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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: 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 137,876 km paved: 129,603 km (including 1,631 km of limited access divided highway) unpaved: 8,273 km (1989)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,200 GRT/52,039 DWT, bulk 1, cargo 9, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 5

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 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 - $3.8 billion, 1.8% of GDP (1993)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,558,109; fit for military service 2,130,172; reach military age (19) annually 61,710 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 2.0% 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 enditures: $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]

capacity: 17,500,000 kW production: 68 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,790 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 36.242 (January 1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989)

Exports [time series]

7 billion (f.o.b., 1992) 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; important gateway country for cocaine entering the European market

Imports [time series]

$120 billion (c.i.f., 1992) 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 -0.1% (1993 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP

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]

2.8% (1993 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $177.5 billion (1993)

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

$17,700 (1993)

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

-1.5% (1993)

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 substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Three fourths of its 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 and dropped by 1.5% in 1993. Belgium's public debt has risen to 140% 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]

13.5% (March 1994)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 30,510 sq km land area: 30,230 sq km 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]

current issues: Meuse River, a major source of drinking water, polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted by animal wastes and fertilizers; industrial air pollution contributes to acid rain in neighboring countries natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (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

Legislative branch (Chamber of Representatives) [time series]

(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des Representants); elections 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

Constitution [time series]

7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal 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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King ALBERT II (since NA August 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; the king appoints the ministers who are chosen by the legislature

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

(202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

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

[32] (2) 511-2725

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)

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

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, MINURSO, 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), Johan van HECKE, president; Francophone Social Christian (PSC), Melchior WATHELET, president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Francophone Socialist (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN; Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Francophone Liberal (PRL), Jean GOL, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis VAN GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Werner van STEEN; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone Ecologists), no president; other minor parties

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

(Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat); elections 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

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 Alan J. BLINKEN embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, Brussels mailing address: B-1000 Brussels, APO AE 09724 telephone: [32] (2) 513-3830

People

Birth rate [time series]

11.71 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 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]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.96 years male: 73.67 years female: 80.44 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

10,062,836 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.2% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.62 children born/woman (1994 est.)