Belgium

Print
Albanian, Tosk
[als] Users: 12,600 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk.

More Information

Arabic, Algerian Spoken
[arq] Users: 32,000 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.

More Information

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken
[acm] Users: 8,140 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.

More Information

Arabic, Moroccan Spoken
[ary] Users: 340,000 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.

More Information

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken
[apc] Users: 32,100 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.

More Information

Arabic, North Mesopotamian Spoken
[ayp] Users: 4,590 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.

More Information

Arabic, Tunisian Spoken
[aeb] Users: 20,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.

More Information

Bengali
[ben] Users: 5,000 in Belgium (2018), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese.

More Information

Bulgarian
[bul] Users: 46,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern.

More Information

Chinese, Mandarin
[cmn] Users: 22,300 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese.

More Information

Dari
[prs] Users: 6,510 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

Greek
[ell] Users: 28,600 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic.

More Information

Hindi
[hin] Users: 13,600 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani.

More Information

Italian
[ita] Users: 279,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian.

More Information

Kabyle
[kab] Users: 49,000 in Belgium (2000). All Berber speakers in Belgium: 115,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Kabyle.

More Information

Kurdish, Northern
[kmr] Users: 19,700 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish.

More Information

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.

More Information

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).

More Information

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.

More Information

Pashto, Southern
[pbt] Users: 10,300 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto.

More Information

Persian, Iranian
[pes] Users: 12,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.

More Information

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.

More Information

Polish
[pol] Users: 97,200 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

Romanian
[ron] Users: 121,000 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern.

More Information

Russian
[rus] Users: 62,100 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East.

More Information

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.

More Information

Turkish
[tur] Users: 145,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish.

More Information

Turoyo
[tru] Users: 2,000 in Belgium (1994). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northwestern.

More Information

Urdu
[urd] Users: 9,480 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani.

More Information

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.

More Information

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.

More Information

Yiddish, Eastern
[ydd] Antwerp. Users: Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish.

More Information