Statistical information Belgium 2001

Belgium in the World
top of pageBackground: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
top of pageLocation: Western Europe bordering the North Sea between France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N 4 00 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 30,510 km²
Land: 30,230 km²
Water: 280 km²
Comparative: about the size of Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 1,385 km
Border countries: (4) France 620 km;
, Germany 167 km;
, Luxembourg 148 km;
, Netherlands 450 kmCoastline: 66 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: median line with neighbors
Exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
Territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: temperate; mild winters cool summers; rainy humid cloudy
Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest central rolling hills rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
ElevationExtremes lowest point: North Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources: coal natural gas
Land useArable land: 24%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 20%
Forests and woodland: 21%
Other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land protected from the sea by concrete dikes
GeographyNote: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO
top of pagePopulation: 10,258,762 (July 2001 est.)
Growth rate: 0.16% (2001 est.)
Below poverty line: 4%
NationalityNoun: Belgian
Adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Fleming 58% Walloon 31% mixed or other 11%
Languages: Dutch 58% French 32% German 10% legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Religions: Roman Catholic 75% Protestant or other 25%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 17.48% (male 916,957; female 876,029)
15-64 years: 65.57% (male 3,390,145; female 3,336,908)
65 years and over: 16.95% (male 709,212; female 1,029,511) (2001 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.16% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 10.74 births/1000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 10.1 deaths/1000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.97 migrant(s)/1000 population (2001 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 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 agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male/female
Total population: 0.96 male/female (2001 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 4.7 deaths/1000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.96 years
Male: 74.63 years
Female: 81.46 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 7,700 (1999 est.)
Deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Major infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
Conventional short form: Belgium
Local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
Capital: Brussels
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 21 July 1831 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day 21 July (1831)
Constitution: 7 February 1831 last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branchChief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
Head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)
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
Note: government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Legislative branchElections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1
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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dos GEYSELS]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president]; Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Stefaan DE CLERCK president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Patrick JANSSENS president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO president]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; Volksunie or VU [leader vacant]; other minor parties
International organization participation: 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 MINURSO MONUC NATO NEA NSG OAS (observer) OECD OPCW OSCE PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIK UNMOGIP UNMOP UNRWA UNTSO UPU WADB (nonregional) WCL WEU WHO WIPO WMO WTrO ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN
In the us chancery: 3,330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 333-6,900
In the us fax: [1] (202) 333-3,079
In the us consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
From the us embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
From the us mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 9,710
From the us telephone: [32] (2) 508-2,111
From the us fax: [32] (2) 511-2,725
Flag description
: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side) yellow and red; the design was based on the flag of France
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: This modern 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 investment 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. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt is expected to fall below 100% of GDP in 2002 and the government has succeeded in balancing is budget. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. Economic growth in 2000 was broad based putting the government in a good position to pursue its energy market liberalization policies and planned tax cuts.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.1% (2000 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,300 (2000 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 1.4%
Industry: 26%
Services: 72.6% (2000 est.)
Agriculture products: sugar beets fresh vegetables fruits grain tobacco; beef veal pork milk
Industries: engineering and metal products motor vehicle assembly processed food and beverages chemicals basic metals textiles glass petroleum coal
Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 4.34 million (1999)
By occupation services: 73%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation agriculture: 2% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.4% (2000 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 4%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: 3.7%
Highest 10: 20.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $114.8 billion
Expenditures: $117 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.6 billion (1999)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.2% (2000 est.)
Central bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $181.4 billion (f.o.b. 2000)
Commodities: machinery and equipment chemicals diamonds metals and metal products
Partners: EU 76% (Germany 18% France 18% Netherlands 12% UK 10%) (1999)
Imports: $166 billion (c.i.f. 2000)
Commodities: machinery and equipment chemicals metals and metal products
Partners: EU 71% (Germany 18% Netherlands 17% France 14% UK 9%) (1999)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001) 1.0854 (2000) 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999) 36.229 (1998) 35.774 (1997) 30.962 (1996)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 79.829 billion kWh (1999)
Production by source fossil fuel: 40.01%
Production by source hydro: 0.42%
Production by source nuclear: 58.33%
Production by source other: 1.24% (1999)
Consumption: 75.089 billion kWh (1999)
Exports: 8.207 billion kWh (1999)
Imports: 9.055 billion kWh (1999)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesMain lines in use: 4.769 million (1997)
Mobile cellular: 974,494 (1997)
Telephone systemGeneral assessment: 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
Broadcast mediaInternetCountry code: .be
Service providers isps: 61 (2000)
Users: 2.7 million (2000)
Broadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.5 billion (FY01)
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (FY99)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 42 (2000 est.)
With paved runways total: 24
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2000 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 18
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 16 (2000 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2000 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1167 km; natural gas 3,300 km
RailwaysTotal: 3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
Standard gauge: 3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)
RoadwaysWaterways: 2,043 km (1528 km in regular commercial use)
Merchant marineTotal: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,912 GRT/53,161 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 6 (2000 est.)
Ports and terminalsBelgium - Transnational issues 2001
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs