Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point:North Sea 0 m
highest point:Botrange 694 m
Natural resources: construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land use: arable land:27.06%
permanent crops:0.72%
other:72.22%
note:includes Luxembourg (2011)
Irrigated land: 233.5 sq km (2007)
Total renewable water resources: 18.3 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 18.3 cu km (2011) Natural hazards: flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environment - current issues: 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) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements: party to:Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
People and Society
Nationality: noun: Belgian(s)
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%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Population: 10,449,361 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 84
Age structure: 0-14 years:15.6% (male 830,980/female 797,624)
65 years and over:19% (male 836,685/female 1,147,922) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:54.8 %
youth dependency ratio:26.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:28.4 %
potential support ratio:3.5 (2014 est.)
Median age: total:43.1 years
male:41.7 years
female:44.4 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.05% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 188
Birth rate: 9.99 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 193
Death rate: 10.76 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 38
Net migration rate: 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 57
Urbanization: urban population:97.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:0.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: BRUSSELS (capital) 1.949 million; Antwerp 959,000 (2011)
Sex ratio: at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.72 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality rate: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate: total:4.18 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 194
male:4.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population:79.92 yearscountry comparison to the world: 37
male:76.76 years
female:83.22 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 176
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 70.4%
Health expenditures: 10.6% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density: 3.78 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density: 6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 14,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 125
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 83
Education expenditures: 6.6% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 30 Literacy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total:16 years
male:16 years
female:17 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total:19.8%country comparison to the world: 60
male:20.4%
female:19.8% (2012)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form:Belgium
local long form:Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)
local short form:Belgique/Belgie/Belgien
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital: name:Brussels
geographic coordinates:50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: 3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)
Independence: 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
National holiday: 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
Constitution: drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state); amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)
Legal system: civil law system based on the French Civil Code; note - Belgian law continues to be modified in conformance with the legislative norms mandated by the European Union; judicial review of legislative acts
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state:King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the monarch
head of government:Prime Minister Elio DI RUPO (since 6 December 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 22 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Joelle MILQUET (since 20 March 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Laurette ONKELINX (since 30 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008); Depurty Prime Minister Johan VANDE LANOTTE (since i6 December 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Pieter DE CREM (since 5 March 2013)
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 usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats indirectly elected serve five-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections:Chamber of Deputies - last held on 23 May 2014 (next to be held May 2019); note - elections will coincide with the EU's elections
election results:Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N-VA 20.3%, PS 11.7%, CD&V 11.6%, Open VLD 9.8%, MR 9.6%, SP.A 8.8%, Groen! 5.3%, CDH 5.0% Workers' Party 3.7%, VB 3.7%, Ecolo 3.3%, FDF 1.8%, the People's Party 1.5%, other 7.2%; seats by party - N-VA 33, PS 23, CD&V 18, Open VLD 14, MR 20, SP.A 13, Groen! 6, CDH 9, Workers' Party 2, VB 3, Ecolo 6, FDF 2, the People's Party 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
Judicial branch: highest court(s):Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
Political parties and leaders: Federation of Enterprises in Belgium [Pieter TIMMERMANS/Pierre Alain DE SMEDT]; Confederation of Christan Trade Unions [Luc CORTEBEECK/Claude ROLIN]; Belgian General Federation of Labor [Rudy DE LEEUW/Anne DEMELENNE]
other:trade unions; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations representing the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Johan VERBEKE (since 10 March 2014)
chancery:3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 333-6900
FAX:[1] (202) 338-4960
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Denise BAUER (since 7 August 2013)
embassy:27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels
mailing address:PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone:[32] (2) 811-4000
FAX:[32] (2) 811-4500
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)
National symbol(s): lion
National anthem: name:'La Brabanconne' (The Song of Brabant)
lyrics/music:Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT
note:adopted 1830; Louis-Alexandre DECHET was an actor at the theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began; according to legend, he wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe
Economy
Economy - overview:
This modern, open, and private-enterprise-based economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the more heavily-populated region of Flanders in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium imports substantial quantities of raw materials and exports a large volume of manufactures, making its economy vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries, and Belgium has benefited most from its proximity to Germany. In 2013 Belgian GDP grew by 0.1%, the unemployment rate increased to 8.8% from 7.6% the previous year, and the government reduced the budget deficit from a peak of 6% of GDP in 2009 to 3.2%. Despite the relative improvement in Belgium's budget deficit, public debt hovers around 100% of GDP, a factor that has contributed to investor perceptions that the country is increasingly vulnerable to spillover from the euro-zone crisis. Belgian banks were severely affected by the international financial crisis in 2008 with three major banks receiving capital injections from the government, and the nationalization of the Belgian retail arm of a Franco-Belgian bank.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$421.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$421.3 billion (2012 est.)
$422.5 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$507.4 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
-0.3% (2012 est.)
1.8% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$38,000 (2012 est.)
$38,400 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving:
19.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
20.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:53.7%
government consumption:25%
investment in fixed capital:20.2%
investment in inventories:0.8%
exports of goods and services:81.8%
imports of goods and services:-81.5%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture:0.8%
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163 Labor force:
5.15 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture:2%
industry:25%
services:73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
7.6% (2012 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15.2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:3.4%
highest 10%:28.4% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 125
28.7 (1996)
Budget: revenues:$241.9 billion
expenditures:$258.2 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
47.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16 Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Public debt:
102.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
99.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; general government debt is defined by the Maastricht definition and calculated by the National Bank of Belgium as consolidated gross debt; the debt is defined in European Regulation EC479/2009 concerning the implementation of the protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht) of 7 February 1992; the sub-sectors of consolidated gross debt are: federal government, communities and regions, local government, and social security funds
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
2.6% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.75% (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world: 127
1.5% (31 December 2010)
note:this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
3.62% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$185.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$185.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$591.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$585 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$581.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$574.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance:
-$9.1 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
-$6.65 billion (2012 est.)
Exports:
$295.3 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$302.4 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 18%, France 16.1%, Netherlands 13%, UK 7.3%, US 5.3%, Italy 4.4% (2012)
Imports:
$310.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$311.1 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 20.9%, Germany 14.2%, France 10.6%, US 6.1%, UK 5.5%, Ireland 4.4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$30.77 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$29.43 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.424 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.417 trillion (31 December 2011)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.195 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$1.159 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.215 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$1.185 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7634 (2013 est.)
0.7752 (2012 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)
Energy
Electricity - production:
83.37 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world:38
Electricity - consumption:
84.68 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - exports:
6.911 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - imports:
16.85 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
18.32 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
43.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
32.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
16.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Crude oil - production:
10,530 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Crude oil - imports:
667,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Refined petroleum products - production:
720,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
644,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Refined petroleum products - exports:
442,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Refined petroleum products - imports:
355,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - consumption:
13.46 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - exports:
21.18 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - imports:
38.9 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
131.1 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.631 million (2012)
country comparison to the world:33
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.88 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 67
Telephone system:
general assessment:highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities
international:country code - 32; landing point for a number of submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)
Broadcast media:
a segmented market with the three major communities (Flemish, French, and German-speaking) each having responsibility for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community; additionally, in excess of 90% of households are connected to cable and can access broadcasts of TV stations from neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network co-existing with private broadcasters (2007)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet hosts:
5.192 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 21
Internet users:
8.113 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transportation
Airports
41 (2013)
country comparison to the world:102
Airports - with paved runways total:26
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:8 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:15
under 914 m:
15 (2013)
Heliports 1 (2013)
Pipelines gas 3,139 km; oil 154 km; refined products 535 km (2013)
Railways total:3,233 kmcountry comparison to the world: 55
standard gauge:3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways total:154,012 kmcountry comparison to the world: 31
paved:120,514 km (includes 1,756 km of expressways)
unpaved:33,498 km (2010)
Waterways
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 42
Merchant marine total:87country comparison to the world: 56
by type:bulk carrier 23, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, container 4, liquefied gas 23, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned:15 (Denmark 4, France 7, Russia 1, UK 2, US 1)
registered in other countries:107 (Bahamas 6, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, France 7, Gibraltar 1, Greece 17, Hong Kong 26, Liberia 1, Luxembourg 11, Malta 7, Marshall Islands 1, Mozambique 2, North Korea 1, Panama 1, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 1, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals major seaport(s):Oostende, Zeebrugge
Military branches Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2012)
Military service age and obligation 18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1994 (2012)
Manpower available for military service males age 16-49:2,359,232
females age 16-49:2,291,689 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49:1,934,957
females age 16-49:1,877,268 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male:59,665
female:57,142 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
1.05% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99
1.08% of GDP (2011)
1.05% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international none
Refugees and internally displaced persons stateless persons:3,898 (2012)
Illicit drugs growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; 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; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy
