2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

30,230 sq km

total

30,510 sq km

water

280 sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of Maryland

Climate

temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Coastline

66 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Signal de Botrange 694 m

lowest point

North Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

the environment is exposed to intense

pressures from human activities

urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, 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-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Geography - note

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

total

1,385 km

Land use

arable land

24%

forests and woodland

21%

other

34%

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

20%

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

median line with neighbors

exclusive fishing zone

median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Natural resources

coal, natural gas

Terrain

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 919,445; female 877,896) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,386,193; female 3,334,081) 65 years and over: 16% (male 701,842; female 1,022,049) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

10.91 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

10.13 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Infant mortality rate

4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Dutch 58%, French 32%, German 10%, legally bilingual

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.3 years (2000 est.)

male

74.47 years

total population

77.8 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

Belgian

noun

Belgian(s)

Net migration rate

0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

10,241,506 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.18% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen

note

the Brussels Capital Region is not included within the 10 provinces

Capital

Brussels

Constitution

7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state

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

Data code

BE

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Paul CEJAS

embassy

27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels

mailing address

PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone

(2) 508-2111

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Alexis REYN

telephone

(202) 333-6900

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament

chief of state

King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)

note

government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO

FAX

(202) 333-3079

(2) 511-2725

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Independence

4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch

Legal system

civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1

elections

Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003)

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 Political parties and leaders

National holiday

National Day, 21 July (ascension of King LEOPOLD I to the throne in 1831)

Political parties and leaders

AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Wilfried BERVOETS]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) ; Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Patrick JANSSENS, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) ; Francophone Democratic Front or FDF ; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL ; Francophone Socialist Party or PS ; National Front or FN ; Vlaams Blok or VB ; Volksunie or VU [Geert BOURGEOIS, president]; 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 the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Budget

expenditures

$119 billion, including capital expenditures of $10.7 billion (1998 est.)

revenues

$116.5 billion

Currency

1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$28.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $764 million (1997)

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, although the government is encouraging investment in the southern region of Wallonia. 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. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. The dioxin crisis - beginning in June 1999 with the discovery of a cancer-causing substance in animal feed - constituted a serious blow to the food-processing industry, both domestically and internationally. This crisis slowed down GDP growth with recovery expected in the year 2000.

Electricity - consumption

74.543 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

6.4 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

7.75 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

78.702 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

42.48%

hydro

0.49%

nuclear

55.72%

other

1.31% (1998)

Exchange rates

euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995)

note

on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports

$187.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products

Exports - partners

EU 76% (Germany 19%, France 18%, Netherlands 12%, UK 10%) (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $243.4 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.4%

industry

27%

services

71.6% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $23,900 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Imports

$172.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products

Imports - partners

EU 71% (Germany 18%, Netherlands 17%, France 14%, UK 9%) (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

-1% (1999 est.)

Industries

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.341 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

4%

Unemployment rate

9% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

51 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

8.075 million (1997)

Telephone system

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

5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Telephones - main lines in use

4.632 million (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

664,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

24 (1997)

Televisions

4.72 million (1997)

Airports

42 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

24 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: 6 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

117,701 km (including 1,682 km of expressways)

total

145,850 km

unpaved

28,149 km (1998)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, petroleum tanker 7 (1999 est.)

total

22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,075 GRT/57,347 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km

Ports and harbors

Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Railways

standard gauge

3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)

total

3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)

Waterways

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.8 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,527,752 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,090,800 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

64,165 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe

BELIZE