2010 Edition

Background

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.

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

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

714 cu m/yr (1998)

total

7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)

Geographic coordinates

50 50 N, 4 00 E

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

Irrigated land

400 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,385 km

Land use

arable land

27.42%

other

71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)

permanent crops

0.69%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

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

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

20.8 cu km (2005)

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.)

Birth rate

10.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

10.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.92 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.38 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

82.68 years (2010 est.)

male

76.21 years

total population

79.37 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Median age

female

43.3 years (2010 est.)

male

40.7 years

total

42 years

Nationality

adjective

Belgian

noun

Belgian(s)

Net migration rate

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

10,423,493 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.082% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2008)

male

16 years

total

16 years

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

97% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

50 50 N, 4 20 E

name

Brussels

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create 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

chief of mission

Ambassador Howard W. GUTMAN

embassy

27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels

FAX

[32] (2) 511-2725

mailing address

PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone

[32] (2) 508-2111

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 333-3079

telephone

[1] (202) 333-6900

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

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

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

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)

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Independence

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

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

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

based on 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 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)

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

elections

Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 June 2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014)

National anthem

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

name

"La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)

National holiday

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2009) 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.) 7.03% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.129 billion (2010 est.) $1.251 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.241 trillion (30 June 2010) $1.354 trillion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28 (2005) 28.7 (1996)

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.

Electricity - consumption

84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$279.2 billion (2010 est.) $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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.7%

industry

22.1%

services

77.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,900 (2010 est.) $37,300 (2009 est.) $38,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.6% (2010 est.) -2.7% (2009 est.) 0.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$461.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$394.9 billion (2010 est.) $388.7 billion (2009 est.) $399.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)

Imports

$281.7 billion (2010 est.) $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)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2010 est.) 0% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.02 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2%

industry

25%

services

73% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$261.4 billion (31 December 2009) $167.4 billion (31 December 2008) $386.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

16.87 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

16.78 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

608,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

433,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

1.12 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

11,220 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.2% (2007 est.)

Public debt

102.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 101% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $23.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$539.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $536.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$632.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $595.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$741.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $705.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$801.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $767.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$172.9 billion (31 December 2010 est) $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

Unemployment rate

8.1% (2010 est.) 7.9% (2009 est.)

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)

Internet users

8.113 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network

general assessment

highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

4,255 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.419 million (2009)

Airports

43 (2010)

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)

Merchant marine

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)

total

81

Pipelines

gas 1,330 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

cargo ports (tonnage)

Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge

container ports (TEUs)

Antwerp (8,662,891), Zeebrugge (2,209,715)

Railways

standard gauge

3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)

total

3,233 km

Roadways

paved

119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)

total

152,256 km

unpaved

33,177 km (2006)

Waterways

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

female

57,882 (2010 est.)

male

60,726

Military branches

Belgian Armed Forces

Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Commands (2010)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2010)

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 ======================================================================