People in Belgium

Population: 10 364 388 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 892 995; female 855 177)

15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3 435 282; female 3 373 917)

65 years and over: 17.4% (male 745 178; female 1 061 839) (2005 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.79% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: 10.48 births/1 000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: 10.22 deaths/1 000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.23 migrant(s)/1 000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.68 deaths/1 000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.62 years

male: 75.44 years

female: 81.94 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belgian(s)

adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups: Fleming 58% Walloon 31% mixed or other 11%

Religions: Roman Catholic 75% Protestant or other 25%

Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98%