invention
Belgium is credited with popularizing the saxophone, invented by Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in the 1840s.
Belgium
Kingdom of Belgium
Population, GDP, and key facts about Belgium — updated for 2026.
Capital · BRUSSELSContinent · EUROPEISO · BEL
Belgium quick facts
- Population
- 11,858,610
- Area
- 30,689 km²
- Population density
- 386 people/km²
- GDP
- US$ 671 Billion
- GDP per capita
- US$ 56.6K
- Capital
- Brussels
- Currency
- Euro (€, EUR)
- Minimum wage
- US$ 2.5K/month · € 2,234/month (2026)
- Languages
- German, French, Dutch
Belgium at human scale
Where does Belgium rank in the world?
Compare Belgium with other countries
🇧🇪 vs 🇦🇹Compare Belgium vs Austria1.3× difference in population🇧🇪 vs 🇸🇸Compare Belgium vs South Sudan
Compare Belgium with any country →Belgium's energy mix
Fossil fuels · 28%Nuclear · 33%Renewables · 39%
- Nuclear33%
- Natural gas22%
- Wind19%
- Solar14%
- Oil6%
- Bioenergy5%
- Hydropower1%
Share of Belgium's own electricity generation by source, 2025. Source: Our World in Data (Ember Yearly Electricity Data and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy).
Everything we know about Belgium
culture
Belgium is home to over 1,500 beer brands, and its beer culture was recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
Countries near Belgium
How many countries do you think Belgium could fit?
Pour other countries into Belgium's own outline, by real area, and see how many it takes to fill it up.
Fill the Country →Frequently asked questions about Belgium
What is the capital of Belgium?
The capital of Belgium is Brussels.
What is Belgium's population?
Belgium has a population of 11,858,610.
What is Belgium's GDP per capita?
Belgium's GDP per capita is US$ 56.6K.
What is the currency of Belgium?
The currency of Belgium is the Euro (EUR).
What is the minimum wage in Belgium?
Belgium's statutory minimum wage is about US$ 2.5K per month (as of 2026) — € 2,234 per month in local currency.
Is Belgium bigger than Austria?
Austria is about 2.7× the size of Belgium by land area.
Data from the World Bank, updated November 2026.