Factbook
Histoire de Belgique — Chronologie
Dates clés de l'histoire de Belgique, d'après le Factbook Magna et l'Encyclopédie universelle.
1830Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II.
1830Independence: 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne).
2018Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.) Urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023).
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 24.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); nuclear: 40.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 20% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: -0.1% of total instal Energy use: 190.416 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum Agriculture: sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, maize, chicken, barley, pears (2023) Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023) high-income, core EU and eurozone economy; slow growth with weakened domestic consumption and export demand; high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending; aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates Inflation: 3.1% (2024 est.).
2025Military spending: 2% of GDP (2025 est.).
2025Population: 12.0 million (2025 estimate).
