Belgium. English. |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Belgium | 
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| Introduction | Belgium |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| People | Belgium |
| 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% |
| Government | Belgium |
| 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 | Belgium |
| 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 |
| Communications | Belgium |
| 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) |
| Radios: |
8.075 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) |
| Televisions: |
4.72 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.be |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
61 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
3.76 million (2002) |
| Transportation | Belgium |
| 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) |
| Military | Belgium |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
19 years of age (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 2,508,557 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 2,070,016 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 63,247 (2002 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$3,076.5 million (FY01/02) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.4% (FY01/02) |
| Transnational Issues | Belgium |
| 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 |
Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Last Updated: 19 March 2003
2000-2007
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