CIA - The World Factbook

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.

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

about the size of Maryland

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

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

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

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

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

crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

10,414,336 (July 2009 est.)

10.15 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

10.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2007 est.)

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

Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

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

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

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)

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

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

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

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

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

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)

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)

Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries

ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, 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, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)

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 more than 80% of GDP. On the positive side, the government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000-2008 period, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth and foreign direct investment dropped in 2008. In 2009 Belgium is likely to have negative growth, growing unemployment, and a 3% budget deficit, stemming from the worldwide banking crisis.

$390.5 billion (2008 est.)

$385.5 billion (2007)

$375.7 billion (2006)

$495.4 billion (2008)

21.3% of GDP (2008 est.)

NA% (31 December 2008)

$544.6 billion (31 December 2008)

$552 billion (31 December 2007)

$386.4 billion (31 December 2007)

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

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

82.94 billion kWh (2007 est.)

85.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

9.035 billion kWh (2007 est.)

15.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

8,671 bbl/day (2007 est.)

628,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

528,700 bbl/day (2005)

1.119 million bbl/day (2005)

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

17.39 billion cu m (2007 est.)

17.34 billion cu m (2007 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

$3.972 billion (2008 est.)

$372.9 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

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

Germany 19.5%, France 16.7%, Netherlands 11.9%, UK 7.6%, US 5.7%, Italy 5.2% (2007)

$375.2 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

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

Germany 17.7%, Netherlands 17.6%, France 11.2%, UK 6.2%, US 5.4%, Ireland 4.9%, China 4.1% (2007)

$16.51 billion (2007 est.)

$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)

$733.9 billion (2008 est.)

$581.9 billion (2008 est.)

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

4.668 million (2007)

10.23 million (2007)

AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)

25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

3.841 million (2008)

gas 1,330 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2008)

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2008)

Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge

Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2009)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2008)

1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; 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; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy