Belgium

Background of Belgium

Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. Although generally flat, the terrain becomes increasingly hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes) region.

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 of Belgium

• Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

• Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E

• Map references: Europe

• Area:

total: 30,528 sq km

country comparison to the world: 141

land: 30,278 sq km

water: 250 sq km

• Area - comparative: about the size of Maryland

• Land boundaries: total: 1,297 km

border countries: France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km

• Coastline: 66.5 km

• Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

continental shelf: median line with neighbors

• 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

• Elevation extremes:

lowest point: North Sea 0 m

highest point: Botrange 694 m

• Natural resources: construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

• Land use:

arable land: 27.06%

permanent crops: 0.72%

other: 72.22%

note: includes Luxembourg (2011)

• Irrigated land: 233.5 sq km (2007)

• Total renewable water resources: 18.3 cu km (2011)

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 of Belgium

• Nationality:

noun: Belgian(s)

adjective: Belgian

• Ethnic groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

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

• Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%

• Population: 10,449,361 (July 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

• Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 830,980/female 797,624)

15-24 years: 11.7% (male 624,486/female 598,904)

25-54 years: 40.4% (male 2,131,869/female 2,086,212)

55-64 years: 13.3% (male 690,395/female 704,284)

65 years and over: 19% (male 836,685/female 1,147,922) (2014 est.)

• population pyramid:

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 54.8 %

youth dependency ratio: 26.4 %

elderly dependency ratio: 28.4 %

potential support ratio: 3.5 (2014 est.)

• Median age:

total: 43.1 years

male: 41.7 years

female: 44.4 years (2014 est.)

• Population growth rate: 0.05% (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 188

• Birth rate: 9.99 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 193

• Death rate: 10.76 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

• Net migration rate: 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

• Urbanization:

urban population: 97.5% of total population (2011)

rate of urbanization: 0.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

• Major urban areas - population: BRUSSELS (capital) 1.949 million; Antwerp 959,000 (2011)

• Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

• Mother's mean age at first birth: 28 (2010 est.)

• Maternal mortality rate: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 156

• Infant mortality rate: total: 4.18 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 194

male: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

• Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.92 years

country comparison to the world: 37

male: 76.76 years

female: 83.22 years (2014 est.)

• Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 176

• Contraceptive prevalence rate: 70.4%

note: percent of women aged 18-49 (2010)

• Health expenditures: 10.6% of GDP (2011)

country comparison to the world: 20

• Physicians density: 3.78 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

• Hospital bed density: 6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

• Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

• Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

• HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

• HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 14,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

• HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 125

• Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.1% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 83

• Education expenditures: 6.6% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 30

• Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2003 est.)

• School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2011)

• Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 19.8%

country comparison to the world: 60

male: 20.4%

female: 19.8% (2012)

Government of Belgium

• 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

• Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

• 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

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

• National holiday: 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I

• 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

• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

• Executive branch:

chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH, daughter of the monarch

head of government: Prime Minister Elio DI RUPO (since 6 December 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 22 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Joelle MILQUET (since 20 March 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Laurette ONKELINX (since 30 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008); Depurty Prime Minister Johan VANDE LANOTTE (since i6 December 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Pieter DE CREM (since 5 March 2013)

cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch

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elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by parliament

• Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats indirectly elected serve five-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 five-year terms)

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

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

• 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:

Flemish parties:

Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V [Wouter BEKE]

Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Gwendolyn RUTTEN]

Groen! [Wouter VAN BESIEN] (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 [Gerolf ANNEMANS]

• Francophone parties:

Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Olivier DELEUZE, Emily HOYOS]

Francophone Federalist Democrats [Olivier MAINGAIN]

Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Benoit LUTGEN]

Reform Movement or MR [Charles MICHEL]

Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]

Workers' Party [Peter Mertens]

other minor parties

• Political pressure groups and leaders: Federation of Enterprises in Belgium [Pieter TIMMERMANS/Pierre Alain DE SMEDT]; Confederation of Christan Trade Unions [Luc CORTEBEECK/Claude ROLIN]; Belgian General Federation of Labor [Rudy DE LEEUW/Anne DEMELENNE]

other: trade unions; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; 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), 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, 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) 338-4960

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York

• Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Denise BAUER (since 7 August 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 symbol(s):

lion

National anthem: name: "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)

Disclaimer

This is not the official site of this country. Most of the information in this site were taken from the U.S. Department of State, The Central Intelligence Agency, The United Nations, [1],[2], [3], [4], [5],[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14],[15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24],[25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30],[31], [32], [33], [34], and the [35].

Other sources of information will be mentioned as they are posted.