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
50 50 N, 4 00 E
Europe
total: 30,528 sq km ; land: 30,278 sq km ; water: 250 sq km
about the size of Maryland
total: 1,385 km ; border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
66.5 km
territorial sea: 12 nm ; contiguous zone: 24 nm ; exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit ; continental shelf: median line with neighbors
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
lowest point: North Sea 0 m ; highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
arable land: 27.42% ; permanent crops: 0.69% ; other: 71.89% ; note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
400 sq km (2003)
20.8 cu km (2005)
Total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%) ; Per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)
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) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
party to: 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-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, Whaling ; signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
10,392,226 (July 2007 est.)
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 873,130/female 836,785) ; 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,467,044/female 3,406,030) ; 65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,969/female 1,062,268) (2007 est.)
total: 41.1 years ; male: 39.9 years ; female: 42.4 years (2007 est.)
0.12% (2007 est.)
10.29 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
10.32 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female ; under 15 years: 1.043 male(s)/female ; 15-64 years: 1.018 male(s)/female ; 65 years and over: 0.703 male(s)/female ; total population: 0.959 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
total: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births ; male: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births ; female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total population: 78.92 years ; male: 75.75 years ; female: 82.24 years (2007 est.)
1.64 children born/woman (2007 est.)
0.2% (2003 est.)
10,000 (2003 est.)
less than 100 (2003 est.)
noun: Belgian(s) ; adjective: Belgian
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)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write ; total population: 99% ; male: 99% ; female: 99% (2003 est.)


conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium ; conventional short form: Belgium ; local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie ; local short form: Belgique/Belgie
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders* region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur ; 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

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
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); note - a new prime minister may be installed in early 2008, pending government formation talks ; 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: outgoing government coalition (serving as caretaker since 10 June 2007) - Open VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit; note - a new coalition may be installed in early 2008 pending government formation talks
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; to 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 10 June 2007 (next to be held no later than June 2011) ; election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit 10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker List 3.4%, FN 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 9, Open VLD 5, MR 6, VB 5, PS 4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2, Groen! 1, Dedecker List 1, FN 1 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB 12%, Open VLD 11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo 5.1%, Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 30, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A-Spirit 14, CDH 10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 1 ; 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
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)
Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Groen! [Mieke VOGELS] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; 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 or 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
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
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, 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, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
chief of mission: Ambassador Dominique STRUYE DE SWIELANDE ; chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 ; telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 ; FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960 ; consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York ; consulate(s): Atlanta
chief of mission: Ambassador Sam FOX ; 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





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 85% 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 2004-07. Credit tightening, falling consumer and business confidence, and uncertainty surrounding delays in government formation could slow growth and reduce foreign investment in 2008.
$378.9 billion (2007 est.)
$388.4 billion (2007 est.)
2.7% (2007 est.)
$36,500 (2007 est.)
agriculture: 1% ; industry: 24.4% ; services: 74.6% (2007 est.)
5.03 million (2007 est.)
agriculture: 1.3% ; industry: 24.5% ; services: 74.2% (2003 est.)
7.6% (2007 est.)
15% (2007 est.)
lowest 10%: 3.4% ; highest 10%: 28.1% (2000)
28 (2005)
1.7% (2007 est.)
21.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
revenues: $217 billion ; expenditures: $217.4 billion (2007 est.)
86.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
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
3% (2007 est.)
80.84 billion kWh (2005)
fossil fuel: 38.4% ; hydro: 0.6% ; nuclear: 59.3% ; other: 1.8% (2001)
82.99 billion kWh (2005)
8.024 billion kWh (2005)
14.33 billion kWh (2005)
8,671 bbl/day (2005)
564,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
523,400 bbl/day (2004)
1.109 million bbl/day (2004)
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
0 cu m (2005 est.)
16.61 billion cu m (2005 est.)
0 cu m (2005 est.)
17.27 billion cu m (2005)
0 cu m (1 January 2006)
$11.04 billion (2007 est.)
$328.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Germany 19.7%, France 16.9%, Netherlands 12%, UK 7.9%, US 6.2%, Italy 5.2% (2006)
$320.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Netherlands 18.3%, Germany 17.3%, France 11.2%, UK 6.6%, Ireland 5.7%, US 5.4% (2006)
ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)
$13.44 billion (2006 est.)
$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)
$633.5 billion (2006 est.)
$485.1 billion (2006 est.)
$422.7 billion (2006)
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
EUR
euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
calendar year

4.719 million (2006)
9.66 million (2006)
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; landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
8.075 million (1997)
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
4.72 million (1997)
.be
3.195 million (2007)
61 (2000)
4.8 million (2005)

43 (2007)
total: 27 ; over 3,047 m: 6 ; 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 ; 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 ; 914 to 1,523 m: 1 ; under 914 m: 9 (2007)
total: 16 ; 914 to 1,523 m: 1 ; under 914 m: 15 (2007)
1 (2007)
gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)
total: 3,536 km ; standard gauge: 3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2006)
total: 150,567 km ; paved: 117,442 km (includes 1,747 km of expressways) ; unpaved: 33,125 km (2004)
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2006)
total: 68 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,786,089 GRT/6,074,664 DWT ; by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 5, chemical tanker 2, container 9, liquefied gas 16, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5 ; foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 3, France 1, Germany 1, Greece 4) ; registered in other countries: 123 (Bahamas 15, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 1, France 6, Gibraltar 3, Greece 16, Hong Kong 4, Liberia 1, Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Marshall Islands 1, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 11, Portugal 9, Russia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, St Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 9, Vanuatu 4) (2007)
Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge

Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Commands (2005)
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)
males age 16-49: 2,436,736 ; females age 16-49: 2,369,463 (2005 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,998,003 ; females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)
males age 18-49: 64,263 ; females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.)
1.3% (2005 est.)

none

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

