BEL
Data file updated Jun 27, 2026
Belgium
Country profile covering economy, demographics, military, quality-of-life signals, and historical trends.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Brussels
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Dutch, French, German
- Government
- Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Internet Users
- 90.7%
- Unemployment
- 5.6%
- Smoking (15+)
- 18.7%
Population
11.59M
GDP
$578.6B
GDP per Capita
$49,910
Area
30,528 km²
Life Expectancy
81.6 years
HDI
0.9
Economy
5 metrics| GDP (USD) | $578.6B |
|---|---|
| GDP Per Capita (USD) | $49,910 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 5.6% |
| GINI Index (Income Inequality) | 27.4 |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
Trade (Import/Export)
3 metrics| Exports | $532.2B |
|---|---|
| Imports | $534.8B |
| Trade Balance | $-2.6B |
Gold Reserves
1 metrics| Gold Reserves | 227.4 tonnes |
|---|
Society & Demographics
4 metrics| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.6 |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate (%) | 99.0% |
| Internet Users (%) | 90.7% |
| Human Development Index | 0.9 |
Military Strength
9 metrics| Active Personnel | 26,300 |
|---|---|
| Reserve Personnel | 6,750 |
| Total Military Personnel | 33,050 |
| Defense Budget (USD) | $5.8B |
| Tanks | 0 |
| Armored Vehicles | 382 |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 0 |
| Towed Artillery | 0 |
| Rocket Projectors | 0 |
Air Force
7 metrics| Total Aircraft | 164 |
|---|---|
| Fighters | 45 |
| Attack Aircraft | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | 20 |
| Trainer Aircraft | 35 |
| Helicopters | 64 |
| Attack Helicopters | 0 |
Education
4 metrics| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.4% |
|---|---|
| Universities | 85 |
| Primary Enrollment (%) | 99.8% |
| Secondary Enrollment (%) | 98.5% |
Healthcare
5 metrics| Healthcare Expenditure (% of GDP) | 10.4% |
|---|---|
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.1 |
| Hospital Beds per 1,000 people | 5.6 |
| Life Expectancy (Male) | 79.0 |
| Life Expectancy (Female) | 84.2 |
Cost of Living
12 metrics| Cost of Living Index | 62.5 |
|---|---|
| Rent Index | 32.0 |
| Groceries Index | 58.5 |
| Restaurant Price Index | 65.0 |
| Local Purchasing Power | 90.0 |
| Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant (USD) | $14 |
| Three-Course Meal for 2 (USD) | $60 |
| Monthly Rent - City Center (USD) | $1,200 |
| Monthly Rent - Outside Center (USD) | $900 |
| Monthly Utilities (USD) | $140 |
| Internet (60 Mbps, USD) | $40 |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (USD) | $80 |
Historical Data
Olympic Medals
32 Games years
49
Gold
58
Silver
72
Bronze
179
Total Medals (All-Time)
☀ Summer: 170
❄ Winter: 9
Medals by Games Year
Source: Official IOC medal counts via Wikipedia per-Games medal tables (Summer 1896–2024, Winter 1924–2026)
Summer Olympics
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2000 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 1996 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 1972 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1968 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 1960 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1956 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1952 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 1948 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 1936 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1932 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1928 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1924 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| 1920 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 36 |
| 1912 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 1908 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 1900 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
Winter Olympics
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1948 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1928 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1924 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Compare Belgium
Religious Composition
- Catholic 50.0%
- Atheist/Agnostic 32.0%
- Muslim 9.0%
- Other 4.5%
- Protestant 2.5%
- Orthodox 2.0%
Beverages per Person
- Coffee 6.3 kg/yr
- Tea 0.5 kg/yr
- Beer 65.9 L/yr
- Wine 48.0 L/yr
- Alcohol 9.5 L pure/yr
Per-capita — consumption where available, else FAOSTAT supply · alcohol = litres of pure alcohol (WHO)
Age Demographics
41.8
Median Age