Belgium profile

Demography and Health

Belgium is home to about 11.88 million people in 2024, a density and structure shaped by steady migration and long-standing demographic trends. Net migration reaches 36,243 in 2024, helping to offset natural aging and supporting a relatively young labor pool in growth phases of the economy. The birth rate stands at 9.4 per 1,000 people and the crude death rate is 9.4 per 1,000 people in 2023, suggesting a near balance between births and deaths and signaling an aging population that will increasingly influence pension systems, healthcare demand, and intergenerational policy design. Life expectancy at birth is 82.4 years (2023), aligning with high-income country norms and reflecting strong healthcare access and outcomes. Health system capacity is robust: physicians average 3.24 per 1,000 people and hospital beds 5.48 per 1,000 people (2021), a combination that supports comprehensive medical care. Current health expenditure is 10.8% of GDP (2022), with domestic government health expenditure per capita in purchasing power parity terms at 5,555 international dollars (2022), indicating substantial public investment in health services. Under-5 mortality is low at 3.6 per 1,000 live births (2023), but the country also faces a relatively high suicide mortality rate of 18.4 per 100,000 (2021), highlighting the importance of mental health alongside physical health initiatives. Digital connectivity is strong, with 94.6% of the population using the internet in 2023, supporting telemedicine and health information access. Social vulnerability remains non-trivial: the poverty headcount at national poverty lines is 12.3% (2022) and the prevalence of undernourishment is 2.5% (2022), indicating ongoing challenges in social inclusion and nutrition that policy aims to address through social protection and nutrition programs. Overall, Belgium benefits from high life expectancy, well-funded health services, and solid health indicators, even as demographic aging and mental health considerations shape future policy priorities.

Economy

Belgium exhibits a highly developed, high-income economy with a GDP per capita of 55,955 current US dollars in 2024, ranking around 16th globally. When measured by purchasing power parity, GDP per capita stands at 72,126 international dollars (2024), signaling strong living standards and a productive economy. The country is exceptionally open to trade, with exports and imports each accounting for 79.2% of GDP in 2024, underscoring Belgium's role as a central hub in European and global value chains. High-technology exports reached about 50.65 billion USD in 2023, reflecting a diversified, knowledge-intensive export base. Research and development intensity is solid at 3.41% of GDP in 2022, reinforcing Belgium’s capacity for innovation and the development of advanced products and services. Inflation is moderate at 3.14% in 2024, and unemployment remains relatively low at 5.53% in 2023, pointing to a resilient labor market. The current account balance is mildly negative at -0.86% of GDP in 2024, indicating a near-balanced external position, while foreign direct investment net inflows are negative at -5.35% of GDP in 2024, a counterintuitive signal that could reflect profit repatriation, corporate restructuring, or capital dynamics rather than a weak investment climate. Governance and regulatory indicators are favorable: regulatory quality is 1.17 (rank 28) and the rule of law is 1.30 (rank 23), with control of corruption at 1.34 (rank 24) and government effectiveness at 1.04 (rank 36). Taken together, these data portray Belgium as a highly productive, innovation-driven economy with strong public institutions, supported by a skilled workforce and active participation in global trade, while financial flows reflect complex capital movements within a highly integrated economy.

Trade and Investment

Belgium’s trade profile is characterized by exceptional openness and integration into global and European markets. Exports and imports each amount to 79.2% of GDP in 2024, illustrating a highly trade-dependent economy anchored in a sophisticated external sector. The logistics performance index scores 4.1 on a 1-to-5 scale (2022), placing Belgium among the top performers for trade and transport infrastructure, which facilitates efficient cross-border shipments and just-in-time manufacturing. High-technology exports totaling about 50.65 billion USD in 2023 demonstrate a strong orientation toward advanced industries and knowledge-based sectors. Research and development expenditure at 3.41% of GDP (2022) supports continued innovation and competitiveness, complemented by 799 resident patent applications in 2021, signaling ongoing inventive activity. Internet usage at 94.6% (2023) indicates a digitally enabled economy that can exploit e-commerce, digital services, and data-driven business models. While foreign direct investment net inflows are negative (-5.35% of GDP in 2024), Belgium’s integration within the EU—and its reputation for stable institutions and a highly skilled workforce—continues to attract capital through other channels, including corporate reinvestment and intra-company transfers. Taken together, Belgium’s trade and investment landscape reflects a mature, export-oriented, and technology-driven economy with strong logistics capabilities, enabling competition in global value chains despite complex capital movement patterns.

Governance and Institutions

Belgium’s governance is characterized by stable institutions and credible policy frameworks, underpinned by robust regulatory quality and rule-of-law performance. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism are measured at 0.404 (2023), with a rank of 78, indicating a stable political environment by international standards, though not without challenges typical of a federal, multi-level polity. Regulatory quality stands at 1.17 (rank 28) and the rule of law at 1.30 (rank 23), while control of corruption is 1.34 (rank 24) and government effectiveness 1.04 (rank 36). These indicators together suggest a governance framework that supports predictable regulation, enforceable rights, credible public administration, and a generally favorable business climate. The current account balance is -0.855% of GDP (2024), signaling a modest external deficit that is not out of line with a highly open, consumer- and investment-driven economy. Net migration reaches 36,243 (2024), reflecting demographic dynamics that, in a small, highly globalized country, interplay with labor markets, skills supply, and social policy. Overall, Belgium’s governance and institutions appear robust and credible, providing a stable platform for economic activity, social protection, and integration into European and global systems.

Infrastructure and Technology

Belgium shows a high-performance infrastructure and technology profile. The logistics performance index rating of 4.1 (2022) on a 1-to-5 scale places Belgium among the top tiers for trade and transport-related infrastructure, facilitating efficient logistics and regional connectivity. Internet penetration is exceptionally high, with 94.6% of the population online in 2023, enabling widespread digital services, e-government, and innovation ecosystems. Health infrastructure is well developed, with 5.48 hospital beds per 1,000 people and 3.24 physicians per 1,000 people (2021), supported by public health expenditure totaling 10.8% of GDP (2022) and per-capita health expenditure in PPP terms of 5,555 international dollars (2022). Belgium’s innovation ecosystem is strong: R&D spending is 3.41% of GDP (2022) and 799 resident patent applications were filed in 2021, alongside high-technology exports of 50.65 billion USD in 2023, signaling a productive knowledge economy and capability to commercialize new technologies. The country’s renewable energy contribution stood at 11.7% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources while relying on other energy imports and fossil fuels to support current demand. Collectively, Belgium’s infrastructure and technology landscape features top-tier logistics, extensive digital connectivity, substantial health and innovation capacity, and an ongoing but gradual shift toward renewable energy, all of which support a competitive, technology-driven economy.

Environment and Sustainability

Belgium’s environmental profile reflects a high-income country pursuing modernization alongside sustainability. Renewable energy accounts for 11.7% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating substantial room for growth in clean energy adoption and energy efficiency. Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita are 9.02 t CO2e in 2023, a level that underscores the ongoing challenge of decarbonizing a diversified economy with industry, transport, and service sectors. Water resources face a notable stress dimension, with freshwater withdrawal at 51.9% of available freshwater resources in 2021, highlighting the need for careful water management across sectors. Social indicators show a poverty rate of 12.3% in 2022 and under-nourishment at 2.5% in 2022, suggesting a relatively strong social safety net alongside pockets of vulnerability. Belgium’s strong R&D intensity (3.41% of GDP in 2022) supports climate- and environmental-related innovation, while high GDP per capita and widespread internet access facilitate policy implementation and public engagement in sustainability goals. Overall, Belgium’s environment and sustainability profile reflects progress in innovation and governance, with meaningful work remaining to expand renewable energy, reduce per-capita emissions, and manage water resources efficiently in a highly urbanized, diversified economy.