Belgium is a small European country with a long and confusing history that often overlaps with other states. What characterizes the modern population of Belgium? Learn more about this later.
Summary
The Kingdom of Belgium is located in the western part of Europe. It is surrounded by the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany. To the northwest is the North Sea. The population density of Belgium is 368 people per square kilometer, and the area of the country is 30,528 km2. sq.
The state has gone through a long history, having been part of the Roman Empire, the Duchy of Burgundy, the Netherlands and France. Belgium gained full independence in 1839, declaring it back in 1830. Since then, it has been a constitutional monarchy ruled by a king.
The capital of the state and the largest city is Brussels. Here are the offices and headquarters of the international communities, of which Belgium is a member (NATO, the European Union, the Benelux Secretariat). Bruges, Antwerp, Charleroi, Ghent are also major cities.
Population of Belgium
The state occupies77th place in the world in terms of the number of inhabitants. The population of Belgium is 11.4 million. The natural increase is generally positive. The birth rate is only 0.11% higher than the death rate.
The percentage of the young population has been gradually decreasing since 1962. Then children aged 0 to 14 years old made up 24% of all residents, now - 17.2%. However, in recent years the trend has turned positive again. Approximately 18.4% of residents over 65 years of age, almost 64.48% are between the ages of 15 and 64.
The table shows the gender structure of the population in more detail. Belgium has a female-dominated population.
| 0-14 years old | 15-24 years old | 25-64 years old | 65 and over | Lifespan | |
| Men | 1 000 155 | 667 760 | 3 036 079 | 911 199 | 78, 4 |
| Women | 952 529 | 640 364 | 3 012 533 | 1 118 458 | 83, 7 |
According to 2016, there are 1.78 children per woman, and the family size is 2.7 people. On average, women give birth to their first child at the age of 28. The predominant number of children appears in full-fledged families with two parents.
Ethniccomposition
The population of Belgium consists of two large ethnic groups: the Flemings (58%) and the Walloons (31%). National minorities are represented by the French, Italians, Dutch, Spaniards and Germans. Almost 9% of immigrants live in the country. This includes Poles, Moroccans, Turks, Indians, French, Italians, Congolese and others.
Flemings and Walloons are indigenous people. The former are descendants of the Frisians, Saxons, Franks and Batavians. Their native language is Dutch and its numerous dialects. The Walloons are significantly inferior to the Flemings in numbers. They are the descendants of the Romanized Celtic tribes - the Belgae. They speak French and Walloon.
Belgium has three national languages. About 60% speak Dutch, nearly 40% speak French, and less than one percent speak German. Three-quarters of the population adheres to Catholicism, the rest profess other religions, among which Islam and Protestantism predominate.
Cultural disputes and differences
The population of Belgium is characterized by noticeable differences between indigenous ethnic groups. The culture of the Flemings is closest to the Dutch. They inhabit the northern region of the country, called Flanders. Art, architecture and folk poetry, due to historical events, are closely connected with the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Many cultural figures created their works in the Dutch language.
The Walloons are closest in spirit to the French. They share a language with them, although othersaspects of life are still different due to the influence of the Germanic tribes. The Walloon Region covers five provinces in the south of the country, centered on Namur.
The Flemings have been competing with the Walloons for a long time. The first claims were voiced immediately after the declaration of independence of the country, since French became the official language throughout the territory. The Flemings immediately declared inequality, starting to reclaim their identity. Economic and cultural disputes have arisen throughout Belgian history, up to modern dates.
Employment
The working population of Belgium is 5.247 million. The unemployment rate reaches 8.6%, which puts the country in one of the first places in the European Union. Despite this, the state's GDP is $30,000 per capita.
The large number of unemployed and the rather moderate pace of development of the Belgian economy are associated with insufficient competitiveness and lack of adaptation to new market conditions. With the emergence of new leaders in the industry, demand for the country's main products - textiles, engineering products, glass, inorganic chemistry - has fallen.
The largest number of residents are employed in the service sector, which also slows down the restructuring of the economy. Currently, about 1% of the working population is engaged in agriculture. The service sector accounts for 74%, industry - 24% of the population. The rest are engaged in real estate, finance, transport and communications.
