2004 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

30,278 sq km

total

30,528 sq km

water

250 sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of Maryland

Climate

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

Coastline

66.5 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

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

activities

urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,

Environment - international agreements

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

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

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

Netherlands 450 km

border countries

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

total

1,385 km

Land use

arable land

23.28%

note

includes Luxembourg (2001)

other

76.32%

permanent crops

0.4%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

median line with neighbors

exclusive economic zone

geographic coordinates define outer limit

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

coal, natural gas, construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.1% (male 901,486; female 863,092) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,424,438; female 3,364,057) 65 years and over: 17.3% (male 739,479; female 1,055,724) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

10.59 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

5.36 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.75 years (2004 est.)

male

75.26 years

total population

78.44 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA

male

NA

total population

98%

Median age

female

41.5 years (2004 est.)

male

38.9 years

total

40.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Belgian

noun

Belgian(s)

Net migration rate

1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

10,348,276 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.16% (2004 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities

note

as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

chief of mission

Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS

embassy

Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels

mailing address

PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone

[32] (2) 508-2111

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079

chancery

3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York

telephone

[1] (202) 333-6900

Executive branch

Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch

1999)

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

cabinet

Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent

elections

none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative

head of government

Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July

note

government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit

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 declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, 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, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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 Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)

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)

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

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

(next to be held no later than May 2007)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit

elections

Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003

note

as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered

National holiday

21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Flemish Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note - new party now associated with SP.A; Vlaams Belang or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Christian, Socialist, and Liberal 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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$1.56 billion (2003)

expenditures

$151.1 billion, including capital expenditures of

revenues

$151.6 billion

Currency

euro (EUR)

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

note

on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$10.69 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$28.3 billion (1999 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.7 (1996)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)

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

Electricity - consumption

78.18 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

6.712 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

15.82 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

74.28 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)

Exports

$182.9 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 19.5%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 9%, US 6.7%, Italy 5.4% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $299.1 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.9%

industry

26.3%

services

71.8% (2003)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $29,100 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23% (1996)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Imports

$173 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners

Germany 17.7%, Netherlands 16.5%, France 13.2%, UK 7.5%, US 5.9%, Ireland 5.7% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $14.45 billion (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.5% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

4.73 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 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.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (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)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

4% (1989 est.)

Public debt

102% of GDP (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.1% (2003 est.)

Internet country code

.be

Internet hosts

166,799 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

61 (2000)

Internet users

3.4 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

8.075 million (1997)

Telephone system

completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities

network; limited microwave radio relay network

earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

domestic

nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable

general assessment

highly developed, technologically advanced, and

international

country code - 32; 5 submarine cables; satellite

Telephones - main lines in use

5,120,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8,135,500 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

4.72 million (1997)

Airports

42 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

over 3,047 m

6

total

25

under 914 m

7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m: 2

total

18

under 914 m

16 (2004 est.)

Heliports

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

paved

116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)

total

148,216 km

unpaved

31,529 km (2000)

Merchant marine

gas 18, petroleum tanker 6

by type

bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 11, container 6, liquefied

foreign-owned

Denmark 6, Finland 1, France 2, Netherlands 3

registered in other countries

69 (2004 est.)

total

50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,146,301 GRT/1,588,184 DWT

Pipelines

gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

standard gauge

3,518 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2003)

total

3,518 km

Waterways

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)

Military branches

Army, Naval, and Air Operations Commands

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.999 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,509,538 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

2,068,221 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

61,270 (2004 est.)

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; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol and tobacco This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Belize