Belgium (in French, Belgique; in Dutch, België), officially Kingdom of Belgium, constitutional monarchy in north-western Europe, bounded on the north by the Netherlands and the North Sea, on the east by Germany and Luxembourg, and on the south and south-west by France. With the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium forms the Low, or Benelux, Countries. It is about 282 km (175 mi) long, from the south-east to the north-west, about 145 km (90 mi) wide, and is roughly triangular in shape. The area is 30,528 sq km (11,787 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Brussels, located in the centre of Belgium.
Population
10,130,574
(1995 official estimate)
Population Density
331 people/sq km
(859 people/sq mi)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
97% Urban
3% Rural
Largest Cities
Brussels 951,580
Antwerp 459,072
Ghent 227,483
(1995 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
57% Flemings
32% Walloons
11% Other
including Germans, Italians, Moroccans, French, Dutch, and Turks
Languages
Dutch, French, German
Religions
80% Roman Catholicism
20% Other
including Islam, Judaism, and Protestantism