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.
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
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
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
Signal de 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)
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) have 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; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
Population
10,392,226 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
16.5% (male 873,130/female 836,785)
15-64 years
66.1% (male 3,467,044/female 3,406,030)
65 years and over
17.4% (male 746,969/female 1,062,268) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
41.1 years
male
39.9 years
female
42.4 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.12% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
10.29 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
10.32 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.043 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.018 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.703 male(s)/female
total population
0.959 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
4.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male
5.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female
3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
78.92 years
male
75.75 years
female
82.24 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.64 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 100 (2003 est.)
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.)
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
10 provinces (French
provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders* region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
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 Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)
cabinet
Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch
elections
none; the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative 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
note
government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit
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; to 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 10 June 2007 (next to be held June 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CD&V-NVA 19.4%, open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit 10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, GROEN! 3.6%, List Dedecker 3.4%, FN 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CD&V-NVA 9, open VLD 5, MR 6, VB 5, PS 4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2, GROEN! 1, List Dedecker 1, FN 1 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CD&V-NVA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB 12%, open VLD 11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo 5.1%, List Dedecker 4%, GROEN! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CD&V-NVA 30, MR 23, VB 17, open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A-Spirit 14, CDH 10, Ecolo 8, List Dedecker 5, GROEN! 4, FN 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 Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal and Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN! [Vera DUA] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); List Dedecker [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Johan Vande LANOTTE]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE]
Francophone parties
Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; 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; 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
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William IMBRIE; note - Ambassador-designate Sam FOX may become the new ambassador in early 2007 pending Senate confirmation hearing
embassy
Regentlaan 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
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
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. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is more than 90% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-06.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$342.8 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$369.6 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$33,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
1%
industry
24%
services
74.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force
4.89 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
1.3%
industry
24.5%
services
74.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate
8.1% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
4% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.2%
highest 10%
23% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
25 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
19.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$195.7 billion
expenditures
$195.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt
90.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
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
3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production
80.22 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
38.4%
hydro
0.6%
nuclear
59.3%
other
1.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
82.41 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports
6.8 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports
14.6 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production
10,690 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption
641,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports
1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
17.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports
16.88 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance
$6.925 billion (2006 est.)
Exports
$335.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners
Germany 19.9%, France 17%, Netherlands 12%, UK 7.9%, US 6.1%, Italy 5.2% (2006)
Netherlands 18.4%, Germany 17.5%, France 11.3%, UK 6.6%, Ireland 5.9%, US 5.3% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$9.626 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external
$1.053 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor
ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)
Currency (code)
euro (EUR)
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
Exchange rates
euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
4.801 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular
9.46 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities
gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)
Railways
total
3,521 km
standard gauge
3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways
total
150,567 km
paved
117,442 km (includes 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved
33,125 km (2004)
Waterways
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2006)
Merchant marine
total
66 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,952,159 GRT/6,521,645 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 19, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 10, liquefied gas 15, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned
10 (Denmark 4, Greece 4, UK 2)
registered in other countries
113 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 13, Bermuda 4, Cyprus 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 6, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 2, Greece 12, Hong Kong 3, Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 4, Panama 11, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 12, Sweden 2) (2006)
Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands (2005)
Military service age and obligation
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49
2,436,736
females age 16-49
2,369,463 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49
1,998,003
females age 16-49
1,940,918 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
64,263
females age 16-49
61,402 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.3% (2005 est.)
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
