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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, 1.7% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,571,588 males fit for military service: 2,135,375 males reach military age (19) annually: 61,986 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 39, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

100,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

5.691 million (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

32 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

3,315,662 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

donor: ODA, $808 million (1993)

Economic 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. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% annual pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, and recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995. 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.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 14,040,000 kW production: 66 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,334 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 30.036 (January 1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$108 billion (f.o.b., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products partners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1994)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$31.3 billion (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 2% industry: 28% services: 70% (1994)

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

$19,500 (1995 est.)

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

2.3% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine entering the European market

Imports [time series]

$140 billion (c.i.f., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: EU 68% (Germany 22.1%), US 8.8%, former Communist countries 0.8% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

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]

1.6% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

14% (1995 est.)

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: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,385 km border countries: 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 the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

coal, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

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

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 note: constitutional reforms passed by Parliament in 1993 increased the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant

Capital [time series]

Brussels

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordig) [time series]

elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP 12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%, AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats - (150 total) CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21, PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note - before the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats

Constitution [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Andre ADAM chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993) is a constitutional monarch head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) was appointed by the king and then approved by Parliament cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the king and approved by Parliament

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

[1] (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)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation), judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch

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

Country name (Name of country) [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 Christian Democrats (CVP - Christian People's Party), Johan VAN HECKE, president; Francophone Christian Democrats (PSC - Social Christian Party), Gerard DEPREZ, president; Flemish Socialist Party (SP), Louis TOBBACK, president; Francophone Socialist Party (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN, president; Flemish Liberal Democrats (VLD), Herman DE CROO, president; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party (PRL), Louis MICHEL, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Olivier MAINGAIN, president; Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; National Front (FN), Daniel FERET, president; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone Greens), no president; other minor parties

Legislative branch (Senate (Flemish - Senaat French - Senat)) [time series]

elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (71 total, 40 directly elected; 31 will be indirectly elected at a later date) CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3, ECOLO 2; note - before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Government type (Type of government) [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, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: APO AE 09724, PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18% (male 930,919; female 886,632) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,380,105; female 3,326,853) 65 years and over: 16% (male 663,760; female 981,972) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.09 years male: 73.86 years female: 80.51 years (1996 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]

1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

10,170,241 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.33% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 42 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 21 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 137,876 km paved: 129,603 km (including 1,667 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,273 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,220 GRT/83,360 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 6 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Railways [time series]

total: 3,396 km (2,363 km electrified; 2,563 km double track) standard gauge: 3,396 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Waterways [time series]

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