| Country Profile 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. Disputes
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Population and Demographics
Belgium has a population of 10,403,951 (July 2008 est.) .
| Capital | Brussels |
| Main urban areas | Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Ghent, Liege |
| Ethnic groups | Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% |
| Languages spoken | Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) |
| Population age 0-14: 16.3% (m 864,287/f 828,435) |  | | |
| 0-14 | 15-64 | 65+ | |
| Gender ratios At birth: 1.04 m/f , 0-14: 1.04 m/f , 15-64: 1.02 m/f , 65+: 0.71 m/f | |||
Changing Population (Life expectancy, births, deaths and fertility)
The population growth rate for Belgium is 0.106% (2008 est.) (world growth rate at 2006 is 1.14%). The country also saw migration of 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.). The median age of the country is total: 41.4 years male: 40.2 years female: 42.7 years (2008 est.).
Note: on the graphs, world figures are represented by a red bar, figures for Belgium are illustrated with a green bar.
| Life Expectancy: | Total population: 79.07 years Male: 75.9 years Female: 82.38 years (2008 est.) |  [79.07] [64.77][Male:, m] [63.16, m][, f][66.47, f] |
| Fertility: | 1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.) | [1.65][2.59] |
| Births: | 10.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) | [10.22][20.05] |
| Deaths: | 10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) | [10.38][8.67] |
| Infants: | 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.) | [4.5][48.87][5.06, m][50.98, m][3.92, f][46.65, f] |
Economic Data
Economy Overview
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.
Debt and Aid
Debt: $1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)
Aid Given: ODA, $1.978 billion (2006)
Aid Received: $NA
Labour Force
Number in labour force: 4.96 million (2007 est.)
Sectors: agriculture: 2% industry: 25% services: 73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment: 7.5% (2007 est.)
GDP Facts and Figures
Currency: euro (EUR)
GDP: $376 billion (2007 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $35,300 (2007 est.)
GDP Real Growth: 2.7% (2007 est.)
GDP Composition: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 24.5% services: 74.4% (2007 est.)
Production Growth Rate: 3% (2007 est.)
Industries, Land Use and Resource Consumption
Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
Exports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Electricity Consumption: 82.99 billion kWh (2005)
Natural Gas Consumption: 16.61 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Oil Consumption: 591,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Country Outline Map
Geographic Data
Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands, in the timezone GMT 1. The country has boundaries of 1,385 - France 620, Germany 167, Luxembourg 148, Netherlands 450 (km), and a coastline of 66.5 (km). Major urban areas: Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Ghent, Liege.
Elevations
Lowest point: North Sea 0 m
Highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Physical Features
Ardennes, Meuse river, flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills
Hazards
Flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Climate
Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Natural Resources
Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land Use
Arable land: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
Renewable Water Resources
20.8 cu km (2005)
Fresh Water Withdrawal
total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%) per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)
Environmental 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
A selection of key transport and communications information for Belgium
Number of main telephone lines
4.719 million (2006)
Mobile (cellular) phones
9.66 million (2006)
Radio stations
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television stations
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Internet users
4.8 million (2005)
Country internet code
.be
Railways
total: 3,521 km standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)
Highways
total: 149,757 km paved: 117,110 km (including 1,747 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,647 km (2003)
Waterways
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)
Pipelines
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)
Ports and harbours
Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Airports
43 (2007)
Heliports
1 (2007)
