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

about the size of Maryland

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

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

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%

10,438,353 (July 2012 est.)

10.03 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

10.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

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

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.65 children born/woman (2012 est.)

2.987 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

6.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

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

drafted 25 November 1830; approved by a Belgium National Congress 7 February 1831; entered into force 26 July 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state; in 1967 an official Dutch version of the constitution was adopted; in 1991 an official German version of the constitution was adopted; in 1993 an official consolidated version of the constitution was adopted

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 (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)

Federation of Belgian Industries

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), 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, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, 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. 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 2.0%, the unemployment rate decreased slightly to 7.7% 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. Despite the relative improvement in Belgium's budget deficit, public debt hovers near 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 arm of a Franco-Belgian bank. An ageing population and rising social expenditures are mid- to long-term challenges to public finances.

$418.6 billion (2011 est.)

$410.8 billion (2010 est.)

$401.7 billion (2009 est.)

$513.4 billion (2011 est.)

5.177 million (2011 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

48.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

-4.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

99.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

96.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

1.75% (31 December 2011)

1.75% (31 December 2010)

4.4% (31 December 2011 est.)

4.21% (31 December 2010 est.)

$170.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$175.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$562.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$548.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$576.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$555.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$229.9 billion (31 December 2011)

$269.3 billion (31 December 2010)

$261.4 billion (31 December 2009)

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

-$4.2 billion (2011 est.)

$6.351 billion (2010 est.)

$344.9 billion (2011 est.)

$279.7 billion (2010 est.)

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

Germany 18.7%, France 16.9%, Netherlands 12.5%, UK 7.2%, Italy 4.6%, US 4.5% (2011)

$355.1 billion (2011 est.)

$284.4 billion (2010 est.)

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

Netherlands 19.9%, Germany 14.8%, France 10.7%, UK 6%, US 5.3%, Ireland 4.5%, China 4.2% (2011)

$29.43 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.399 trillion (30 June 2011)

$1.241 trillion (30 June 2010)

$1.068 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

$988.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$943.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$868.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

89.25 billion kWh (2010 est.)

78.53 billion kWh (2009 est.)

11.84 billion kWh (2010 est.)

12.41 billion kWh (2010 est.)

17.5 million kW (2009 est.)

46.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

33.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

11.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

624,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

693,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

644,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)

353,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

370,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)

13.46 billion cu m (2011 est.)

2.511 billion cu m (2011 est.)

15.94 billion cu m (2011 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

127.2 million Mt (2010 est.)

4.631 million (2011)

12.541 million (2011)

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)

8.113 million (2009)

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

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2012)

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

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1994 (2012)

1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)

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