Belgium Population: 10,431,477
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO | |
| Location: | Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands |
| Geographic coordinates: | 50 50 N, 4 00 E |
| Area: | total: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km Size comparison: 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: | 66.5 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit continental shelf: median line with neighbors |
| 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: 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: | 230 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 10,431,477 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.9% (male 846,706/female 812,486) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,475,404/female 3,416,060) 65 years and over: 18% (male 783,895/female 1,096,926) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 42.3 years male: 41 years female: 43.6 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.071% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.06 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 10.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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 (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 79.51 years male: 76.35 years female: 82.81 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.65 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 14,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 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.) |
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| Government | |
| 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: | 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 |
| 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; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state; amended many times; |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the French Civil Code; note - Belgian law continues to be modified in conformance with the legislative norms mandated by the European Union; judicial review of legislative acts |
| 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 Yves LETERME (since 25 November 2009); note - the king accepted the resignation of LETERME on 26 April 2010; LETERME remains as caretaker cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 |
| 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) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 June 2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014) 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 |
| Judicial branch: | Constitutional Court (previously Court of Arbitration) (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King); 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 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 |
| 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, 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Howard W. GUTMAN embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111 FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725 |
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| Economy | |
| This modern, open, and private-enterprise-based economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the more heavily-populated region of Flanders 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, yet also able to benefit from them. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries, and Belgium has benefited most from its proximity to Germany. In 2010 Belgian GDP grew by 2.1%, the unemployment rate rose slightly, and the government reduced the budget deficit, which had worsened in 2008 and 2009 because of large-scale bail-outs in the financial sector. Belgium's budget deficit decreased from 6% of GDP to 4.1% in 2010, while public debt was just under 100% of GDP. Belgian banks were 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 mid- to long-term challenges to public finances. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $394.3 billion (2010 est.) $386.7 billion (2009 est.) $397.3 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $465.7 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2% (2010 est.) -2.7% (2009 est.) 0.8% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $37,800 (2010 est.) $37,100 (2009 est.) $38,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 0.7% industry: 21.9% services: 77.4% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 5.114 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 2% industry: 25% services: 73% (2007 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 8.3% (2010 est.) 7.9% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 15.2% (2007 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.4% (2006) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 28 (2005) 28.7 (1996) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (2010 est.) 0% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 20.4% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $227.8 billion expenditures: $247 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 100.9% of GDP (2010 est.) 100.4% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk |
| 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: | 7.5% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 84.2 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 84.78 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 11.32 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 1.837 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 11,220 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 622,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 353,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 1.007 million bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 19.53 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 19.32 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $6 billion (2010 est.) $1.719 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $284.2 billion (2010 est.) $249.8 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs |
| Exports - partners: | Germany 19.1%, France 17%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 5.3%, Italy 4.7% (2010) |
| Imports: | $285.1 billion (2010 est.) $256.4 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products |
| Imports - partners: | Netherlands 19.1%, Germany 16.4%, France 11.3%, UK 5.4%, US 5.3%, Ireland 5.3%, China 4.1% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $26.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $23.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $1.241 trillion (30 June 2010) $1.354 trillion (31 December 2008) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $901.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $848 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $758.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $728.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $269.3 billion (31 December 2010) $261.4 billion (31 December 2009) $167.4 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) 0.72 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7345 (2007) 0.7964 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 4.255 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 36 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 12.419 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities domestic: nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .be |
| Internet hosts: | 4.465 million (2010) |
| Internet users: | 8.113 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 43 (2010) country comparison to the world: 100 |
| Airports (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 (unpaved runways): | total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 15 (2010) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 2,826 km; oil 154 km; refined products 535 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 3,233 km standard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 153,595 km paved: 120,111 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,484 km (2008) |
| Waterways: | 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2010) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 81 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) |
| Ports and terminals: | cargo ports (tonnage): Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge container ports (TEUs): Antwerp (8,662,891), Zeebrugge (2,209,715) |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Commands (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2010) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,359,232 females age 16-49: 2,291,689 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,934,957 females age 16-49: 1,877,268 (2010 est.) |
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