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.
Geography ::Belgium
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
country comparison to the world: 140
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: 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
People ::Belgium
Population:
10,423,493 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 857,373/female 822,303)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,480,072/female 3,419,721)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 760,390/female 1,074,477) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 43.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.082% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Birth rate:
10.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Death rate:
10.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Net migration rate:
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Urbanization:
urban population: 97% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 195
male: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.37 years
country comparison to the world: 37
male: 76.21 years
female: 82.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 36
Government ::Belgium
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:
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
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 (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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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
Legislative branch:
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 13 June
2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 19.6%, PS
13.6%, CD&V 10%, sp.a 9.5%, MR 9.3%, Open VLD 8.2%, VB 7.6%, Ecolo
5.5%, CDH 5.1% Groen! 3.9%, other 7.7%; seats by party - N-VA 9, PS
7, CD&V 4, sp.a 4, MR 4, Open VLD 4, VB 3, Ecolo 2, CDH 2, Groen! 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N-VA 17.4%, PS
13.7%, CD&V 10.9%, MR 9.3%, sp.a 9.2%, Open VLD 8.6%, VB 7.8%, CDH
5.5%, Ecolo 4.8%, Groen! 4.4%, List Dedecker 2.3%, the Popular Party
1.3%, other 4.8%; seats by party - N-VA 27, PS 26, CD&V 17, MR 18,
sp.a 13, Open VLD 13, VB 12, CDH 9, Ecolo 8, Groen! 5, List Dedecker
1, the Popular Party 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 [Wouter
BEKE]; Dedecker List or LDD [Lode VEREECK]; Flemish Liberals and
Democrats or Open VLD [Alexander DE CROO]; Groen! [Wouter VAN
BESIEN] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or
N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; 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]; Popular Party or PP [ Mischael MODRIKAMEN]; 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
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
International organization participation:
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, MONUSCO, 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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
Flag description:
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)
National anthem:
name: "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)
lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] Victor CEULEMANS
[Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT
note: adopted 1830; Louis-Alexandre DECHET was an actor at the
theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began;
according to legend, he wrote the lyrics with a group of young
people in a Brussels cafe
Economy ::Belgium
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 imports substantial quantities of raw materials
and exports 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. In 2009 Belgian GDP
contracted by 2.7%, the unemployment rate rose slightly, and the
budget deficit worsened because of large-scale bail-outs in the
financial sector. Belgium's budget deficit widened to 4.8% of GDP in
2010, while public debt was just over 100% of GDP. Belgian banks
have been severely affected by the international financial crisis
with three major banks 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
assuage investor concerns about Belgium's ability to restore fiscal
balance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$394.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$388.7 billion (2009 est.)
$399.5 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$461.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
-2.7% (2009 est.)
0.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$37,300 (2009 est.)
$38,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 22.1%
services: 77.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.02 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
7.9% (2009 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)
country comparison to the world: 121
28.7 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Public debt:
102.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
101% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
0% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.15% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
7.03% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$172.9 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 19
$178.7 billion (31 December 2009 est)
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 circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$539.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$536.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$801.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$767.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$261.4 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
$167.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$386.4 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - production:
82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Electricity - consumption:
84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - exports:
6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
11,220 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Oil - consumption:
608,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - exports:
433,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - imports:
1.12 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - consumption:
16.87 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - imports:
16.78 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Current account balance:
-$1.129 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.251 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$279.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$261.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and
metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.58%, France 17.71%, Netherlands 11.84%, UK 7.21%, US
5.37%, Italy 4.77% (2009)
Imports:
$281.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$261.3 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds,
pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 17.93%, Germany 17.14%, France 11.69%, Ireland 6.26%, US
5.74%, UK 5.07%, China 4.09% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$23.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.241 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.354 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$741.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$705.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$632.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$595.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,255 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 215
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.419 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Telephone system:
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)
Broadcast media:
a segmented market with the three major communities (Flemish,
French, and German-speaking) each having responsibility for their
own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community;
additionally, in excess of 90% of households are connected to cable
and can access broadcasts of TV stations from neighboring countries;
each community has a public radio network co-existing with private
broadcasters (2007)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet hosts:
4.465 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
Internet users:
8.113 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transportation ::Belgium
Airports:
43 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
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: 81
country comparison to the world: 55
by type: bulk carrier 21, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, container 4,
liquefied gas 23, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off
7
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 4, France 5, UK 2, US 2)
registered in other countries: 104 (Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 2,
France 7, Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 16, Liberia 1,
Luxembourg 9, Malta 14, Moldova 2, Mozambique 2, North Korea 1,
Panama 2, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
cargo ports (tonnage): Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
container ports (TEUs): Antwerp (8,662,891), Zeebrugge (2,209,715)
Military ::Belgium
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 (2010)
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.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Belize (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Belize
Background: