Flanders is home to approximately 6,552,1967 inhabitants, with the majority of citizens living in the province of Antwerp. As Belgium’s northern region, Flanders makes up 45% of the country’s territory, with an area of 13,522 km². The main language spoken is Dutch, but most of the region’s inhabitants have a good command of English and French as well.
Flanders’ GDP was EUR 259.786 billion in 2017, with the GDP per capita at EUR 39,756.
Flanders not only boasts a high proportion of highly qualified workers as well as an elevated labor productivity ratio; the region also has a relatively low employment rate by European standards.
Flanders’ secondary sector remains strong. Key to boosting industrial employment and exports is the region’s increased focus on oil and chemical products, metallurgy, plastics and food processing. Meanwhile, Flanders’ tertiary sector (services) has developed rapidly and continues to do so.
