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Belgium
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.
Location :
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic Coordinates Center :
50 50 N, 4 00 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 2.55 |
| North | 51.51 |
| East | 6.40 |
| South | 49.49 |
Map references :
Europe
Area :
| total | 30 528 | square km |
| land | 30 278 | square km |
| water | 250 | square km |
Land boundaries :
| total | 1 385 | km |
| France (fr) | 620 | km |
| Germany (de) | 167 | km |
| Luxembourg (lu) | 148 | km |
| Netherlands (nl) | 450 | km |
Coastline :
66.50 km
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 | 0 | metres |
| highest point | 694 | metres |
Natural resources :
| carbonates | construction materials |
| silica sand |
Land use :
| arable land | 27.42 | % |
| permanent crops | 0.69 | % |
| other | 71.89 | % |
Irrigated land :
400 square km
Total renewable water resources :
20 cubic km
Natural hazards :
| flooding |
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) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
international agreements :
| 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 Seals | Antarctic Treaty |
| Antarctic-Environmental Protocol | Antarctic-Marine Living Resources |
| 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 |
Population :
10 414 336
Indicators :
| Growth rate | 0.09 | % |
| Birth rate | 10.15 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.65 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 10.44 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | 1.22 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 16.10 | % |
| 15-64 years | 66.30 | % |
| 65 years and over | 17.60 | % |
Median age :
| total | 41.70 | years |
| male | 40.40 | years |
| female | 43.00 | years |
Sex ratio :
| at birth | 1.04 | 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 |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 4.44 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 79.22 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 76.06 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 82.53 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.20 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 15 000 | |
| HIV-AIDS deaths | 100 |
Religions :
| Roman Catholic | 75.00 | % |
| other | 25.00 | % |
Languages :
| Dutch | 60.00 | % |
| French | 40.00 | % |
| German less than | 1.00 | % |
Literacy :
| total population | 99.00 | % |
| male | 99.00 | % |
| female | 99.00 | % |
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 |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | BE |
| ISO Numeric | 56 |
| ISO3 | BEL |
| FIPS | BE |
| ccTLD | be |
| English | Belgium |
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)|
Capital :
| name | Brussels |
| geographic coordinates | 50 50 N, 4 20 E |
| time difference | 1.00 |
| daylight saving time | 1 |
International organization participation :
| ACCT | ADB (nonregional members) |
| AfDB (nonregional members) | Australia Group |
| BIS | Benelux |
| CE | CERN |
| EAPC | EBRD |
| EIB | EMU |
| ESA | EU |
| FAO | FATF |
| G-10 | G-9 |
| IADB | IAEA |
| IBRD | ICAO |
| ICC | ICCt |
| ICRM | IDA |
| IEA | IFAD |
| IFC | IFRCS |
| IHO | ILO |
| IMF | IMO |
| IMSO | IOC |
| IOM | IPU |
| ISO | ITSO |
| ITU | ITUC |
| Interpol | MIGA |
| MONUC | NATO |
| NEA | NSG |
| OAS (observer) | OECD |
| OIF | OPCW |
| OSCE | PCA |
| Paris Club | SECI (observer) |
| Schengen Convention | UN |
| UNCTAD | UNESCO |
| UNHCR | UNIDO |
| UNIFIL | UNMIS |
| UNRWA | UNTSO |
| UPU | WADB (nonregional) |
| WCO | WEU |
| WFTU | WHO |
| WIPO | WMO |
| WTO | ZC |
Independence :
1830-10-04
National holiday :
Ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
1831-07-21
Executive branch :
| King ALBERT II | Prime Minister Yves LETERME |
Legislative branch :
| CDV/N-VA | 19.40 | % |
| Open VLD | 12.40 | % |
| MR | 12.30 | % |
| VB | 11.90 | % |
| PS | 10.20 | % |
| SP.A-Spirit | 10.00 | % |
| CDH | 5.90 | % |
| Ecolo | 5.80 | % |
| Groen! | 3.60 | % |
| Dedecker List | 3.40 | % |
| FN | 2.30 | % |
| other | 2.80 | % |
| CDV/N-VA | 18.50 | % |
| MR | 12.50 | % |
| VB | 12.00 | % |
| Open VLD | 11.80 | % |
| PS | 10.90 | % |
| SP.A-Spirit | 10.30 | % |
| CDH | 6.10 | % |
| Ecolo | 5.10 | % |
| Dedecker List | 4.00 | % |
| Groen! | 4.00 | % |
| FN | 2.00 | % |
| other | 2.80 | % |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 381 400 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 461 500 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | -3.40 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 36 600 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 0.80 | % |
| industry | 24.50 | % |
| services | 74.70 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 2.00 | % |
| industry | 25.00 | % |
| services | 73.00 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Labor force | 5 010 000 | people |
| Unemployment rate | 8.30 | % |
| Population below poverty line | 15.20 | % |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 28.00 | |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 24.20 | % of GDP |
| Current account balance | - 18 920 000 000 | $ |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 15 650 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 1 354 000 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 707 500 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 848 500 000 000 | $ |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 386 400 000 000 | $ |
| Military expenditures | 1.30 | % of GDP |
| Public debt | 99.00 | % of GDP |
Household income or consumption by percentage share :
| lowest 10% | 3.40 | % |
| highest 10% | 28.40 | % |
Budget :
| revenues | 204 900 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 230 900 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| beef | fresh vegetables |
| fruits | grain |
| milk | pork |
| sugar beets | tobacco |
| veal |
Industries :
| basic metals | chemicals |
| engineering and metal products | glass |
| motor vehicle assembly | petroleum |
| processed food and beverages | scientific instruments |
| textiles | transportation equipment |
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 82 170 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 84 880 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Exports | 6 561 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Imports | 17 160 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Production | 11 220 | bbl/day |
| Oil Consumption | 716 800 | bbl/day |
| Oil Exports | 507 500 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 1 076 000 | bbl/day |
| Natural gas Consumption | 17 330 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Imports | 17 420 000 000 | cubic metres |
Value :
296 100 000 000 $
Partners :
| Germany (de) | 19.80 | % |
| France (fr) | 17.40 | % |
| Netherlands (nl) | 12.20 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 7.20 | % |
| United States (us) | 4.80 | % |
| Italy (it) | 4.70 | % |
Commodities :
| chemicals | finished diamonds |
| foodstuffs | machinery and equipment |
| metals and metal products |
Value :
315 000 000 000 $
Partners :
| Netherlands (nl) | 19.40 | % |
| Germany (de) | 17.20 | % |
| France (fr) | 11.00 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 5.70 | % |
| United States (us) | 5.50 | % |
| China (cn) | 4.10 | % |
Commodities :
| chemicals | foodstuffs |
| machinery and equipment | oil products |
| pharmaceuticals | raw diamonds |
| raw materials | transportation equipment |
Currency-code :
EUR
Currency-name :
euro
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 4 457 000 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 11 822 000 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 79 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 25 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | be | |
| Internet Hosts | 4 367 000 | |
| Internet Users | 7 292 000 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 27 | |
| Heliports | 1 | |
| Pipelines - gas | 1 330 | km |
| Pipelines - oil | 158 | km |
| Pipelines - refined products | 535 | km |
| Roadways - total | 152 256 | km |
| Roadways - expressways | 1 763 | km |
| Roadways - paved | 119 079 | km |
| Roadways - unpaved | 33 177 | km |
| Railways | 3 233 | km |
| Waterways | 2 043 | km |
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