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.

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

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Europe

about the size of Maryland

66.5 km

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

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

230 sq km (2008)

20.8 cu km (2005)

flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

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

crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

10,431,477 (July 2011 est.)

0.071% (2011 est.)

10.06 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

10.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

BRUSSELS (capital) 1.892 million; Antwerp 961,000 (2009)

1.65 children born/woman (2011 est.)

0.2% (2009 est.)

14,000 (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population (2008)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population (2008)

Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

6.01% of GDP (2007)

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

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)

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I

7 February 1831; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state; amended many times;

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members directly elected by popular vote, 31 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 directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

Constitutional Court (previously Court of Arbitration) (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King); 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)

Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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)

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, yet also able to benefit from them. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries, and Belgium has benefited most from its proximity to Germany. In 2010 Belgian GDP grew by 2.1%, the unemployment rate rose slightly, and the government reduced the budget deficit, which had worsened in 2008 and 2009 because of large-scale bail-outs in the financial sector. Belgium's budget deficit decreased from 6% of GDP to 4.8% in 2010, while public debt was just under 100% of GDP. Belgian banks were severely affected by the international financial crisis with three major banks receiving capital injections from the government. An ageing population and rising social expenditures are mid- to long-term challenges to public finances.

$394.3 billion (2010 est.)

$386.7 billion (2009 est.)

$397.3 billion (2008 est.)

$465.7 billion (2010 est.)

2% (2010 est.)

-2.7% (2009 est.)

0.8% (2008 est.)

$37,800 (2010 est.)

$37,100 (2009 est.)

$38,200 (2008 est.)

5.02 million (2010 est.)

8.5% (2010 est.)

7.9% (2009 est.)

15.2% (2007 est.)

28 (2005)

28.7 (1996)

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

98.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

96.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

2.3% (2010 est.)

0% (2009 est.)

1.75% (31 December 2010)

1.75% (31 December 2009)

6.15% (31 December 2009 est.)

7.03% (31 December 2008 est.)

$172.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$178.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$539.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$536.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$801.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$767.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$261.4 billion (31 December 2009)

$167.4 billion (31 December 2008)

$386.4 billion (31 December 2007)

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

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

4% (2010 est.)

82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)

84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.)

17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)

11,220 bbl/day (2009 est.)

608,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)

433,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

1.12 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

16.87 billion cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

16.78 billion cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

$-1.129 billion (2010 est.)

$1.251 billion (2009 est.)

$279.2 billion (2010 est.)

$261.1 billion (2009 est.)

machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Germany 19.58%, France 17.71%, Netherlands 11.84%, UK 7.21%, US 5.37%, Italy 4.77% (2009)

$281.7 billion (2010 est.)

$261.3 billion (2009 est.)

raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Netherlands 17.93%, Germany 17.14%, France 11.69%, Ireland 6.26%, US 5.74%, UK 5.07%, China 4.09% (2009)

$NA (31 December 2010 est.)

$23.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.241 trillion (30 June 2010)

$1.354 trillion (31 December 2008)

$741.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$705.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$632.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$595.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.755 (2010)

0.72 (2009)

0.6827 (2008)

0.7345 (2007)

0.7964 (2006)

4.255 million (2009)

12.419 million (2009)

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)

.be

4.465 million (2010)

8.113 million (2009)

43 (2010)

1 (2010)

gas 2,826 km; oil 154 km; refined products 535 km (2010)

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2010)

Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Commands (2010)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2010)

1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

none

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