Country data

Location: Europe

Time zone: CET

Total area: 30,528 km²

Land area: 30,278 km²

Water area: 250 km²

Length of the state border: 1,297 km

Bordering countries:
Germany: 133 km
France: 556 km
Luxembourg: 130 km
Netherlands: 478 km

Coastline: 66 km

Capital: Brussels

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 32 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Population

Population: approx. 10.4 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 341

Life expectancy: 77 (male), 83 (female)

Official language: Dutch, French, German

Religions:

• 75% Roman Catholic
• 25% other

Climate

The Western European climate that dominates Belgium is maritime and cool. The rains are evenly distributed throughout the year.

The average temperatures are 15 to 24 ° C in summer and -2 to + 5 ° C in winter.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: € / Euro (EUR)

Division: 1 € = 100 cents

ATMs: Numerous available (EC card / credit card and PIN number)

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

Travel advice

Since the attack on Zaventem international airport in Brussels, security checks have been increasing at train stations and airports.

The police and military presence has increased across the country.

You should avoid staying in large crowds.

Economy

Belgium has a heavily industrialized economy in which there is almost no room for large-scale agriculture.

The mining of coal has decreased sharply in recent years as the reserves are almost exhausted.

The city of Antwerp is known for the diamond trade. This is where most of the world’s industrial diamonds are made.

Industries: vehicle construction, fishing, coal, food production, steel processing, textiles

Natural resources: natural gas, coal

Land use:

• Usable land: 24%
• Grain cultivation: 1%
• Pasture area: 20%
• Forests: 21%
• other: 34%

Plants

The beech, oak, pine and elm forests are being protected and rebuilt by government programs.

Various types of flowers and grass grow particularly in the edge zones of the forests.

Animals

There are only a few large wild animals left in Belgium (deer and wild boar). Badgers, squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs and martens, on the other hand, are still quite common in the forests.