As a result of being in between Latin and Germanic Europe, and historically being split between different principalities, the nation has multiple official languages.

A large French-speaking population lives around Brussels, in Flanders, though by geography is considered part of the Flemish Community.

Though the standard form of Dutch used in Belgium is almost identical to that spoken in the Netherlands, and the different dialects across the border, it is often colloquially called "Flemish".

It is now spoken by a minority in the Capital region, since the primary language of most inhabitants shifted during the Francization of Brussels.

According to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (2022), 76% of Belgians are French-speaking: https://www.francophonie.org/belgique-936 German is the least prevalent official language in Belgium, spoken natively by less than 1% of the population.

Also all official correspondence and communication with the government (e.g. tax papers, local politics, ID/passport requests, building permits etc.)

In 2006, the Université catholique de Louvain, the country's largest French-speaking university, published a report with the introduction (translated): This issue regarding economies is devoted to the demand for knowledge of languages in Belgium and in its three regions (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia).

The measures advocated by the Marshall Plan are heading towards the proper direction, but are doubtlessly quite insufficient to fully overcome the lag.

][6]Within the report, professors in economics Ginsburgh and Weber further show that of Brussels' residents, 95% declared they can speak French, 59% Dutch, and 41% know the non-local English.

[4][7][8] In addition to the three official languages, others are spoken in Belgium, for instance in Wallonia, where French became dominant only relatively recently.

Walloon is the historical language of southern Belgium, and most of the areas where French is now spoken were Walloon-speaking.

Limburgish is a language spoken mainly in north-eastern Belgium and the south-eastern Netherlands, in the Belgian and Dutch provinces of Limburg.

Luxembourgish, a Moselle Franconian language, is native to Arelerland, the eastern part of the Belgian province of Luxembourg, including the city of Arlon (Arel).

Since the late 20th century, it has largely been replaced by Belgian French in recent decades, in contrast to its flourishing on the other side of the border, in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Marols originated from the Brabantian dialect and gained greater French influences after the Kingdom of Belgium was established in 1830 following the Belgian Revolution.

The language and people are often called "Gypsies" by outsiders, a term considered to be pejorative due to its connotations of illegality and irregularity.

Since the late 20th century, Belgium has received immigrants from different areas of Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa.

They and their descendants speak languages including Berber (Riffian), Arabic (Maghrebi), Spanish, Turkish, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, Polish, and English.