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Communications

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.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [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

Debt - external [time series]

$31.3 billion (1992 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

donor: ODA, $808 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This highly developed 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, recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995, and fell off again to 1.4% in 1996, with continued substantial unemployment. 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 - capacity [time series]

13.59 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

6,823 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

74.4 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 33.067 (January 1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $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)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $204.8 billion (1996 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]

purchasing power parity - $20,300 (1996 est.)

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

1.4% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $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]

3.4% (1995 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) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

2.1% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

total: 4.126 million by occupation: services 69.7%, industry 27.7%, agriculture 2.6% (1992)

Unemployment rate [time series]

14% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total : 30,510 sq km land: 30,230 sq km water: 280 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about the size of Maryland

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

64 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point : Signal de Botrange 694 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km including Luxembourg (1993 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% permanent pastures: 20% forests 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 hazards [time series]

flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

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

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 theoretically increased the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, but this has not been confirmed by the US Government

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [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

Diplomatic representation in the 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) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king and approved by Parliament elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the king and then 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 (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, 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 consists of a Senate or Senaat in Flemish, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected, 31 will be indirectly elected at a later date; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Flemish, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 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; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - 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 by party - 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 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; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Brussels

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Marc VAN PEEL, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Gerard DEPREZ, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Louis TOBBACK, president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Philippe BUSQUIN, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Herman DE CROO, president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Louis MICHEL, president]; Francophone Democratic Front or FDF [Olivier MAINGAIN, president]; Volksunie or VU [Bert ANCIAUX, president]; Vlaams Blok or VB; National Front or FN [Frank VANHECKE, president]; AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [no president]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president]; other minor parties

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$4.6 billion (1995)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.7% (1995)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 2,559,951 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 2,122,673 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males : 63,005 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17% (male 911,881; female 868,361) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,385,319; female 3,318,940) 65 years and over : 17% (male 681,432; female 999,126) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.43 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.41 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Flemish 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.19 years male : 73.95 years female: 80.59 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian

Net migration rate [time series]

1.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

10,165,059 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.11% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.05 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 total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.5 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe BELIZE

Transportation

Airports [time series]

42 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 39 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m : 21 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 142,563 km paved: 142,563 km (including 1,667 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 102,363 GRT/152,951 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 10 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), 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)