Dutch, French, and German.
In terms of religious followings, the Belgium population is relatively diverse, with 50% reporting an affiliation with Roman Catholics. Protestants and other Christians make up 2.5%, Muslims 5%, Jewish 0.4%, Buddhists 0.3%, and atheists 9.2%. The remaining 32.6% of the population have no religious affiliation.
The life expectancy in Belgium has continued to increase while the death rate has fallen. This has been mainly due to advances in the field of medicine, which has also ensured better healthcare for babies as well. The country is also providing better care during childbirth, leading to a higher rate of births as well. The life expectancy estimate as of 2016 was 80.5 years, which is a significant increase from previous years, with male life expectancy standing at 78 years and female life expectancy at 83 years. In 2018, the World Factbook reports a change of total life expectancy to 81.1, with males at 78.5 and females at 83.8 - showing a slow increase as time continues to pass.
Belgium became an independent nation in 1830 after parting ways politically with the Netherlands. Belgium has long been known for its neutrality policy but abandoned this for a time during World Wars I and II when they were invaded by Germany. The growth rate has remained pretty close to half of a percent annually, fairly consistently until the present day.
