Below you will find basic demographic and economic data for Belgium, plus specific information about the country's medical device and healthcare industries.
Belgian medical device industry: Belgium is home to a small but robust medical device market. It was valued at $2.6 billion in 2014 and will experience slow but steady growth through 2019.
The medical device manufacturing industry in Belgium is relatively small and employs approximately 18,000 people. Domestic manufacturers are small to mid-sized companies, but many multinational medical device companies maintain subsidiaries in Belgium.
Opportunities in the Belgian market: Healthcare spending per capita is high in Belgium – almost $5000 USD – and it is home to a large aging population – 18% of Belgians are over 65. As such, the local healthcare industry is receptive to innovative technologies that are effective at treating and mitigating chronic and age-related diseases. There is consistent demand for diabetes products, user-friendly home care, orthopedic and implantable devices, minimally-/non-invasive equipment, and e-health products.
Industry challenges in Belgium: The Belgian medical device market proves resilient amidst the economic adversity affecting much of Europe. However, government cutbacks will slow market growth slightly, despite the increased demand for innovative technologies due to Belgium's aging population. The most successful devices will be innovative and cost effective, for both the buyer and the patient.
| BELGIUM | SWITZERLAND | GERMANY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,323,973 | 8,121,830 | 80,854,408 |
| Primary language(s) | Dutch, French | German | German |
| Total healthcare spending | $55 billion | $78.6 billion | $437 billion |
| Healthcare expenditures total (% of GDP) | 10.6% | 11.7% | 11.3% |
| Healthcare expenditures per capita | $4884 (USD) | $9674 (USD) | $5411 (USD) |
| Expenditures on healthcare | Government: 78% Private: 22% |
Government: 66% Private: 34% |
Government: 77% Private: 23% |
| Size of medical device market (USD) | $2.6 billion (USD – 2014) | $3.5 billion (USD – 2014) | $26 billion (USD – 2014) |
| Number of hospital beds | 6.5 per 1000 people | 5 per 1000 people | 8.2 per 1000 people |
| Age distribution | 0-14 years: 17% 15-64 years: 65% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 15% 15-64 years: 67% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 13% 15-64 years: 66% 65 years and over: 21% (2015 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | Male: 78 years Female: 84 years |
Male: 80 years Female: 85 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 83 years |
| Currency | Euro (€) | Swiss franc | Euro (€) |
Want to see how Belgium compares to many other countries in Europe and around the world? Download our free PDF Healthcare spending by country.
Since the publication of ISO 13485:2016, risk management is a major concern for maintaining regulatory compliance in major medical device markets.
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