Nation profile

Wallonia
Wallonie

General information
Population
3.585.214 inhabitants (2015)
Area
16.844 km2
Institutions
Parliament and Government of Wallonia
Major cities
Namur, Charleroi, Liège
State administration
Belgium
Territorial languages
French, German
Official languages
French, German
Major religion
Christianity (Catholicism)
National day
3rd Sunday of September

Presentation

Wallonia is one of the territories that make up the Kingdom of Belgium, within which it is distinguished above all by the use of the French language and, in recent times, by its institutions of self-government. Broadly speaking, Wallonia occupies the southern half of Belgium. It has less population density and a lower GDP per capita than the rest of Belgium.

Belgium, unlike most federations, is formed not by one, but two layers or types of federated units, which overlap territorially, each having their own institutions. The regions are the first type or layer, of which three exist: Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels-Capital. The communities are the second layer, of which there are also three: the Flemish, the French and the German.

Each of the two types of federated entities manages different powers. The main powers of the communities include culture, language, health, and education. The core competencies of the regions include economy, agriculture, housing, trade, and environment.

The territory of the German-speaking community (Eupen and Sankt-Vith) is part of the Walloon region, but not of the French-speaking community. Brussels-Capital does not belong to Wallonia.

Identity

According to a 2016 survey of the Wallonia Social Barometer, the feeling of belonging to Belgium is shared by 80% of the Walloon population. The feeling of belonging to Belgium is the strongest one for 40% of the population, while the feeling of belonging to Wallonia is the most relevant for another 10%, to the province another 10%, and to the municipality another 20%. The remaining 20% cite belonging to Europe or to the world as their main feeling.

Also according to that survey, 93% of Walloons are against separation from Belgium.

Politics

Political system: Federated region within the Kingdom of Belgium
Minister President: Elio Di Rupo, PS (since 2019)
Distribution of seats in Parliament (2019 election). 75 members:
Parti Socialiste (PS) – 23
Mouvement Reformateur (MR) – 20
Ecolo – 12
Centre Démocrate Humaniste (CDH) – 10
Parti du Travail de Belgique (PTB) – 10
Electoral system: Proportional
Government: Coalition PS, MR and Ecolo

(Last updated November 2019.)