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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003 was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003. This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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| Introduction | Belgium | Top of Page
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 | Belgium | Top of Page
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 economic 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, 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-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, Kyoto Protocol, 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
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
| People | Belgium | Top of Page
Population: | 10,289,088 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182) 65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)
Median age: | total: 40 years male: 38.7 years female: 41.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate: | 0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: | 10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: | 10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 78.29 years male: 74.97 years female: 81.78 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 8,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 100 (2001 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%
| Government | Belgium | Top of Page
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: 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
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: | 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
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, MR, PS, 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 18 June 2003 (next to be held in NA May 2007) 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 - SP.A-Spirit 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
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) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC) [Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to be Liberal Reformation Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; 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 [Steve STEVAERT]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; 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, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, 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, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, 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 | Belgium | Top of Page
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 about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 1.3% industry: 24.4% services: 74.3% (2001)
Population below poverty line: | 4%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 28.7 (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: | 74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 38.4% hydro: 0.6% other: 1.8% (2001) nuclear: 59.3%
Electricity - consumption: | 78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: | 6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: | 15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (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)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2001 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.)
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: | Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%, Italy 5.4% (2002)
Imports: | $152 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners: | Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland 7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002)
Debt - external: | $28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - donor: | ODA, $764 million (1997)
Currency: | 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 - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999), 36.3 (1998)
Fiscal year: | calendar year
| Communications | Belgium | Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use: | 4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 974,494 (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
Radio broadcast stations: | FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: | 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code: | .be
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 61 (2000)
Internet users: | 3.76 million (2002)
| Transportation | Belgium | Top of Page
Railways: | total: 3,471 km standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: | total: 148,216 km paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Waterways: | 1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)
Pipelines: | gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003)
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) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker 4, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
Airports: | 42 (2002)
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)
| Military | Belgium | Top of Page
Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police
Military manpower - military age: | 19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 2,497,423 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 60,921 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $3.077 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.4% (FY01/02)
| Transnational Issues | Belgium | Top of Page
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; money laundering related to trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003