Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
|
Background:
|
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was
occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has 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: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 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 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: median line with neighbors (extends
about 68 km from coast) |
|
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:
|
coal, natural gas |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
other: 75% |
|
Irrigated land:
|
40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
flooding is a threat 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) have slowed
progress in tackling environmental challenges |
|
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants |
|
Geography - note:
|
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union
and NATO
|
|
Population:
|
10,289,088 (July 2003 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880)
(2003 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 40 years
male: 38.7 years
female: 41.3 years (2002) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.14% (2003 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 78.29 years
male: 74.97 years
female: 81.78 years (2003 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.2% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
8,500 (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
less than 100 (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% |
|
Religions:
|
Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 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: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%
|
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie |
|
Government type:
|
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch |
|
Capital:
|
Brussels |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies,
singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten);
Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut,
Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant,
Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen |
|
Independence:
|
4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from
the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to
the throne |
|
National holiday:
|
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I |
|
Constitution:
|
7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved
a constitutional package creating a federal state |
|
Legal system:
|
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 Guy VERHOFSTADT (since
13 July 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and
approved by Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; 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
note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP, AGALEV, and
ECOLO |
|
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 18
June 2003 (next to be held in NA May 2007)
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; for other acronyms
of the listed parties see the Political parties and leaders entry
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit
15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH
5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR
5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected
senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD
15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%,
CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD
& V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2 |
|
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 monarch,
although selected by the Government) |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats and
Flemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the Flemish
Christian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel
JAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats
or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center
of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC) [Joelle MILQUET];
Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to be Liberal Reformation
Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; Francophone Socialist Party or
PS [Elio DI RUPO]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish
Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new party that emerged
after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Social Progressive
Alternative Party or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; note - was Flemish Socialist
Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note - new party that emerged
after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Vlaams Blok or VB
[Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
Christian and Socialist 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, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL,
WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and
New York
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER
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;
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 about 100%
of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget.
Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating
the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped
sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2004
again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US. |
|
GDP:
|
purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
0.7% (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.4%
services: 74.3% (2001) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
4% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
|
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
28.7 (1996) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
1.7% (2002 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
4.44 million (2001) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
7.2% (2002 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $113.4 billion
expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures
of $7.17 billion (2000) |
|
Industries:
|
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed
food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum,
coal |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
4.5% (2000 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
74.28 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 1.8% (2001)
nuclear: 59.3% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
78.18 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
6.712 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
15.82 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
595,100 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
450,000 bbl/day (2001) |
|
Oil - imports:
|
1.042 million bbl/day (2001) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk |
|
Exports:
|
$162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products,
foodstuffs |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%,
Italy 5.4% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
$152 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
|
|
Imports - partners:
|
Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland
7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$28.3 billion (1999 est.) |
|
Economic aid - donor:
|
ODA, $764 million (1997) |
|
Currency:
|
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced
the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions
of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries |
|
Currency code:
|
EUR |
|
Exchange rates:
|
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 36.3 (1998) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year
|
|
Railways:
|
total: 3,471 km
standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified)
(2002) |
|
Highways:
|
total: 148,216 km
paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)
unpaved: 31,529 km (2000) |
|
Waterways:
|
1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt,
Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker
4, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.) |
|
Airports:
|
42 (2002) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 15 (2002) |
|
Heliports:
|
1 (2002)
|
This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
|
