Belgium
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- February 7, 1831; revised on July 14, 1993 to create a federal state; amended several times, last in 2019
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law system based on the French civil code; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as compulsory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral Parliament, Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French) and Chamber of Representatives (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (composed of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, tax, and military; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a president and 5-6 judges); Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit matters; magistrate courts; justices of the peace
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, non-believer/agnostic 20.2% (estimate 2018)
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2011BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2010BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2009BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2008BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- DECEMBER 18, 2007BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Belgium voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- JANUARY 1, 2007BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2006BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2005BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
BELGIUM. RALLY IN SUPPORT OF BULGARIAN NURSES ON LIBYA'S DEATH ROW
a rally in support of the five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor on Libya's death row was held in Brussels.
- APRIL 20, 2005BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Belgium was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
- JANUARY 1, 2005BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- APRIL 21, 2004BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Belgium was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty at the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 7, 2004BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.