People and Society of Belgium

Nationality

Belgian(s)

Ethnic Groups

Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Population

11,822,592

Population in Major Urban Areas

BRUSSELS (capital) 1.949 million; Antwerp 959,000

High-quality medical facilities are widely available in Belgium. The large university hospitals can handle almost every medical problem. Hospitals may not necessarily have staff members who are fluent in English. The Embassy's Consular Section maintains a list of English-speaking doctors. Equivalents for most, but not all, U.S. medications are available through local pharmacies with a prescription from a Belgian physician. Travelers to Belgium are encouraged to bring a sufficient supply of prescription medications for the duration of their stay.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Belgium ranks among the highest in the world, reflecting the country's advanced healthcare system, high standard of living, and strong social welfare infrastructure. As of the most recent available data, the overall life expectancy at birth in Belgium stands at approximately 82 years. Women in Belgium typically live longer than men, with female life expectancy averaging around 84 years compared to approximately 80 years for males — a gender gap consistent with broader European trends. Belgium benefits from a universal healthcare system that provides broad access to medical services, preventive care, and specialist treatment for residents. The country spends a significant portion of its GDP on health expenditure, contributing to strong outcomes in areas such as cardiovascular disease management, cancer survival rates, and infant mortality reduction. The infant mortality rate in Belgium is very low, at roughly 3 deaths per 1,000 live births, which further supports favorable overall life expectancy figures. Over the past several decades, life expectancy in Belgium has risen steadily. In the 1960s, average life expectancy hovered around 70 years, meaning Belgians today can expect to live more than a decade longer than their counterparts from that era. This improvement has been driven by advances in medical technology, better nutrition, reduced smoking rates, and improvements in workplace safety and living conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary dip in life expectancy figures in 2020 and 2021, as it did across much of Europe, though Belgium has since recovered toward pre-pandemic levels. Regional differences exist within Belgium. Residents of the Flemish region in the north tend to have slightly higher life expectancy than those in Wallonia in the south, a disparity linked to differences in income levels, employment rates, and health behaviors. The Brussels-Capital Region presents a more complex picture due to its urban demographics and higher levels of socioeconomic inequality. Belgium's aging population presents ongoing challenges for the healthcare and pension systems, as a growing proportion of citizens are living into their 80s and 90s. The government continues to invest in elder care infrastructure and preventive health programs to sustain and improve these life expectancy gains for future generations.

Infant Mortality Rate

Belgium maintains one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, reflecting the country's advanced healthcare infrastructure, strong social welfare systems, and high standard of living. As of the most recent available data, Belgium's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 3 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing it among the top-performing nations globally in this key public health indicator. Infant mortality is measured as the number of deaths occurring in children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. Belgium's consistently low figures are the result of several interconnected factors, including universal access to prenatal and postnatal care, a well-trained medical workforce, and robust public health programs that support maternal and child health throughout pregnancy and early infancy. The country's healthcare system provides expectant mothers with comprehensive prenatal monitoring, including regular ultrasounds, screenings for chromosomal abnormalities, and nutritional guidance. After birth, newborns receive systematic health screenings and vaccinations as part of a nationally coordinated program. Belgium also benefits from a strong network of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) capable of supporting premature or at-risk infants. Regional differences exist within the country. Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region each manage aspects of health policy through their respective regional governments, and slight variations in infant mortality rates can be observed across these regions, though all remain well below the global average. Belgium's infant mortality rate has declined significantly over the past several decades. In the 1960s and 1970s, rates were considerably higher, but sustained investment in healthcare access, improved obstetric care, and advances in neonatal medicine have driven the rate down steadily over time. For context, the global average infant mortality rate is roughly 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, making Belgium's rate approximately nine times lower than the worldwide figure. This places Belgium alongside countries such as Finland, Japan, and Norway as global leaders in infant survival outcomes.

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Culture

Belgians greatly value education. It is often more important to use family finances to send children to study at a university than to take a family holiday. Because schooling is free in Belgium between the ages of 6 and 18, almost all the adult population is able to read and write. The government funds both public and private schools, and many students attend schools run by religious groups. Language differences affect the educational system, depending on the region. Classes are either taught in Flemish or French. The oldest institution of higher education in Belgium is the Catholic University of Louvain. It is famous for its library, which contains materials from the middle ages.

• Roman Catholic75.0%
• Protestant or other25.0%

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Belgium has two official languages: Flemish, which is a form of Dutch, and French. Flemish is spoken in the northern region known as Flanders. French is spoken in the southern region known as Wallonia. As a result of having two languages, many cities have two or three names, and some Belgians cannot speak with other Belgians. The language is also reflected in the media, which offers both French and Flemish versions of TV, news, and radio. Many Belgians speak more than one language and are therefore sought after as employees for international companies.

• Dutch
• French
• German

Crime Information

Although Belgium remains relatively free of violent crime, low-level street crime, such as muggings, purse snatchings, and pickpocketing is common, particularly in major cities. Thieves loiter in transportation hubs like the metro (subway) and train stations, notably the Gare du Midi, the primary international train hub in Brussels. They take advantage of disoriented or distracted travelers and watch for people who put their luggage down and are inattentive for even a moment. Be particularly vigilant in these areas. Keep your eyes on your belongings. On trains, don’t place valuables on overhead racks. Thieves often operate in teams. Once they identify a target, they cause a distraction. One way to do this is to create a random commotion such as by dropping money, cell phones, or other objects on the ground. Another way is by bumping into or shoving the target, especially in crowds. Still another common method is for an accomplice to get the target’s attention by speaking to that person or asking to sign a petition while the partner carries out the theft. Be alert to distractions. Thieves also operate in restaurants, bars, and hotels. Take appropriate caution in these locations. Don’t sit next to doors where thieves can reach in and grab a bag that is placed on a chair or on the floor next to it. Exercise good security and safety practices when selecting and checking into hotels. Ensure that rooms have door and window locks. When possible, select a room above the ground and first floors. Another problem is theft from vehicles. Do not leave anything visible that might attract a thief, even while you are driving. Items left on the passenger front seat of a car are particularly vulnerable. Always drive with your windows up and the doors locked. Thieves will sometimes position themselves at traffic lights to scan for valuables in stopped cars. If they see a purse or other valuables, they break in and steal the item before you have time to react. If doors are locked, thieves may smash the window to steal. Use parking garages when possible, as they are generally more secure than street parking. When a parking garage is not available, look for a spot near a street light. There have been instances of small groups of young men who prey on unwary tourists, usually at night in the Brussels metro (subway). These thieves typically seek small, high-value items such as smartphones and MP3 players. You should carry only a minimum amount of cash, credit cards, and necessary personal identification (see Special Circumstances, below, for acceptable forms of identification). We advise against wearing expensive jewelry and watches. Scammers have victimized U.S. citizens around the world, including in Belgium. A common scam involves an Internet friend or partner who is reported to have been detained by immigration authorities in Belgium en route to the United States and will not be released unless additional funds are paid to the “traveler” for Belgian customs fees. In every case, these reports have been determined to be confidence schemes. Several U.S. citizens have lost tens of thousands of dollars in such scams. Funds transferred in response to such offers can rarely be recovered. Information on fraud schemes can be found in the Department of State's International Financial Scams brochure. Although the scammers are pretending to be distressed U.S.-citizen travelers stranded in Belgium, it is important to realize that the scammers are, in fact, most likely not in Belgium. The point of the scam is to make the target believe that the message is coming from Belgium when it is really coming from another country. U.S.citizens in the United States who have been victimized by Internet crime should report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. U.S. citizens present in Belgium who have been victimized should contact the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels (Telephone 011-32-2-811-4057). Depending on the circumstances, the Regional Security Office can then direct you to the appropriate Belgian, United States, or international law enforcement agency.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Belgium, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own, and criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. For instance, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children, or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Belgium, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Persons violating Belgian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Belgium are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Belgium, you have the right to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the Embassy. Arrest notifications in Belgium: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.