Belgium

Kingdom of BelgiumRoyaume de Belgique

constitutional monarchyIndependence 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

Belgium as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 91 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBrussels
Position50 50 N, 4 00 E
Area30,510 sq km
LocationWestern Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France
1996

Every edition of Belgium

Populationas each edition published it
10.17 million July 1996 est. · 9.91m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.33% 1996 est. · 0.23% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 40 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
77.09 years 1996 est. · 76.72 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.69 children per woman 1996 est. · 1.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 6 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$19,500 1995 est. · $17,800 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.3% 1995 est. · 0.8% in 1993

Geography

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France | and the Netherlands

15 fields

Land useshare of 30,510 sq km

arable land 24%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 20%forest and woodland 21%other 34%irrigated 10 sq km (1989 est.)
Area
30,510sq km
land area: 30,230 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Coastline
64km
continental shelf: median line with neighborsexclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)territorial sea: 12 nm
Land boundaries
1,385km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Geographic coordinates

50 50 N, 4 00 E

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

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

Natural resources

coal, natural gas

Environment

current issues:
  • Meuse River, a major source of drinking water, polluted from steel production wastes;
  • other rivers polluted by animal wastes and fertilizers;
  • industrial air pollution contributes to acid rain in neighboring countries
natural hazards:
flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
international agreements:
  • party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic note

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EU

People

15 fields
Population
10,170,241
(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 0.33% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth
12Death
10.3Net migration
1.63

Ethnic divisions

Fleming 55%Walloon 33%mixed or other 12%
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1980 est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:
18% (male 930,919; female 886,632)
15-64 years:
66% (male 3,380,105; female 3,326,853)
65 years and over:
16% (male 663,760; female 981,972) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.68 male(s)/female
all ages:
0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
77.09 years
male:
73.86 years
female:
80.51 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Belgian(s)
adjective:
Belgian

Religions

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Languages

Dutch 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11% (divided along ethnic lines)

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993) is a constitutional monarch; Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) was appointed by the king and then approved by Parliament

23 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

17.2%
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%

Legislature, 150 seatsone dot, one seat

CVP 29PS 21SP 20VLD 21PRL 18PSC 12VB 11VU 5ECOLO 6AGALEV 5FN 2

Name of country

conventional long form:
Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form:
Belgium
local long form:
Royaume de Belgique
local short form:
Belgique

Type of government

constitutional monarchy

Capital

Brussels

Administrative divisions

  • 9 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie);
  • Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen

note: constitutional reforms passed by Parliament in 1993 increased the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant

Independence

4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday

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

Constitution

7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:
King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993) is a constitutional monarch
head of government:
Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) was appointed by the king and then approved by Parliament
cabinet:
Cabinet is appointed by the king and approved by Parliament

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Senate (Flemish - Senaat French - Senat)

  • elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (71 total, 40 directly elected; 31 will be indirectly elected at a later date) 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(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordig

  • elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999);
  • results - 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 - (150 total) 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation), judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch

Political parties and leaders

  • Flemish Christian Democrats (CVP - Christian People's Party), Johan VAN HECKE, president;
  • Francophone Christian Democrats (PSC - Social Christian Party), Gerard DEPREZ, president;
  • Flemish Socialist Party (SP), Louis TOBBACK, president;
  • Francophone Socialist Party (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN, president;
  • Flemish Liberal Democrats (VLD), Herman DE CROO, president;
  • Francophone Liberal Reformation Party (PRL), Louis MICHEL, president;
  • Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Olivier MAINGAIN, president;
  • Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president;
  • Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman;
  • National Front (FN), Daniel FERET, president;
  • AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president;
  • ECOLO (Francophone Greens), no president;
  • other minor parties

Other political or pressure groups

  • 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

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Andre ADAM
chancery:
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 333-6900

FAX

[1] (202) 333-3079; consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
embassy:
27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address:
APO AE 09724, PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels
telephone:
[32] (2) 508-2111

FAX

[32] (2) 511-2725

Flag

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Economy

21 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,500
(1995 est.)
Real growth rate
2.3%
(1995 est.)industrial production growth: NA%
Unemployment rate
14%
(1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector(1994)

agriculture 2%industry 28%services 70% (1994)

Installed generating capacity, 14,040,000 kW

Electricity production
66 billionElectricity consumption per capita
6,334 (1993)

Economic overview

This small 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 Walloon.

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. The economy grew at a strong 4% annual pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, and recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995.

Belgium's public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

4.126 million; by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)

Budget

revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Agriculture

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Illicit drugs

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine entering the European market

Exports

$108 billion (f.o.b., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU)

commodities:
iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products
partners:
EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1994)

Imports

$140 billion (c.i.f., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union

commodities:
fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners:
EU 68% (Germany 22.1%), US 8.8%, former Communist countries 0.8% (1994)

External debt

$31.3 billion (1992 est.)

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $808 million (1993)

Currency

1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 30.036 (January 1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 42 in all

6
over 3 047 m
9
2 438 to 3 047 m
2
1 524 to 2 437 m
1
914 to 1 523 m
3
21
under 914 m
PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways
137,876Railways
3,396Waterways
2,043
Highways: paved: 129,603 km (including 1,667 km of expressways) · unpaved: 8,273 km (1992 est.) · Railways: (2,363 km electrified; 2,563 km double track) · standard gauge: 3,396 km 1.435-m gauge (1995) · Waterways: (1,528 km in regular commercial use)

Railways

total:
3,396 km (2,363 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge:
3,396 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways

total:
137,876 km
paved:
129,603 km (including 1,667 km of expressways)
unpaved:
8,273 km (1992 est.)

Waterways

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

Pipelines

  • crude oil 161 km;
  • petroleum products 1,167 km;
  • natural gas 3,300 km

Ports

Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine

total:
23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,220 GRT/83,360 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 6 (1995 est.)

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

9 fields
Fixed lines
5.691 million
(1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 39, shortwave 0

Radios

100,000 (1992 est.)

Televisions

3,315,662 (1993 est.) Defense

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability

males age 15-49:
2,571,588
males fit for military service:
2,135,375
males reach military age (19) annually:
61,986 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, 1.7% of GDP (1995)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Belgium.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/belgium/1996.

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