Belgium

Internet country code

.be

Internet hosts

2,870,770 (2006)

Internet users

5.1 million (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

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: country code - 32; submarine cables - 5; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.801 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.46 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $180.4 billion expenditures: $180.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

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

Current account balance

$6.305 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$980.1 billion (30 June 2005 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25 (1996)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)

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 nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-05.

Electricity - consumption

79.66 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

8.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

14.7 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

78.77 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)

Exports

$269.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 8.2%, US 6.4%, Italy 5.3% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$350.3 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$322.3 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 24% services: 74.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$31,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 23% (1996)

Imports

$264.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners

Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, UK 6.8%, Ireland 6.5%, US 5.4% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.2% (2005 est.)

Industries

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force

4.77 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1.3% industry: 24.5% services: 74.2% (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

15.48 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

624,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

450,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

1.042 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

13,060 bbl/day (2003)

Population below poverty line

4% (1989 est.)

Public debt

94.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$12 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.4% (2005 est.)

Area

total: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of Maryland

Climate

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

Coastline

66.5 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, 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-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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

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, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

Irrigated land

400 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Terrain

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

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 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

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

Constitution

7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York consulate(s): Atlanta

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 formally appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; 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.A-Spirit

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 monarchy

Independence

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, 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, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)

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 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 May 2003 (next to be held no later than May 2007) 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 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

National holiday

21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I

Political parties and leaders

Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Johan Vande LANOTTE]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE] Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; 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; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,436,736 females age 16-49: 2,369,463 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,998,003 females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 64,263 females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands (2005)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (2003)

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 883,254/female 846,099) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 3,450,879/female 3,389,565) 65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,569/female 1,062,701) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

10.38 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups

Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.77 years male: 75.59 years female: 82.09 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 40.9 years male: 39.6 years female: 42.1 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.13% (2006 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)

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; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco

Airports

43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Heliports

1 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 66 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,952,159 GRT/6,521,645 DWT by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 10, liquefied gas 15, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 4, Greece 4, UK 2) registered in other countries: 113 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 13, Bermuda 4, Cyprus 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 6, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 2, Greece 12, Hong Kong 3, Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 4, Panama 11, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 12, Sweden 2) (2006)

Pipelines

gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)

Ports and terminals

Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Railways

total: 3,521 km standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways

total: 149,757 km paved: 117,110 km (including 1,747 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,647 km (2003)

Waterways

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)