Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N 4 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 30,510 km²
Land: 30,230 km²
Water: 280 km²
Comparative: about the size of Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 1,385 km
Border countries: (4) France 620 km; , Germany 167 km; , Luxembourg 148 km; , Netherlands 450 km

Coastline: 66 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: median line with neighbors
Territorial sea: 12 NM
Exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)

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

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

Natural resources: coal natural gas

Land use
Arable land: 25%
Permanent crops: 0%
Note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
Other: 75%

Irrigated land: 40 km² (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)

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

Geography
Note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1000 km of Brussels the seat of both the European Union and NATO

Population: 10,274,595 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: 0.15% (2002 est.)
Below poverty line: 4%

Nationality
Noun: Belgian
Adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups: Fleming 58% Walloon 31% mixed or other 11%

Languages: Dutch (official) 60% French (official) 40% German (official) less than 1% legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Religions: Roman Catholic 75% Protestant or other 25%

Age structure
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 911,729; female 871,470)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,395,885; female 3,341,536)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 716,673; female 1,037,302) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.15% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 10.58 births/1000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 10.08 deaths/1000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.97 migrant(s)/1000 population (2002 est.)

Environment
Current 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 slowed 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

Sex ratio
At 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 (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.64 deaths/1000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.13 years
Female: 81.62 years (2002 est.)
Male: 74.8 years

Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 7,700 (1999 est.)
Deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
Conventional short form: Belgium
Local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie

Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Capital: Brussels

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces singular - province; Dutch: provincien singular - provincie) and 1 region* (French: region; Dutch: gewest); Antwerpen Brabant Wallon Brussels* (Bruxelles) Hainaut Liege Limburg Luxembourg Namur Oost-Vlaanderen Vlaams-Brabant West-Vlaanderen

Independence: 4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief 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 monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by Parliament
Note: government coalition - VLD, PRL-FDF, PS, MCC, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003)
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 the Political parties and leaders entry
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

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 although selected by the Government)

Political parties and leaders: AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Jos GEYSELS]; Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Stefaan DE CLERCK president]; note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president; led by three person federal secretariat]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT 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]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Patrick JANSSENS president]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Annemie VAN DE CASTEELE]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; 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 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 representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
In the us chancery: 3,330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
In the us fax: [1] (202) 333-3,079
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 333-6,900
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER
From the us embassy: Regentlaan 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

Economy 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. 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. Public debt is about 100% of GDP and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium together with 11 of its EU partners began circulating euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-02 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2003 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US.

Real gdp growth rate: 0.6% (2002 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2002 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1%
Industry: 24%
Services: 74% (2001)

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: 4.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 4.44 million (2001)
By occupation services: 73%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation agriculture: 2% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7.2% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line: 4%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3%
Highest 10: 23% (1992) (1996)

Distribution of family income gini index: 29 (1996)

Budget
Revenues: $113.4 billion
Expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17 billion (2000)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.7% (2002 est.)

Exports: $162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment chemicals diamonds metals and metal products foodstuffs
Partners: EU 75.3% (Germany 18.1% France 17.3% Netherlands 12.1% UK 9.6%) US 5.6% (2001)

Imports: $152 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: machinery and equipment chemicals metals and metal products foodstuffs
Partners: EU 68.7% (Netherlands 17.5% Germany 16.8% France 13.8% UK 8.0%) US 7.2% (2001)

Debt external: $28.3 billion (1999 est.)

Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002) 1.1175 (2001) 1.0854 (2000) 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999) 36.229 (1998) 35.774 (1997)

Electricity
Production: 79.348 billion kWh (2000)
Production by source fossil fuel: 40%
Production by source hydro: 1%
Production by source other: 1% (2000)
Production by source nuclear: 58%
Consumption: 78.13 billion kWh (2000)
Exports: 7.309 billion kWh (2000)
Imports: 11.645 billion kWh (2000)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4.769 million (1997)
Mobile cellular: 974,494 (1997)

Telephone system
General 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

Internet
Country code: .be
Service providers isps: 61 (2000)
Users: 3.76 million (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $3,077 million (FY01/02)
Percent of gdp: 1.4% (FY01/02)

Airports: 42 (2001)
With paved runways total: 25
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 7 (2002)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways total: 17
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 15 (2002)

Heliports: 1 (2002)

Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1167 km; natural gas 3,300 km

Railways
Total: 3,422 km
Standard gauge: 3,422 km 1.435-m gauge (2,517 km electrified; 2,563 km double-tracked) (2001)

Waterways: 1570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)

Merchant marine
Total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,362 GRT/54,058 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 5, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine heroin hashish and marijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related to trafficking of drugs automobiles alcohol and tobacco