Belgium

Summary

Official Name: Kingdom of Belgium
Population: 11,632,000
Principal Languages: Dutch, French
Literacy Rate: 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Comrie 1987, Stephens 1976
Deaf Population: 610,120
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 29 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
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
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: 4 (Educational). 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: 9,650,000 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 4,420,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 5,230,000 (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
Kinyarwanda kin: Users: 14,700 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Ruanda-Rundi (D.61)
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). 9,650,000 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 4,420,000 in Belgium (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 5,230,000 (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).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 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 (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).

5 (Developing)

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).

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).

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).

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.

West Flemish

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

Unestablished

Albanian, Tosk

[als] Unestablished. 12,600 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Arabic, Algerian Spoken

[arq] Unestablished. 32,000 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken

[acm] Unestablished. 8,140 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Arabic, Moroccan Spoken

[ary] Unestablished. 340,000 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 32,100 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Arabic, North Mesopotamian Spoken

[ayp] Unestablished. 4,590 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Arabic, Tunisian Spoken

[aeb] Unestablished. 20,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 5,000 in Belgium (2018), based on nationality.

Bulgarian

[bul] Unestablished. 46,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 22,300 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Dari

[prs] Unestablished. 6,510 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 28,600 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Hindi

[hin] Unestablished. 13,600 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 279,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality.

Kabyle

[kab] Unestablished. 49,000 in Belgium (2000). All Berber speakers in Belgium: 115,000.

Kinyarwanda

[kin] Unestablished. 14,700 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] Unestablished. 19,700 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Lingala

[lin] Unestablished. 20,100 in Belgium (2013 census).

Pashto, Southern

[pbt] Unestablished. 10,300 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 12,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 97,200 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 59,900 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Punjabi, Western

[pnb] Unestablished. 4,370 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 121,000 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 62,100 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Spanish

[spa] Unestablished. 667,300 in Belgium, all users. L1 users: 95,300 in Belgium (2020). L2 users: 572,000 (2020).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 145,000 in Belgium (2018 census), based on nationality.

Turoyo

[tru] Unestablished. 2,000 in Belgium (1994).

Urdu

[urd] Unestablished. 9,480 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Belgium with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Belgium is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Belgium with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Belgium is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Belgium in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Belgium ($149.95, 25 page PDF)

Belgium

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action