Belgium

Summary

Official Name

Kingdom of Belgium

International Conventions

CPPDCE (2013), CSICH (2006), ICCPR (1983), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

11,534,000

Principal Languages

Dutch, French

Literacy Rate

99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)

General References

Comrie 1987, Stephens 1976

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Belgium is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 5 are developing, and 3 are in trouble. Also listed are 28 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Tosk als: Users: 12,600 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
Arabic, Algerian Spoken arq: Users: 32,000 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm: Users: 8,140 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary: Users: 340,000 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 32,100 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Mesopotamian Spoken ayp: Users: 4,590 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Tunisian Spoken aeb: Users: 20,900 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Bulgarian bul: Users: 46,900 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 22,300 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dari prs: Users: 6,510 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Dutch nld: Antwerp, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, and Limburg provinces; one area in Brussels. Users: 7,640,000 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 6,160,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 1,480,000 (2017 P. Jorgensen). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30). Alternate Names: Flemish, Nederlands, Vlaams Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng: Users: 4,423,300 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 43,300 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 4,380,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Anglais, Engels, Englisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Flemish Sign Language vgt: Scattered in Flanders. Users: 6,500 (2021 EUD). 6,500 deaf signers, approximately 0.1% of the total population of Flanders (2021 EUD). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2006, Parliamentary decree, 26 April 2006). Alternate Names: VGT, Vlaamse Gebarentaal Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
French fra: Hainaut, Liège, Namur, and Walloon Brabant provinces; Luxembourg province: Lorraine; southern hills, and one area in Brussels. Users: 9,570,000 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 4,380,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 5,190,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30). Alternate Names: Frans, Französisch, Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
French Belgian Sign Language sfb: Scattered in Wallonia. Users: 4,000 (2021 EUD). 4,000 deaf signers (2021 EUD), approximately 0.1% of the total population of Wallonia. Another estimate: 26,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2003, Decree on the recognition of Sign Language, no. 4501 of 22 October). Alternate Names: LSBF, LSFB, Langue des signes belge francophone, Langue des signes de Belgique Francophone Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
German, Standard deu: Liège province: Verviers municipality, Amel, Bnlingen, Bntchenbach, Burg-Reuland, Eupen, Kelmis, Lontzen, Raeren, and Sankt-Vith. Users: 2,590,800 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 50,800 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 2,540,000 (2020). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in German-speaking areas (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30). Alternate Names: Allemand, Deutsch, Duits Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 28,600 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Hindi hin: Users: 13,600 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Italian ita: Users: 279,000 in Belgium (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kabyle kab: Users: 49,000 in Belgium (2000). All Berber speakers in Belgium: 115,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Kabyle
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Users: 19,700 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Limburgish lim: Liège province: Eupen; Limburg province: Hasselt, Genk, Maaseik, Voeren. Users: 600,000 in Belgium (2001). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Limberger, Limbourgeois, Limburgan, Limburgian, Limburgic, Limburgs, Limburgs Plat, Lèmburgs, Plat Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Lingala lin: Users: 20,100 in Belgium (2013 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Northwest, C, Bangi-Ntomba (C.30)
Luxembourgish ltz: Luxembourg province: Arlon and Bastogne area. Users: 30,000 in Belgium (1998). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Statutory language of provincial identity in southeastern Wallonia (1990, Valmy Feaux Decree of 14 December). Alternate Names: Letzburgisch, Luxembourgeois, Lëtzebuergesch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Moselle Franconian
Pashto, Southern pbt: Users: 10,300 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 12,900 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Picard pcd: Hainaut province: Ath, Mons, Soignies, and Tournai municipalities. Users: 200,000 in Belgium (Salminen 2007). Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in western Hinaut Province (1990, Valmy Feaux Decree of 14 Dec). Alternate Names: Chtimi, Rouchi Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Polish pol: Users: 97,200 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Portuguese por: Users: 59,900 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Punjabi, Western pnb: Users: 4,370 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi, Western Panjabi
Romanian ron: Users: 121,000 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Users: 62,100 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Spanish spa: Users: 667,300 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 95,300 in Belgium (2020). L2 users: 572,000 (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Turkish tur: Users: 145,000 in Belgium (2018 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turoyo tru: Users: 2,000 in Belgium (1994). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northwestern
Urdu urd: Users: 9,480 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Walloon wln: Hainaut, Liège, Namur, Walloon Brabant provinces; Luxembourg province: Bastogne, Marche-en-Famenne, and Neufchâteau municipalities. Users: 600,000 (Salminen 2007), decreasing. Active speakers may only be 300,000 (Salminen 2007). Few monolinguals. Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in Wallonia (1990, Valmy Feaux Decree of 14 Dec). Alternate Names: Wallon Autonym: Walon Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
West Flemish vls: West Flanders province. Users: 1,070,000 in Belgium (1998 University of Ghent). Total users in all countries: 1,232,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Vlaams, West Vlaams, West-Vloams, Western Flemish, Westvlams Autonym: West-Vlams Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Antwerp. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Dutch

[nld] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30). 7,640,000 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 6,160,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 1,480,000 (2017 P. Jorgensen).

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30). 9,570,000 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 4,380,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 5,190,000 (European Commission 2012).

2 (Provincial)

German, Standard

[deu] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in German-speaking areas (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30). 2,590,800 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 50,800 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 2,540,000 (2020).

5 (Dispersed)

Limburgish

[lim] 5 (Dispersed). 600,000 in Belgium (2001).

Luxembourgish

[ltz] 5* (Dispersed). Statutory language of provincial identity in southeastern Wallonia (1990, Valmy Feaux Decree of 14 December). 30,000 in Belgium (1998).

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 5* (Dispersed).

English

[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 4,423,300 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 43,300 in Belgium (2020 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 4,380,000 (2020).

5 (Developing)

French Belgian Sign Language

[sfb] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2003, Decree on the recognition of Sign Language, no. 4501 of 22 October). 4,000 (2021 EUD). 4,000 deaf signers (2021 EUD), approximately 0.1% of the total population of Wallonia. Another estimate: 26,500 (2014 IMB).

Flemish Sign Language

[vgt] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2006, Parliamentary decree, 26 April 2006). 6,500 (2021 EUD). 6,500 deaf signers, approximately 0.1% of the total population of Flanders (2021 EUD).

6b (Threatened)

Picard

[pcd] 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in western Hinaut Province (1990, Valmy Feaux Decree of 14 Dec). 200,000 in Belgium (Salminen 2007).

West Flemish

[vls] 6b (Threatened). 1,070,000 in Belgium (1998 University of Ghent). Total users in all countries: 1,232,000.

Walloon

[wln] 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in Wallonia (1990, Valmy Feaux Decree of 14 Dec). 600,000 (Salminen 2007), decreasing. Active speakers may only be 300,000 (Salminen 2007). Few monolinguals.