|
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.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
10,000 (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 100 (2003 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]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now
associated with SP.A); 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): |
$378.9 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$442.8 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
2.7% (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$36,500 (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.4% (2007 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
5.03 million (2007 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
7.6% (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): |
3.5% (2007 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
21.4% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $217 billion
expenditures: $217.4 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
86.1% 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: |
$11.04 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports: |
$328.1 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: |
$320.9 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: |
$16.5 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Debt - external: |
$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$633.5 billion (2006 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$485.1 billion (2006 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 military service 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 |
|
Illicit drugs: |
growing producer of synthetic
drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of
precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment
point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe;
despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to
money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco;
significant domestic consumption of ecstasy |
|
