Capital of Belgium: Brussels — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Belgium is Brussels. Belgium sits in Europe, has a population of 11,685,814, and uses the EUR. Official languages include Dutch, French, German.
Quick facts
- Capital: Brussels
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~11,685,814
- Area: 30,528 km²
- Population density: 383 people per km²
- Official languages: Dutch, French, German
- Currency: EUR
- ISO code: BE
How big is Belgium?
By population, Belgium ranks 81st in the world, holding roughly 0.15% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 137th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Belgium has 383 people per square kilometre, which is about 6.4 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Belgium is the 11th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Belgium in population are Haiti (11,584,996) and Jordan (11,285,869).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Lesotho (30,355 km²) and Armenia (29,743 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Dutch is spoken officially in 3 countries in this dataset, including Netherlands and Suriname.
The EUR is not unique to Belgium — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Croatia and Cyprus, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Belgium
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the de facto capital of the European Union, home of the European Commission. For the flag, it uses the same colours as Germany's, but standing upright (vertical) with black at the flagpole.
The flag of Belgium: black, yellow and red
🇧🇪 The flag is three equal vertical stripes of black, yellow and red. The colours come from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant: a yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black shield. The vertical design was based on the flag of France.
Region and neighbours
Belgium is a country in Western Europe, on the North Sea between France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg, divided into Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south and the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle. It shares land borders with 4 countries: France, Luxembourg, Germany and Netherlands.
- France 🇫🇷 — capital Paris
- Luxembourg 🇱🇺 — capital Luxembourg
- Germany 🇩🇪 — capital Berlin
- Netherlands 🇳🇱 — capital Amsterdam
Three facts about Belgium
- Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German.
- Belgium is famous for beer, chocolate, waffles and French fries, and mussels with fries is a national dish.
- Belgium was one of the six founding members of the European Union.
Sources: Wikipedia: Belgium, Wikipedia: Flag of Belgium, Wikipedia: Brussels, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Belgium
- European capitals quiz — match Belgium to Brussels
- European flags quiz — spot the Belgium flag among its neighbours
Belgium capital quiz
What is the capital of Belgium 🇧🇪?
- Madrid
- Moscow
- Brussels
- Budapest
Show answer
Brussels
What is the capital of Sweden 🇸🇪?
- Rome
- Belgrade
- Monaco
- Stockholm
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Stockholm
What is the capital of Czechia 🇨🇿?
- San Marino
- Pristina
- Vilnius
- Prague
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Prague
What is the capital of Greece 🇬🇷?
- Valletta
- Warsaw
- Athens
- Tirana
Show answer
Athens
What is the capital of Portugal 🇵🇹?
- Reykjavík
- Bern
- Bratislava
- Lisbon
Show answer
Lisbon
Belgium in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Belgium belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Belgium.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Belgium?
The capital of Belgium is Brussels.
What is the population of Belgium?
About 11,685,814, making it the 81st most populous country in the world.
How big is Belgium?
30,528 square kilometres, ranking 137th by land area, at a density of 383 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Belgium use?
The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.
What are the colours of the Belgium flag?
The flag of Belgium is three equal vertical stripes of black, yellow and red. The colours come from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant: a yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black shield. The vertical design was based on the flag of France.
Which countries border Belgium?
Belgium shares land borders with France, Luxembourg, Germany and Netherlands.
How can I remember the capital of Belgium?
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the de facto capital of the European Union, home of the European Commission. For the flag, it uses the same colours as Germany's, but standing upright (vertical) with black at the flagpole.
More capitals to learn
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