Belgium
Kingdom of BelgiumRoyaume de Belgique (French)/
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Belgium as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 164 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions 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. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
Geography
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
20 fieldsTerrain
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 44.1%;
- arable land 27.2%;
- permanent crops 0.8%;
- permanent pasture 16.1%
- forest:
- 22.4%
- other:
- 33.5% (2011 est.)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 6.22 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
- per capita:
- 589.8 cu m/yr (2007)
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
31 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.76 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Government
Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Prime Minister Charles MICHEL (since 11 October 2014)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Chamber of Deputies, 150 seats, elected 23 May 2014one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
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)
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;
the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities
Independence
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the monarch
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Charles MICHEL (since 11 October 2014);
- Deputy Prime Ministers Alexander DE CROO (since 22 October 2012), Jan JAMBON (since 11 October 2014), Kris PEETERS, Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch
- elections/appointments:
- the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by Parliament
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 31 indirectly elected by Community Parliaments; members serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
note: the 1993 constitutional revision that further devolved Belgium into a federal state created 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; changes above occurred since the sixth state reform
- 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
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
Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V [Wouter BEKE]
Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Gwendolyn RUTTEN]
Groen! [Meyren ALMACI] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens)
Libertarian, Direct, Democratic or LDD (formerly Dedecker's List) [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]
New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]
People's Party [Mischael MODRIKAMEN]
Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Bruno TOBBACK]
Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Tom VAN GRIEKEN]
Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Patrick DUPRIEZ and Zakia KHATTABI]
Francophone Federalist Democrats or FDF [Olivier MAINGAIN]
Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Benoit LUTGEN]
People's Party [Mischael MODRIKAMEN]
Reform Movement or MR [Olivier CHASTEL]
Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]
Workers' Party [Peter Mertens]
other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Belgian General Federation of Labor [Rudy DE LEEUW, Marc GOBLET]
Confederation of Christan Trade Unions [Marc LEEMANS, Marie-Helene SKA]
Federation of Enterprises in Belgium [Pieter TIMMERMANS, Michele SIOEN]
- other:
- numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions;
- trade unions;
- various organizations representing the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia;
- various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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) 333-3079
- consulate(s) general:
- Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Denise Campbell BAUER (since 26 September 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 anthem
- name:
- "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)
- lyrics/music:
- Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT
note: adopted 1830; according to legend, Louis-Alexandre DECHET, an actor at the theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began, wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe
Economy
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.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
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 shifts in foreign demand, particularly in Belgium’s EU trade partners. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries.
In 2014 Belgian GDP grew by 0.9%, the unemployment rate stabilized at 8.5%, and the the budget deficit was 3.2% of GDP. Prime Minister Charles MICHEL’s center-right government has pledged to further reduce the deficit in response to EU pressure to reduce Belgium’s high public debt, which remains above 100% of GDP, but such efforts could also dampen economic growth.
In addition to restrained public spending, low wage growth and high unemployment promise to curtail a more robust recovery in private consumption. The government has pledged to pursue an reform program to improve Belgium’s competitiveness, including changes to tax policy, labor market rules, and welfare benefits. These changes risk worsening tensions with trade unions and triggering extended strikes.
Gross national saving
23.5% of GDP (2014 est.) · 22.4% of GDP (2013 est.) · 22.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Industries
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Distribution of family income - Gini index
25.9 (2013 est.) · 28.7 (1996) country comparison to the world: 133
Public debt
101.9% of GDP (2014 est.) · 101.2% of GDP (2013 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 country comparison to the world: 12
Central bank discount rate
0.75% (31 December 2013) · 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 country comparison to the world: 132
Commercial bank prime lending rate
3.5% (31 December 2014 est.) · 3.49% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Stock of narrow money
$202.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $205.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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 country comparison to the world: 23
Stock of broad money
$606.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $630.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Stock of domestic credit
$568.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $596 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Current account balance
$8.71 billion (2014 est.) · -$9.661 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Exports - commodities
chemicals, machinery and equipment, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Imports - commodities
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$26.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $26.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Debt - external
$1.424 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.417 trillion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 14
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$1.196 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $1.169 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$1.077 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $1.084 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7489 (2014 est.) · 0.7634 (2013 est.) · 0.78 (2012 est.) · 0.7185 (2011 est.) · 0.755 (2010 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 20.79 million kW(2011 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
139.1 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Communications
8 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)
Telephone system
- general assessment:
- highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities
- domestic:
- nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system;
- extensive cable network;
- limited microwave radio relay network
- 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)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 87 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 3,592 km
- standard gauge:
- 3,592 km 1.435-m gauge (2,960 km electrified) (2014)
country comparison to the world: 55
Roadways
- total:
- 154,012 km
- paved:
- 120,514 km (includes 1,756 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 33,498 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 31
Ports and terminals
- major seaport(s):
- Oostende, Zeebrugge
- river port(s):
- Antwerp, Gent (Schelde River);
- Brussels (Senne River);
- Liege (Meuse River)
- container port(s) (TEUs):
- Antwerp (8,664,243), Zeebrugge (2,207,257) (2011)
- LNG terminal(s) (import):
- Zeebrugge
Military
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2012)
6 fieldsMilitary 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.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 5,038 (Afghanistan) (2014)
- stateless persons:
- 2,554 (2014)
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Belgium.” The World Factbook 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/belgium/2015.