Belgium

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.

• temperate;
• mild winters, cool summers;
• rainy, humid, cloudy

• 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

0-14 years:

18% (male 919,445; female 877,896)

15-64 years:

66% (male 3,386,193; female 3,334,081)

65 years and over:

16% (male 701,842; female 1,022,049) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.69 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

total population:

77.8 years

male:

74.47 years

female:

81.3 years (2000 est.)

noun:

Belgian(s)

adjective:

Belgian

conventional long form:

Kingdom of Belgium

conventional short form:

Belgium

local long form:

Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie

local short form:

Belgique/Belgie

• 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 Capital Region is not included within the 10 provinces

• civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory;
• judicial review of legislative acts;
• accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 monarch is hereditary;
• prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

note: government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO

• AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Wilfried BERVOETS];
• 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 Democratic Front or FDF [Olivier MAINGAIN, president];
• Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME, president];
• Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO, president];
• National Front or FN [Dr. FERET];
• Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE];
• Volksunie or VU [Geert BOURGEOIS, president];
• other minor parties

• 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

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, 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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Alexis REYN

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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Paul CEJAS

embassy:

27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels

mailing address:

PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone:

[32] (2) 508-2111

FAX:

[32] (2) 511-2725

lowest 10%:

3.7%

highest 10%:

20.2% (1992)

total:

3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)

standard gauge:

3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)

total:

145,850 km

paved:

117,701 km (including 1,682 km of expressways)

unpaved:

28,149 km (1998)

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

total:

22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,075 GRT/57,347 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, petroleum tanker 7 (1999 est.)

• source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors;
• transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]