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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 77, shortwave 1 (Belgium's single shortwave station, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, transmits its programs internationally in Dutch, English, French, and German, using 21 shortwave frequencies)

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.); 1.7 million cellular telephone subscribers (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

24 (in addition, there are Dutch programs on cable, TV-5 Europe by satellite relay, and American Forces Network by relay from Germany) (1997)

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 (Debt--external) [time series]

$22.3 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--donor) [time series]

ODA, $1 billion (1995)

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 Wallonia. 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. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

75.266 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

5.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

9.6 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

71.066 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 41.73% hydro: 0.33% nuclear: 57.93% other: 0.01% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1--34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports [time series]

$145.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8% (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$236 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 1.9% industry: 27.2% services: 70.9% (1996)

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

purchasing power parity?$23,400 (1998 est.)

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

2.8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$137.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 75% (Germany 22.1%), US 5% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9.7% (1995)

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% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.283 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 69.7%, industry 27.7%, agriculture 2.6% (1992)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 (Environment--current issues) [time series]

the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges

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

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Geography - note (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]

10 provinces (French: provinces, singular--province; Flemish: provincien, singular--provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen note: the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10 provinces

Capital [time series]

Brussels

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 Paul CEJAS embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

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, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, 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, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; 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 popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies--last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held in June 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

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern, technologically advanced European state and member of the European Union. Its unique political circumstance is the long-standing differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south, differences that are becoming increasingly acute.

Military

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

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure (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 (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,537,544 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 64,180 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17% (male 895,987; female 853,494) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,389,572; female 3,318,266) 65 years and over: 17% (male 703,933; female 1,020,782) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.53 years male: 74.31 years female: 80.9 years (1999 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]

1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

10,182,034 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.06% (1999 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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

42 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 24 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 143,175 km paved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6 (1998 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: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track) standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)

Waterways [time series]

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