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Belgium
Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between France and the Netherlands
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Geographic coordinates:
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50 50 N, 4 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 30,528
sq km
40
land:
30,278 sq km
water:
250 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about the size of
Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,385
km
border countries:
France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km
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Coastline:
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66.5 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf:
median line with neighbors
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Climate:
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Current Weather
temperate; mild winters,
cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
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Terrain:
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flat coastal plains in
northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in
southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: North
Sea 0 m
highest point:
Signal de Botrange 694 m
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Natural resources:
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construction materials,
silica sand, carbonates
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Land use:
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arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops:
0.69%
other:
71.89%
note:
includes Luxembourg (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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20.8 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 7.44
cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
per capita:
714 cu m/yr (1998)
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Natural hazards:
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flooding is a threat
along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the
sea by concrete dikes
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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crossroads of Western
Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the
seat of both the European Union and NATO
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Population:
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10,423,493 (July 2010 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 16%
(male 851,958/female 817,583)
15-64 years:
66.2% (male 3,480,361/female 3,420,118)
65 years and over:
17.8% (male 769,893/female 1,083,580) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 42
years
male:
40.7 years
female:
43.3 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.082% (2010 est.)
88
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Birth rate:
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10.1 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
92
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Death rate:
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10.5 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
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Net migration rate:
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1.22 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 97%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.045
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 (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.38
deaths/1,000 live births
99
male:
4.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.37
years
country comparison to the world: 34
male:
76.21 years
female:
82.68 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.65 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
4
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2007 est.)
08
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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15,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 100 (2007
est.)
51
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Nationality:
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noun: Belgian(s)
adjective:
Belgian
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Ethnic groups:
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Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%,
mixed or other 11%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 75%, other
(includes Protestant) 25%
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Languages:
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Dutch (official) 60%,
French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual
(Dutch and French)
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 16
years
male:
16 years
female:
16 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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6% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 40
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form:
Belgium
local long form:
Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form:
Belgique/Belgie
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Government type:
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federal parliamentary
democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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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
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Administrative divisions:
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3 regions (French:
regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest);
Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
(Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form),
Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also
known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form),
Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form);
Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long
form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form),
Wallonie (Dutch short form)
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
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Independence:
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4 October 1830 (a
provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21
July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
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National holiday:
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21 July (1831) ascension
to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
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Constitution:
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7 February 1831; amended
many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system
influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal and compulsory
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Executive branch:
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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 (since 25 November
2009); note - the king accepted the resignation of LETERME on 26 April
2010; LETERME remains as caretaker
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 usually appointed prime minister by
the monarch and then approved by parliament
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament
consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40
members directly elected by popular vote, 31 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 directly elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:
Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 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 12, MR 11, Open VLD 9, VB 8, PS 7, SP.A 6,
CDH 5, Ecolo 5, Groen! 2, LDD 1, FN 1, independents 4; 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 23,
N-VA 7, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A 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
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Judicial branch:
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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)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Flemish parties: Christian
Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Marianne THYSSEN]; Dedecker List or LDD
[Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD;
Groen! [Wouter VAN BESLEN] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New
Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Liberal Party or SLP
[Geert LAMBERT] (prior to 19 April 2008, known as Spirit); Social
Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; Vlaams Belang
(Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties:
Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Sarah TURINE]; Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Joelle MILQUET];
National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS]; Reform Movement or MR [Didier
REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Christian, Socialist, and
Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries
other:
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
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ADB (nonregional
members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, 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, MONUC,
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Jan MATTHYSEN
chancery:
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 333-6900
FAX:
[1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Howard W. GUTMAN
embassy:
27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000
Brussels
mailing address:
PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone:
[32] (2) 508-2111
FAX:
[32] (2) 511-2725
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Flag description:
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three equal vertical
bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was
based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the
duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black
field)
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Economy - overview:
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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 vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly
three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries and its
overall current account deficit widened to 4% of GDP in 2009. Public
debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, income distribution is
relatively equal and the government succeeded in balancing its budget
during the 2000-2008 period. In 2009 Belgian GDP contracted by 3.1%, the
unemployment rate rose slightly, and the budget deficit worsened
because of large-scale bail-outs in the financial sector. Belgian banks
have been severely affected by the international financial crisis with
three major banks all receiving capital injections from the government.
An ageing population and rising social expenditures are also increasing
pressure on public finances, making it likely the government will need
to implement unpopular austerity measures to restore fiscal balance.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$381 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$393.2
billion (2008 est.)
$390.1
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$466.9 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-3.1% (2009 est.)
67
0.8%
(2008 est.)
2.8%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$36,600 (2009 est.)
9
$37,800
(2008 est.)
$37,500
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 0.6%
industry:
22%
services:
77.4% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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5.08 million (2009 est.)
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 2%
industry:
25%
services:
73% (2007 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.9% (2009 est.)
7%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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15.2% (2007 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%:
28.4% (2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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28 (2005)
21
28.7
(1996)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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21.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $226.4
billion
expenditures:
$253.3 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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97.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
1
90%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0% (2009 est.)
3
4.5%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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3% (31 December 2008)
07
5%
(31 December 2007)
note:
this is the European Central Bank's rate on the
marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the
euro area
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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7.03% (31 December 2008)
NA
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$NA
note:
see entry for the European Union for money supply
in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and
quasi money circulating within their own borders
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Stock of quasi money:
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$NA
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$767.1 billion (31
December 2008)
5
$552
billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA (31 December 2009)
7
$167.4
billion (31 December 2008)
$386.4
billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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sugar beets, fresh
vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
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Industries:
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engineering and metal
products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific
instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals,
textiles, glass, petroleum
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-7.6% (2009 est.)
29
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Electricity -
production:
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82.17 billion kWh (2007
est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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Electricity -
consumption:
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84.88 billion kWh (2007
est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
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Electricity - exports:
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6.561 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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17.16 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Oil - production:
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11,220 bbl/day (2008
est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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716,800 bbl/day (2008
est.)
4
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Oil - exports:
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507,500 bbl/day (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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Oil - imports:
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1.076 million bbl/day
(2008 est.)
6
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
02
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
07
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Natural gas -
consumption:
|
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17.33 billion cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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17.42 billion cu m (2008
est.)
4
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
05
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Current account balance:
|
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$4.398 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
-$12.88
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$254.3 billion (2009
est.)
5
$371.5
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment,
chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 19.8%, France
17.4%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2008)
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Imports:
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$253.1 billion (2009
est.)
5
$387.7
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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raw materials, machinery
and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs,
transportation equipment, oil products
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Imports - partners:
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Netherlands 19.4%,
Germany 17.2%, France 11%, UK 5.7%, US 5.5%, China 4.1% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$23.98 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$15.65
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
|
|
$NA (31 December 2009)
$1.354
trillion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|
|
$742.4 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$671.1
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|
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$691.2 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
$615.4
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
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Exchange rates:
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euros (EUR) per US dollar
- 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041
(2005)
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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4.457 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
|
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11.822 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: highly
developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic
and international telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic:
nationwide mobile-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)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1
(1998)
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Television
broadcast stations:
|
|
25 (plus 10 repeaters)
(1997)
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Internet country code:
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.be
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Internet hosts:
|
|
4.367 million (2009)
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Internet users:
|
|
7.292 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
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Airports:
|
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43 (2009)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 27
over 3,047 m:
6
2,438 to 3,047 m:
8
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
9 (2009)
|
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|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
|
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
15 (2009)
|
|
|
Heliports:
|
|
1 (2009)
|
|
|
Pipelines:
|
|
gas 1,330 km; oil 158 km;
refined products 535 km (2009)
|
|
|
Railways:
|
|
total: 3,233
km
country comparison to the world: 54
standard gauge:
3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified)
(2008)
|
|
|
Roadways:
|
|
total: 152,256
km
country comparison to the world: 35
paved:
119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)
unpaved:
33,177 km (2006)
|
|
|
Waterways:
|
|
2,043 km (1,528 km in
regular commercial use) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
|
|
|
Merchant marine:
|
|
total: 79
by type:
bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1,
container 6, liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll
on/roll off 10
foreign-owned:
6 (Denmark 4, France 2)
registered in other countries:
111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6, Gibraltar 2,
Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta 15, Mozambique 2,
Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2, Portugal 8, Russia 4,
Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra
Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu 4) (2008)
|
|
|
Ports and terminals:
|
|
Antwerp, Gent, Liege,
Zeebrugge
|
|
|
|
Military branches:
|
|
Belgian Armed Forces: Land
Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Commands
(2010)
|
|
|
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: 2,377,191
females age 16-49:
2,309,941 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
|
males age 16-49: 1,949,361
females age 16-49:
1,891,966 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
|
|
male: 60,726
female:
57,882 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
Military expenditures:
|
|
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
19
|
|
|
|
| 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
|
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