2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
total: 30,510 sq km land: 30,230 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
lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Environment - current issues
the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: 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, 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, 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, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
Irrigated land
40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 1,385 km border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Land use
arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.) other: 75%
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
continental shelf: median line with neighbors territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 911,729; female 871,470) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,395,885; female 3,341,536) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 716,673; female 1,037,302) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
10.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.15% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
7,700 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate
4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
Dutch 60%, French 40%, German less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Life expectancy at birth
81.62 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian
Net migration rate
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
10,274,595 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
0.15% (2002 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 (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincien, singular - provincie) and 1 region* (French: region; Dutch: gewest); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, West-Vlaanderen
Capital
Brussels
Constitution
7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Country name
Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER embassy: 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN 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
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; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament note: government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
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 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne
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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, 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) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch, although selected by the Government)
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) 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 the Political parties and leaders entry 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
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 July (1831)
Political parties and leaders
AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Jos GEYSELS]; Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president]; note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president; led by three person federal secretariat]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET, president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME, president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO, president]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - split from Volksunie or VB; Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Patrick JANSSENS, president]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Annemie VAN DE CASTEELE]; note - split from Volksunie 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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Economy
Agriculture - products
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Budget
revenues: $113.44 billion expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17 billion (2000)
Currency
euro (EUR); Belgian franc (BEF) 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; BEF
Debt - external
$28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
25 (1992)
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. 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 is expected to fall to about 100% of GDP in 2002, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2002 depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US.
Electricity - consumption
78.13 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
7.309 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
11.645 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production
79.348 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 40.31% hydro: 0.57% other: 1.46% (2000) nuclear: 57.66%
Exchange rates
euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997)
Exports
$160.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products
Exports - partners
EU 74% (France 18%, Germany 17%, Netherlands 13%, UK 10%), US 6% (2000)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity - $267.7 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 1.4% industry: 24% services: 74.6% (2000)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $26,100 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.1% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Imports
$154 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products
Imports - partners
EU 68% (Germany 17%, Netherlands 17%, France 13%, UK 9%) (2000)
Industrial production growth rate
4.5% (2000 est.)
Industries
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force
4.44 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation
services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line
4%
Unemployment rate
6.8% (2001 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.be
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
61 (2000)
Internet users
2.807 million (2001)
Radio broadcast stations
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios
8.075 million (1997)
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: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Telephones - main lines in use
4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
974,494 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
4.72 million (1997)
Transportation
Airports
42 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 24 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (2001)
Heliports
1 (2001)
Highways
total: 145,774 km paved: 116,182 km (including 1,674 km of expressways) unpaved: 29,592 km (1999)
Merchant marine
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,362 GRT/54,058 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 5, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
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
total: 3,422 km standard gauge: 3,422 km 1.435-m gauge (2,517 km electrified; 2,563 km double-tracked) (2001)
Waterways
1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Components, National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$3,076,500,000 (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.4% (FY01/02)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 2,508,557 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 2,070,016 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age
19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 63,247 (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Illicit drugs
growing producer of synthetic drugs; 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 This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Bahamas, The