Country
Countries A-Z
Belgium
Kingdom of Belgium
Koninkrijk België (Dutch)
Royaume de Belgique (French)
Königreich Belgien (German)
Political Status: Independence proclaimed October 4, 1830; monarchical constitution of 1831 most recently revised in 1970.
Area: 11,781 sq. mi. (30,513 sq. km).
Population: 11,372,000 (2016E—UN); 11,409,077 (2016E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2015E—UN): BRUSSELS (2,045,000), Antwerp (994,000), Ghent (435,000), Charleroi (393,000), Liège (660,000), Bruges (117,377), Namur (110,665).
Official Languages: Dutch, French, German.
Monetary Unit: Euro (market rate October 1, 2016: 0.89 euro = $1US).
Sovereign: King PHILIPPE; ascended the throne on July 21, 2013, following the abdication of his father, King ALBERT II.
Heir to the Throne: Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the king.
Prime Minister: Charles MICHEL (Socialist); appointed by the king on October 7, 2014, and sworn in on October 10, 2014, to succeed Elio DI RUPO, following the May 25, 2014 elections.