Belgium is situated in the west of Europe and shares borders with the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and France. Belgium has one of the highest population densities in Europe.
It is a federal state with a parliamentary democracy and has three levels of government -the federal government, the federated entities and the local governments.
The Belgian health system is based on the principle of social insurance characterized by solidarity between the rich and poor, healthy and sick people and with no selection of risk. Source: Health Systems in Transition (HiT) Belgium.
EUROPEAN UNION
Capital: Brussels
Geographical size: 30.528 km2
Population: 11.203.992 (2014)
Population as % of total EU population: 2,2 % (2014)
GDP: € 382.692 billion (2013)
Official EU language(s): Dutch, French and German
Political system: Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
EU member country since: 1 January 1958
Seats in the European Parliament: 21
Currency: Eurozone member since 1 January 1999
Schengen area member? Yes, Schengen Area member since 26 March 1995
Presidency of the Council: Belgium has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 12 times between 1958 and 2010
| Total population (2013) | 11.104.000 |
| Gross national income per capita (PPP international $, 2013) | 40.280 |
| Life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2012) | 78/83 |
| Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births, 0) | not available |
| Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population, 2012) | 98/57 |
| Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2012) | 4.320 |
| Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2012) | 10,8 % |