|
Background: |
Belgium became independent from the
Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The
country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced
European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the
Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the
south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these
regions formal recognition and autonomy. |
|
Location: |
Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between France and the Netherlands |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
50 50 N, 4 00 E |
|
Map references: |
Europe |
|
Area: |
total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km |
|
Area - comparative: |
about the size of Maryland |
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 1,385 km
border
countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450
km |
|
Coastline: |
66.5 km |
|
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic
coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with
neighbors |
|
Climate: |
temperate; mild winters, cool
summers; rainy, humid, cloudy |
|
Terrain: |
flat coastal plains in northwest,
central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
|
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m |
|
Natural resources: |
construction materials, silica sand,
carbonates |
|
Land use: |
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89%
note:
includes Luxembourg (2005) |
|
Irrigated land: |
400 sq km (2003) |
|
Total renewable water resources: |
20.8 cu km (2005) |
|
Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 7.44 cu km/yr
(13%/85%/1%)
per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998) |
|
Natural hazards: |
flooding is a threat along rivers and
in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
|
|
Environment - current issues: |
the environment is exposed to intense
pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network,
industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties
regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed
progress in tackling environmental challenges |
|
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none
of the selected agreements |
|
Geography - note: |
crossroads of Western Europe; most
West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the
European Union and NATO |
|
Population: |
10,403,951 (July 2008 est.)
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 16.3% (male
864,287/female 828,435)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,476,802/female
3,416,383)
65 years and over: 17.5% (male 751,745/female 1,066,299)
(2008 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 42.7 years (2008 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
0.106% (2008 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
10.22 births/1,000 population (2008
est.) |
|
Death rate: |
10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2008
est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02
male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total
population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live
births
male: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.92
deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.07 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.38 years (2008 est.)
|
|
Total fertility rate: |
1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)
|
|
Nationality: |
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or
other 11% |
|
Religions: |
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes
Protestant) 25% |
|
Languages: |
Dutch (official) 60%, French
(official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and
French) |
|
Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over
can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.) |
|
Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long
form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form:
Belgique/Belgie |
|
Government type: |
federal parliamentary democracy under
a constitutional monarchy |
|
Capital: |
name: Brussels
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight
saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
|
|
Administrative divisions: |
10 provinces (French: provinces,
singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions*
(French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region;
Flanders* region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen
(East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West
Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant),
Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
note: as a result of the 1993
constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there
are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community)
with a complex division of responsibilities |
|
Independence: |
4 October 1830 (a provisional
government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King
LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne) |
|
National holiday: |
21 July (1831) ascension to the
Throne of King LEOPOLD I |
|
Constitution: |
7 February 1831; amended many times;
revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state |
|
Legal system: |
based on civil law system influenced
by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
|
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal and
compulsory |
|
Executive branch: |
chief of state: King ALBERT II
(since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Yves LETERME (20 March 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then
approved by parliament |
|
Legislative branch: |
bicameral Parliament consists of a
Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly
elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year
terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch,
Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 June
2007 (next to be held no later than June 2011)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB
11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit 10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker
List 3.4%, FN 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 9, Open VLD 5, MR 6,
VB 5, PS 4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2, Groen! 1, Dedecker List 1, FN 1
(note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB 12%, Open VLD 11.8%, PS
10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo 5.1%, Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN
2%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 30, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20,
SP.A-Spirit 14, CDH 10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 1
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government
(federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of
responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own
legislative assembly |
|
Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van
Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for
life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice
Council) |
|
Political parties and leaders: |
Flemish parties: Christian
Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Etienne SCHOUPPE]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie
DEDECKER]; Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Groen!
[Mieke VOGELS] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or N-VA
[Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ];
VlaamsProgressieven (Flemish Progressives) or VP [Bettina GEYSEN] - formerly
Spirit; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Joelle
MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Michel BELACROIX]; Reform Movement or MR [Didier
REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Christian, Socialist, and Liberal
Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations
representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and
medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of
Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups
representing immigrants |
|
International organization participation: |
ACCT, ADB (nonregional members),
AfDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional),
WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador
Dominique STRUYE DE SWIELANDE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX:
[1] (202) 338-4960
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Atlanta |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador
Sam FOX
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone:
[32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725 |
|
Flag description: |
three equal vertical bands of black
(hoist side), yellow, and red
note: the design was based on the flag
of France |
|
Economy - overview: |
This modern, private-enterprise
economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed
transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is
concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural
resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and
export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on
the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU
countries. Public debt is more than 85% of GDP. On the positive side, the
government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is
relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002.
Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic
slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-07. Economic growth and foreign direct
investment are expected to slow down in 2008, due to credit tightening, falling
consumer and business confidence, and above average inflation. However, with the
successful negotiation of the 2008 budget and devolution of power within the
government, political tensions seem to be easing and could lead to an
improvement in the economic outlook for 2008. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$376 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$453.6 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
2.7% (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$35,300 (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.4% (2007 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
4.96 million (2007 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
7.5% (2007 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
15.2% (2007 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2006) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
28 (2005) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
1.8% (2007 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
21.3% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $219.3 billion
expenditures: $220.3 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
84.9% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
sugar beets, fresh vegetables,
fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk |
|
Industries: |
engineering and metal products, motor
vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed
food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
|
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
3% (2007 est.) |
|
Electricity - production: |
80.84 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 59.3%
other: 1.8% (2001)
|
|
Electricity - consumption: |
82.99 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
8.024 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
14.33 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Oil - production: |
9,000 bbl/day (2006) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
591,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports: |
523,400 bbl/day (2004) |
|
Oil - imports: |
1.109 million bbl/day (2004)
|
|
Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption: |
16.61 billion cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
17.27 billion cu m (2005) |
|
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006) |
|
Current account balance: |
$14.64 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Exports: |
$322.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment, chemicals,
diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs |
|
Exports - partners: |
Germany 19.7%, France 16.9%,
Netherlands 12%, UK 7.9%, US 6.2%, Italy 5.2% (2006) |
|
Imports: |
$322.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment, chemicals,
diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
|
|
Imports - partners: |
Netherlands 18.3%, Germany 17.3%,
France 11.2%, UK 6.6%, Ireland 5.7%, US 5.4% (2006) |
|
Economic aid - donor: |
ODA, $1.978 billion (2006) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$16.51 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Debt - external: |
$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$703.9 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$537.6 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$422.7 billion (2006) |
|
Currency (code): |
euro (EUR) |
|
Currency code: |
EUR |
|
Exchange rates: |
euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003) |
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use: |
4.719 million (2006) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
9.66 million (2006) |
|
Telephone system: |
general assessment: highly
developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and
international telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide
cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio
relay network
international: country code - 32; landing point for a
number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007) |
|
Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
|
|
Radios: |
8.075 million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations: |
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
|
|
Televisions: |
4.72 million (1997) |
|
Internet country code: |
.be |
|
Internet hosts: |
3.195 million (2007) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
61 (2000) |
|
Internet users: |
4.8 million (2005)
|
|
Airports: |
43 (2007) |
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 27
over 3,047
m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2007) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 16
914 to 1,523
m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2007) |
|
Heliports: |
1 (2007) |
|
Pipelines: |
gas 1,562 km; oil 158 km; refined
products 535 km (2007) |
|
Railways: |
total: 3,536 km
standard gauge: 3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2006)
|
|
Roadways: |
total: 150,567 km
paved: 117,442 km (includes 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,125 km (2004) |
|
Waterways: |
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular
commercial use) (2006) |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 68 ships (1000 GRT or
over) 3,786,089 GRT/6,074,664 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 5,
chemical tanker 2, container 9, liquefied gas 16, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
10, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 3, France 1, Germany
1, Greece 4)
registered in other countries: 123 (Bahamas 15, Bermuda
3, Cyprus 1, France 6, Gibraltar 3, Greece 16, Hong Kong 4, Liberia 1,
Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Marshall Islands 1, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2,
Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 11, Portugal 9, Russia 6, Sierra Leone 1,
Singapore 8, St Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 9, Vanuatu 4)
(2007) |
|
Ports and terminals: |
Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
|
|
Military branches: |
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations
Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2008) |
|
Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for voluntary
military service; conscription suspended (2008) |
|
Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 2,407,128
females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 1,973,167
females age 16-49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.) |
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age
annually: |
males age 16-49: 64,659
females age 16-49: 61,881 (2008 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.3% (2005 est.)
|
| Transnational Issues |
Belgium |
|
Disputes - international: |
none |
|
This page was last updated on 10 June, 2008 | |
