Page last updated on December 17, 2013
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. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
total: 30,528 sq km
country comparison to the world: 141
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km
about the size of Maryland
total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Botrange 694 m
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
arable land: 27.06%
permanent crops: 0.72%
other: 72.22%
note: includes Luxembourg (2011)
total: 6.22 cu km/yr (12%/88%/1%)
per capita: 589.8 cu m/yr (2007)
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
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
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
10,444,268 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 835,569/female 801,959)
15-24 years: 11.8% (male 629,753/female 603,550)
25-54 years: 40.6% (male 2,145,075/female 2,100,014)
55-64 years: 13.2% (male 681,946/female 695,188)
65 years and over: 18.7% (male 819,694/female 1,131,520) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 53.8 %
youth dependency ratio: 26.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 27.7 %
potential support ratio: 3.6 (2013)
total: 42.8 years
male: 41.5 years
female: 44.2 years (2013 est.)
0.05% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
10 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
10.7 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
urban population: 97% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BRUSSELS (capital) 1.892 million; Antwerp 961,000 (2009)
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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
28
note: Data refer to first birth within current marriage (2008 est.)
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 157
total: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 194
male: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 79.78 years
country comparison to the world: 38
male: 76.62 years
female: 83.08 years (2013 est.)
1.65 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
70.4%
note: percent of women aged 18-49 (2010)
10.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 20
3.78 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
14,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
22.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
6.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2010)
total: 18.7%
country comparison to the world: 65
male: 18.7%
female: 18.7% (2011)
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie/Koenigreich Belgien
local short form: Belgique/Belgie/Belgien
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
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
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
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
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)
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
chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 August 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); Joelle MILQUET (since 20 March 2008); Laurette ONKELINX (since 30 December 2008); Didier REYNDERS (since 30 December 2008); Pieter DE CREM (since 5 March 2013)
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 usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament
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)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 June 2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 19.6%, PS 13.6%, CD&V 10%, SP.A 9.5%, MR 9.3%, Open VLD 8.2%, VB 7.6%, Ecolo 5.5%, CDH 5.1% Groen! 3.9%, other 7.7%; seats by party - N-VA 9, PS 7, CD&V 4, SP.A 4, MR 4, Open VLD 4, VB 3, Ecolo 2, CDH 2, Groen! 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N-VA 17.4%, PS 13.7%, CD&V 10.9%, MR 9.3%, SP.A 9.2%, Open VLD 8.6%, VB 7.8%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 4.8%, Groen! 4.4%, List Dedecker 2.3%, the Popular Party 1.3%, other 4.8%; seats by party - N-VA 27, PS 26, CD&V 17, MR 18, sp.a 13, Open VLD 13, VB 12, CDH 9, Ecolo 8, Groen! 5, List Dedecker 1, the Popular 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
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
Flemish parties:
Francophone parties:
Federation of Belgian Industries
other: trade unions; 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
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN (since 17 February 2008)
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
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
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)
name: "La Brabanconne" (The Song of Brabant)
lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET[French] Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT
note: adopted 1830; Louis-Alexandre DECHET was an actor at the theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began; according to legend, he wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe
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. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries, and Belgium has benefited most from its proximity to Germany. In 2011 Belgian GDP grew by 1.8%, the unemployment rate decreased slightly to 7.2% from 8.3% the previous year, and the government reduced the budget deficit from a peak of 6% of GDP in 2009 to 4.2% in 2011 and 3.3% in 2012. Fourth quarter GDP growth in 2012 was at -0.1%, the third consecutive quarter of negative growth. This brought economic growth for the whole of 2012 to negative 0.2%. It also left Belgium on the brink of a possible recession at the end of 2012. However, at year's end, the government appeared close to meeting its 2012 budget deficit goal of 3% of GDP. Despite the relative improvement in Belgium's budget deficit, public debt hovers around 100% of GDP, a factor that has contributed to investor perceptions that the country is increasingly vulnerable to spillover from the euro-zone crisis. Belgian banks were severely affected by the international financial crisis in 2008 with three major banks receiving capital injections from the government, and the nationalization of the Belgian retail arm of a Franco-Belgian bank.
$415.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$477.4 billion (2012 est.)
-0.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$37,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
household consumption: 52.9%
government consumption: 24.9%
investment in fixed capital: 20.7%
investment in inventories: 0.3%
exports of goods and services: 84.8%
imports of goods and services: -83.6%
agriculture: 0.8%
industry: 22.2%
services: 76.9% (2012 est.)
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
-1.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
5.19 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.)
7.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2006)
28 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 122
revenues: $246.6 billion
expenditures: $266.5 billion (2012 est.)
51.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
-4.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
99.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
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
2.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
1.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 121
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
3.62% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$185.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 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
$543.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$574.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$229.9 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 29
$-6.65 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$302.4 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Germany 18%, France 16.1%, Netherlands 13%, UK 7.3%, US 5.3%, Italy 4.4% (2012)
$311.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Netherlands 20.9%, Germany 14.2%, France 10.6%, US 6.1%, UK 5.5%, Ireland 4.4% (2012)
$30.77 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$1.424 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.159 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$1.185 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
83.37 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
84.68 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
6.911 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
16.85 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
18.32 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
43.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
32.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
0.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
16.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
10,530 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
667,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 106
720,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
644,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
442,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
355,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
13.46 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
21.18 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
38.9 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 113
131.1 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
4.631 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 33
12.88 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 67
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)
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)
5.192 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 21
8.113 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 36
41 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 102
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 8 (2013)
gas 3,139 km; oil 154 km; refined products 535 km (2013)
total: 3,233 km
country comparison to the world: 55
standard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)
total: 154,012 km
country comparison to the world: 31
paved: 120,514 km (includes 1,756 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,498 km (2010)
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 42
total: 87
country comparison to the world: 56
by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, container 4, liquefied gas 23, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 15 (Denmark 4, France 7, Russia 1, UK 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 107 (Bahamas 6, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, France 7, Gibraltar 1, Greece 17, Hong Kong 26, Liberia 1, Luxembourg 11, Malta 7, Marshall Islands 1, Mozambique 2, North Korea 1, Panama 1, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 1, Vanuatu 1) (2010)
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)
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command (2012)
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1994 (2012)
males age 16-49: 2,359,232
females age 16-49: 2,291,689 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,934,957
females age 16-49: 1,877,268 (2010 est.)
male: 59,665
female: 57,142 (2010 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
stateless persons: 3,898 (2012)
