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Countries |
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Guide to DXing |
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Real Radio |
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Background:
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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. 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.
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Location:
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Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the
Netherlands
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Geographic coordinates:
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50 50 N, 4 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 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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66.5 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define
outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
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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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construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
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Land use:
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arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89%
note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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20.8 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)
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Natural hazards:
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flooding is a threat along rivers and 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) had slowed progress in tackling
environmental challenges
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within
1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and
NATO
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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)
(2008 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 41.4 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 42.7 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.106% (2008 est.)
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Birth rate:
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10.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Death rate:
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10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
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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 (2008 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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10,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2003 est.)
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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%, other (includes Protestant) 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
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Government type:
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federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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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
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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); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region;
Flanders* region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg,
Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish
Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region
(five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut,
Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
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
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Independence:
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4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence
from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended 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; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to
create a federal state
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Legal system:
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based on 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)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 10
June 2007 (next to be held no later than June 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
CDV/N-VA 19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%,
SP.A-Spirit 10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker
List 3.4%, FN 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 9,
Open VLD 5, MR 6, VB 5, PS 4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2,
Groen! 1, Dedecker List 1, FN 1 (note - there are also 31
indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB 12%, Open VLD
11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo 5.1%,
Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party -
CDV/N-VA 30, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A-Spirit 14,
CDH 10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 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
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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)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or
CDV [Etienne SCHOUPPE]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER];
Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS];
Groen! [Mieke VOGELS] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New
Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive
Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; Spirit [Geert
LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang
(Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens)
[Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR];
Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Joelle MILQUET];
National Front or FN [Michel BELACROIX]; Reform Movement or
MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO];
other minor parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Christian, Socialist, and Liberal 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 Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB, Australia Group, Benelux,
BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional),
WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Dominique STRUYE DE
SWIELANDE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Atlanta
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Sam FOX
embassy: Regentlaan 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
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Flag description:
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three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and
red
note: the design was based on the flag of France
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Economy - overview:
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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 (purchasing power parity):
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$378.9 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$442.8 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.7% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$36,500 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.4% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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5.03 million (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.6% (2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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15.2% (2007 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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28 (2005)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.5% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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21.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $217 billion
expenditures: $217.4 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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86.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef,
veal, pork, milk
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Industries:
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engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food
and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass,
petroleum
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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80.84 billion kWh (2005)
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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% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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82.99 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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8.024 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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14.33 billion kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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9,000 bbl/day (2006)
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Oil - consumption:
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591,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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523,400 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - imports:
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1.109 million bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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16.61 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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17.27 billion cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2006)
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Current account balance:
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$11.04 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$328.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal
products, foodstuffs
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 19.7%, France 16.9%, Netherlands 12%, UK 7.9%, US 6.2%,
Italy 5.2% (2006)
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Imports:
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$320.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals,
foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
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Imports - partners:
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Netherlands 18.3%, Germany 17.3%, France 11.2%, UK 6.6%, Ireland
5.7%, US 5.4% (2006)
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $1.978 billion (2006)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$16.5 billion (2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$633.5 billion (2006 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$485.1 billion (2006 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$422.7 billion (2006)
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Currency (code):
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euro (EUR)
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Currency code:
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EUR
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Exchange rates:
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euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041
(2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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4.719 million (2006)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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9.66 million (2006)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: 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: 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)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
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Radios:
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8.075 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
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Televisions:
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4.72 million (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.be
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Internet hosts:
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3.195 million (2007)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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61 (2000)
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Internet users:
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4.8 million (2005)
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Airports:
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43 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 27
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2007)
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Heliports:
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1 (2007)
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Pipelines:
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gas 1,562 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 3,536 km
standard gauge: 3,536 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km
electrified) (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 150,567 km
paved: 117,442 km (includes 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,125 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2006)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 68 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,786,089
GRT/6,074,664 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 5, chemical tanker 2,
container 9, liquefied gas 16, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
10, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 3, France 1, Germany 1, Greece
4)
registered in other countries: 123 (Bahamas 15, Bermuda
3, Cyprus 1, France 6, Gibraltar 3, Greece 16, Hong Kong 4,
Liberia 1, Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Marshall Islands 1,
Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama
11, Portugal 9, Russia 6, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, St
Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 9, Vanuatu
4) (2007)
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Ports and terminals:
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Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
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Military branches:
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Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations
Command, Air Operations Command (2008)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
suspended (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 2,407,128
females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 1,973,167
females age 16-49: 1,915,990 (2008 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age
annually:
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males age 16-49: 64,659
females age 16-49: 61,881 (2008 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.3% (2005 est.)
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Transnational Issues |
Belgium |
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Disputes - international:
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none
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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This page was last updated on 1 May,
2008
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MW Guide:
Introduction
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