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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 42 usable: 42 with permanent-surface runways: 24 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute; 11,717 km national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km paved and 51,000 km unpaved rural roads

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 96,949 GRT/133,658 DWT; includes 10 cargo, 5 oil tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 5 chemical tanker, 1 bulk

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 1,167 km; crude oil 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km

Ports [time series]

Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,568 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 2,207 km electrified

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network; 4,720,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 39 FM, 32 TV; 5 submarine cables; 2 satellite earth stations - Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone system

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $4 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,556,189; fit for military service 2,133,051; reach military age (19) annually 63,532 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 2.3% of GDP; emphasis on livestock production - beef, veal, pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; net importer of farm products

Budget [time series]

revenues $97.8 billion; expenditures $109.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion

Electricity [time series]

17,500,000 kW capacity; 68,000 million kWh produced, 6,790 kWh per capita (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 33.256 (January 1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$118 billion (f.o.b., 1991) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products partners: EC 75.5%, US 3.7%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1991)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$31.3 billion (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; increasingly important gateway country for cocaine entering the European market

Imports [time series]

$121 billion (c.i.f., 1991) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: EC 73%, US 4.8%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist countries 1.8% (1991)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.6% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $177.9 billion (1992)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$17,800 (1992)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

0.8% (1992)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

This small 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 Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import essential raw materials, making its economy closely dependent on the state of world markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% pace during the period 1988-90, but economic growth slowed to a 1% pace in 1991-92. The economy is expected to turn in another sluggish 1% performance in 1993. Belgium's public debt remains high at 120% of GDP and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries.

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.8% (end 1992)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 30,510 km2 land area: 30,230 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

64 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

air and water pollution

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

10 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

coal, natural gas

Note [time series]

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EC

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen

Capital [time series]

Brussels

Constitution [time series]

7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the government is in the process of revising the Constitution with the aim of federalizing the Belgian state

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Juan CASSIERS chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-6900 FAX: (202) 333-3079 consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

Senate: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (184 total; of which 106 are directly elected) CVP 20, SP 14, PVV (now VLD) 13, VU 5, AGALEV 5, VB 5, ROSSEN 1, PS 18, PRL 9, PSC 9, ECOLO 6, FDF 1 Chamber of Representatives: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - CVP 16.7%, PS 13.6%, SP 12.0%, PVV (now VLD) 11.9%, PRL 8.2%, PSC 7.8%, VB 6.6%, VU 5.9%, ECOLO 5.1%, AGALEV 4.9%, FDF 2.6%, ROSSEM 3.2%, FN 1.5%; seats - (212 total) CVP 39, PS 35, SP 28, PVV (now VLD) 26, PRL 20, PSC 18, FB 12, VU 10, ECOLO 10, AGALEV 7, FDF 3, ROSSEM 3, FN 1

Executive branch [time series]

monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation)

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State: King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des Representants)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AG (observer), ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australian Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique local short form: Belgique

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman VAN ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social Christian (PSC) , Melchior WATHELET, president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS; Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis VAN GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel VAN DILLEN, chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Werner van STEEN; Live Differently (AGALEV; Flemish Green party), Leo COX; Ecologist (ECOLO; Francophone Green party), NA; other minor parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age, universal and compulsory

Government type (Type) [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bruce S. GELB embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, Brussels mailing address: B-1000 Brussels, PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09724 telephone: [32] (2) 513-3830 FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

People

Birth rate [time series]

11.94 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.126 million by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)

Languages [time series]

Flemish (Dutch) 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11% divided along ethnic lines

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.72 years male: 73.41 years female: 80.21 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

10,040,939 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.23% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.62 children born/woman (1993 est.)