Legend:
Definition of Term
 Arranged
by Countries Field Listing
| 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.
|
| 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: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 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
|
| Coastline: |
66 km |
| 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) |
| Climate: |
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy |
| Terrain: |
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: |
coal, natural gas |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
other:
75% |
| Irrigated
land: |
40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
flooding is a threat 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, 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 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 |
| 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: |
10,274,595 (July 2002 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.15% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
10.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population: 78.13 years
female:
81.62 years (2002 est.)
male: 74.8 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.61 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.15% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
7,700 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 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: 98%
male: NA%
female:
NA%
|
| Country
name: |
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional
short form: Belgium
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
|
| Government
type: |
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
|
| Capital: |
Brussels |
| 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
|
| Independence: |
4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence
from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold
I to the throne |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 21 July (1831) |
| Constitution: |
7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved
a constitutional package creating a federal state |
| Legal
system: |
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 appointed by the
monarch and approved by Parliament
elections: none;
the monarchy is hereditary; 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, PRL-FDF,
PS, MCC, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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 -
new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union
or VU; Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Patrick JANSSENS,
president]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Annemie
VAN DE CASTEELE]; note - new party that emerged after the demise
of the People's Union 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 |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
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 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER
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. About three-quarters
of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is about
100% of GDP, 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 2001-02 dropped
sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2003
again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $297.6 billion (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
0.6% (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1%
industry: 24%
services:
74% (2001) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
4% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 23% (1992)
(1996) |
| Distribution
of family income - Gini index: |
29 (1996) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
1.7% (2002 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
4.44 million (2001) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
7.2% (2002 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $113.4 billion
expenditures:
$106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17 billion
(2000) |
| Industries: |
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed
food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass,
petroleum, coal |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
4.5% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
79.348 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 40%
hydro: 1%
other:
1% (2000)
nuclear: 58% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
78.13 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
7.309 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
11.645 billion kWh (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk |
| Exports: |
$162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal
products, foodstuffs |
| Exports
- partners: |
EU 75.3% (Germany 18.1%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 12.1%, UK 9.6%),
US 5.6% (2001) |
| Imports: |
$152 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products,
foodstuffs |
| Imports
- partners: |
EU 68.7% (Netherlands 17.5%, Germany 16.8%, France 13.8%, UK 8.0%),
US 7.2% (2001) |
| Debt
- external: |
$28.3 billion (1999 est.) |
| Economic
aid - donor: |
ODA, $764 million (1997) (1997) |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year
|
| Railways: |
total: 3,422 km
standard gauge: 3,422
km 1.435-m gauge (2,517 km electrified; 2,563 km double-tracked)
(2001) |
| Highways: |
total: 145,774 km
paved: 116,182 km (including
1,674 km of expressways)
unpaved: 29,592 km (1999)
|
| Waterways: |
1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001) |
| 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 |
| 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.) |
| Airports: |
42 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438
to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under
914 m: 7 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under
914 m: 15 (2002) |
| Heliports: |
1 (2002)
|
|
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