Belgium,[A] officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe.

It is bordered by
the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the
southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and
has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the
world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376 per square
kilometre (970/sq mi). The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities
are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège.
Legally, Belgium is a sovereign state and a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary
system. Its institutional organization is complex and is structured on both regional and linguistic
grounds. It is divided into three highly autonomous regions:[10] the Flemish Region in the
north, Wallonia in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region. Brussels is the smallest and most
densely populated region, as well as the richest region in terms of GDP per capita.
Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups or communities: the Dutch-speaking Flemish
Community, which constitutes about 60 percent of the population, and the French-speaking
Community, which comprises about 40 percent of all Belgians. A small German-speaking
Community, numbering around one percent, exists in the East Cantons. The Brussels-Capital
Region is officially bilingual (French and Dutch), although French is the dominant language.
[11]
 Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political
history and complex system of governance, made up of six different governments.
Historically, Belgium is part of an area known as the Low Countries, a somewhat larger region than
the current Benelux group of states that also included parts of northern France and western
Germany. Its modern name is derived from the Latin word Belgium, used in Julius Caesar's "Gallic
War", to describe the region in the period around 55 BCE.[12] From the end of the Middle Ages until
the 17th century, the area of Belgium was a prosperous and cosmopolitan center of commerce and
culture. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Belgium served as the battleground between
many European powers, earning the moniker the "Battlefield of Europe",[13] a reputation strengthened
by both world wars. The country emerged in 1830 following the Belgian Revolution when it seceded
from the Netherlands.
Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution[14][15] and, during the course of the 20th century,
possessed a number of colonies in Africa.[16] The second half of the 20th century was marked by
rising tensions between the Dutch-speaking and the French-speaking citizens fueled by differences
in language and culture and the unequal economic development of Flanders and Wallonia. This
continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching reforms, resulting in a transition from
a unitary to a federal arrangement during the period from 1970 to 1993. Despite the reforms,
tensions between the groups have remained, if not increased; there is significant separatism
particularly among the Flemish; controversial language laws exist such as the municipalities with
language facilities;[17] and the formation of a coalition government took 18 months following the June
2010 federal election, a world record.[18] Unemployment in Wallonia is more than double that of
Flanders, which boomed after the war.[19]
Belgium is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and its capital, Brussels, hosts
the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and
the European Council, as well as one of two seats of the European Parliament (the other
being Strasbourg). Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD, and WTO,
and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union and the Schengen Area. Brussels hosts several of the EU's
official seats as well as the headquarters of many major international organizations such as NATO.[B]
Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy. It has very high standards
of living, quality of life,[20] healthcare,[21] education,[22] and is categorized as "very high" in the Human
Development Index.[23] It also ranks as one of the safest or most peaceful countries in the world.[24]