World Facts Index > Belgium > Antwerp, Brussels
 Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it 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.
Geography of Belgium
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Location:
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Western Europe, bordering
the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands |
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Coordinates:
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50 50 N, 4 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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about the size of Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148
km, Netherlands 450 km |
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Coastline:
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66 km |
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf:
median line with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: median line with neighbors (extends
about 68 km from coast) |
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Climate:
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temperate; mild winters,
cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy |
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Terrain:
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flat coastal plains in
northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in
southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: North
Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m |
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Natural resources:
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coal, natural gas |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding is a threat in
areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete
dikes |
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Environment - current issues:
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the environment is exposed
to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense
transportation network, industry, extensive 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 |
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Geography - note:
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crossroads of Western
Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels,
the seat of both the European Union and NATO
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Population of Belgium
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Population:
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10,403,951 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 16.3% (male 864,287/female 828,435)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,476,802/female 3,416,383)
65 years and over: 17.5% (male 751,745/female 1,066,299) |
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Median age:
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41.4 years |
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Infant mortality:
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4.5 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.07 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 82.38 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.64 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other
11% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25% |
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Languages:
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Dutch (official) 60%, French (official)
40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 99%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of
Belgium
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie |
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Government type:
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federal parliamentary democracy under a
constitutional monarch |
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Capital:
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Brussels |
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Administrative divisions:
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10 provinces (French: provinces, singular -
province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch:
gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege,
Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen |
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Independence:
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4 October 1830 a provisional government
declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I
to the throne |
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National holiday:
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21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of
King Leopold I |
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Constitution:
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7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993;
parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state |
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Legal system:
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civil law system influenced by English
constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August
1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Yves LETERME (20 March 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in
Dutch, 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 Dutch, 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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van
Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the
Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council) |
Economy
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. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries.
Public debt is more than 85% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has
succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively
equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic
growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown,
with moderate recovery in 2004-07. Economic growth and foreign direct
investment are expected to slow down in 2008, due to credit tightening,
falling consumer and business confidence, and above average inflation.
However, with the successful negotiation of the 2008 budget and devolution of
power within the government, political tensions seem to be easing and could
lead to an improvement in the economic outlook for 2008.
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GDP:
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$376.5 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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1.5% |
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GDP per capita:
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$36,200 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 24%
services: 74.9% |
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Inflation rate:
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1.4% |
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Labor force:
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4.77 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.2% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $180.4 billion
expenditures: $180.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion |
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Industries:
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engineering and metal products, motor
vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass,
petroleum, tourism |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 59.3%
other: 1.8% |
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Agriculture:
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sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits,
grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk |
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Exports:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals,
diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs |
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Export partners:
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Germany 19.8%, France 17%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 8.2%, US
6%, Italy 5.4% |
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Imports:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals,
diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products |
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Import partners:
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Germany 17.5%, Netherlands 17.5%, France 11.3%, UK 6.9%,
Ireland 6.6%, US 5.4% |
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Currency:
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euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a
common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January
2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member
countries |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |