Belgium

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 77, shortwave 1 (Belgium's single shortwave station, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, transmits its programs internationally in Dutch, English, French, and German, using 21 shortwave frequencies)

Radios

100,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

Telephones

5.691 million (1992 est.); 1.7 million cellular telephone subscribers (1998)

Television broadcast stations

24 (in addition, there are Dutch programs on cable, TV-5 Europe by satellite relay, and American Forces Network by relay from Germany) (1997)

Televisions

3,315,662 (1993 est.)

Agriculture--products

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Debt--external

$22.3 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--donor

ODA, $1 billion (1995)

Economy--overview

This highly developed 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, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of Wallonia. 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. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.

Electricity--consumption

75.266 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

5.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

9.6 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

71.066 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 41.73% hydro: 0.33% nuclear: 57.93% other: 0.01% (1996)

Exchange rates

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1--34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports

$145.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities

iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products

Exports--partners

EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8% (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity--$236 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

agriculture: 1.9% industry: 27.2% services: 70.9% (1996)

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$23,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

2.8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Imports

$137.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities

fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports--partners

EU 75% (Germany 22.1%), US 5% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

9.7% (1995)

Industries

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (1998 est.)

Labor force

4.283 million (1997)

Labor force--by occupation

services 69.7%, industry 27.7%, agriculture 2.6% (1992)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

12% (1998 est.)

Area

total: 30,510 sq km land: 30,230 sq km water: 280 sq km

Area--comparative

about the size of Maryland

Climate

temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Coastline

64 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

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 impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment--international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Geography--note

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO

Irrigated land

10 sq km including Luxembourg (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,385 km border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

Land use

arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 21% other: 34%

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf: median line with neighbors exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast) territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Natural resources

coal, natural gas

Terrain

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (French: provinces, singular--province; Flemish: provincien, singular--provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen note: the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10 provinces

Capital

Brussels

Constitution

7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state

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

Data code

BE

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

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 Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Independence

4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch

Legal system

civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Flemish, 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 Flemish, 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 21 May 1995 (next to be held in June 1999) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3, ECOLO 2; note--before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP 12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%, AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats by party--CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21, PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note--before the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats 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 Political parties and leaders

National holiday

National Day, 21 July (ascension of King LEOPOLD I to the throne in 1831)

Political parties and leaders

Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP

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 the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern, technologically advanced European state and member of the European Union. Its unique political circumstance is the long-standing differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south, differences that are becoming increasingly acute.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$4.6 billion (1995)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

1.7% (1995)

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 2,537,544 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--military age

19 years of age

Military manpower--reaching military age annually

males: 64,180 (1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 895,987; female 853,494) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,389,572; female 3,318,266) 65 years and over: 17% (male 703,933; female 1,020,782) (1999 est.)

Birth rate

9.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%

Infant mortality rate

6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages

Flemish 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.53 years male: 74.31 years female: 80.9 years (1999 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate

1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

10,182,034 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

0.06% (1999 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

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 (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes--international

none

Illicit drugs

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe

Airports

42 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 24 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Heliports

1 (1998 est.)

Highways

total: 143,175 km paved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6 (1998 est.)

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

Railways

total: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track) standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)

Waterways

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)