Dutch/Flemish in the northern population; French in the Walloon south
Gross domestic product (GDP) (in dollars)
531.5 bn
Currency
Euro
Human development index (HDI), an index based on life expectancy, education and GDP (max. 1)
0.890
World rank in HDI
21
Key economic sectors
Services (76); industry (23); agriculture (1) (2012)
Leading companies
Anheuser-Busch InBev, a beverages company (US$196·6bn.); KBC, a banking group (US$25·8bn.); and UCB, a biopharmaceutical company (US$14·1bn.).
Unemployment (2015)
7.9%
Main religious denominations (% of population)
Roman Catholic (62%); Muslim (6%); religiously unaffiliated (29%)
Political and electoral systems
A constitutional monarchy and federal state A Chamber of Representatives is elected for a four-year term by proportional representation (voting is compulsory). Seats in the less powerful Senate are strictly allocated by an electoral college to a quota of representatives of Dutch- and French-speaking citizens. The government must comprise an equal number of Dutch- and French-speakers.
Current (March 2010) leaders
Prime Minister: Charles Michel (b. 1975) since October 2014
Previous leaders:
Prime Ministers: Elio di Rupo (2011-2014); Yves Leterme (2009-2011); Herman Van Rompuy (2008-2009)
Joined the EU/EC
1957 (founder member)
Commissioner from country in Barroso II College of Commissioners, and portfolio
Karel de Gucht (Trade)
Number of MEPs
21
Turnout in 2014 EP elections (%)
89.6
Member of eurozone
Yes (founder member)
Except where a specific reference is inserted, the sources for this profile are either Neill Nugent’s book itself, or Barry Turner (ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook Online, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. If your library subscribes, you can gain access at
