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5 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Belgium
n : a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the
European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization [syn: {Kingdom of Belgium}, {Belgique}]
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Belgium
Introduction Belgium
--------------------
Background: Belgium became independent from the
Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied
by Germany during World Wars I and
II. It has 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.
Geography 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: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km,
Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km
Coastline: 66 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: median line with
neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: median line
with neighbors (extends about 68 km
from coast)
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: Signal de Botrange
694 m
Natural resources: coal, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
note: includes Luxembourg (1998
est.)
other: 75%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998
est.)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat 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,
intense animal breeding and crop
cultivation; air and water pollution
also have repercussions for
neighboring countries; uncertainties
regarding federal and regional
responsibilities (now resolved) have
slowed progress in tackling
environmental challenges
Environment - international party to: Air Pollution, Air
agreements: Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-
Volatile Organic Compounds, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-
Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-
Marine Living Resources, Antarctic
Seals, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe;
majority of West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the
seat of both the European Union and
NATO
People Belgium
--------------
Population: 10,274,595 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.3% (male 911,729;
female 871,470)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,395,885;
female 3,341,536)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male
716,673; female 1,037,302) (2002
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.15% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 10.58 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.13 years
female: 81.62 years (2002 est.)
male: 74.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 7,700 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or
other 11%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or
other 25%
Languages: Dutch 60%, French 40%, German less
than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch
and French)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Belgium
------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of
Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
local long form: Royaume de
Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy
under a constitutional monarch
Capital: Brussels
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces,
singular - province; Dutch:
provincien, singular - provincie)
and 1 region* (French: region;
Dutch: gewest); Antwerpen, Brabant
Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),
Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg,
Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-
Brabant, West-Vlaanderen
Independence: 4 October 1830 a provisional
government declared independence
from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831
the ascension of King Leopold I to
the throne
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 July (1831)
Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14
July 1993; parliament approved a
constitutional package creating a
federal state
Legal system: civil law system influenced by
English constitutional theory;
judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and
compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: King ALBERT II
(since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent
Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister
Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the monarch and
approved by Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is
hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch and then approved by
Parliament
note: government coalition - VLD,
PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a
Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in
French (71 seats; 40 members are
directly elected by popular vote, 31
are 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 are directly
elected by popular vote on the basis
of proportional representation to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of
Deputies - last held 13 June 1999
(next to be held in NA 2003)
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;
for other acronyms of the listed
parties see the Political parties
and leaders entry
election results: Senate - percent
of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP
14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%,
SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%,
PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party -
VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6,
SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU
3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP
14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%,
SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%,
PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party -
VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB
15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV
9, VU 8, FN 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van
Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de
Cassation (in French) (judges are
appointed for life by the monarch,
although selected by the Government)
Political parties and leaders: AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Jos
GEYSELS]; Christian Democrats and
Flemish or CD & V [Stefaan DE
CLERCK, president]; note - used to
be the Flemish Christian Democrats
or CVP; ECOLO (Francophone Greens)
[no president; led by three person
federal secretariat]; Flemish
Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE
GUCHT, president]; Francophone
Christian Democrats or PSC (Social
Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET,
president]; Francophone Liberal
Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel
DUCARME, president]; Francophone
Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO,
president]; National Front or FN
[Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance
or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note -
split from Volksunie or VB; Social
Progressive Alternative Party or
SP.A [Patrick JANSSENS, president];
note - was Flemish Socialist Party
or SP; Spirit [Annemie VAN DE
CASTEELE]; note - split from
Volksunie or VU; Vlaams Blok or VB
[Frank VANHECKE]; other minor
parties
Political pressure groups and Christian and Socialist Trade
leaders: Unions; Federation of Belgian
Industries; 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
International organization ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
participation: Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO,
UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis
REYN
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta,
Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen
US: Franklin BRAUER
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-
1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002,
APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black
(hoist side), yellow, and red; the
design was based on the flag of
France
Economy Belgium
---------------
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. About three-quarters
of its trade is with other EU
countries. Belgium's public debt is
expected to fall to about 100% of
GDP in 2002, and the government has
succeeded in balancing its budget.
Belgium, together with 11 of its EU
partners, began circulating euro
currency in January 2002. Economic
growth in 2001 dropped sharply due
to the global economic slowdown.
Prospects for 2002 depend largely on
recovery in the EU and the US.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $267.7
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $26,100
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 24%
services: 74.6% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 4%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 3.7%
percentage share: highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini 25 (1992)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 4.44 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 25%,
agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $113.44 billion
expenditures: $106 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$7.17 billion (2000)
Industries: engineering and metal products,
motor vehicle assembly, processed
food and beverages, chemicals, basic
metals, textiles, glass, petroleum,
coal
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 79.348 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 40.31%
hydro: 0.57%
other: 1.46% (2000)
nuclear: 57.66%
Electricity - consumption: 78.13 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 7.309 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 11.645 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables,
fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk
Exports: $160.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals,
diamonds, metals and metal products
Exports - partners: EU 74% (France 18%, Germany 17%,
Netherlands 13%, UK 10%), US 6%
(2000)
Imports: $154 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals,
metals and metal products
Imports - partners: EU 68% (Germany 17%, Netherlands
17%, France 13%, UK 9%) (2000)
Debt - external: $28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $764 million (1997)
Currency: euro (EUR); Belgian franc (BEF)
note: on 1 January 1999, the
European Monetary Union introduced
the euro as a common currency to be
used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002,
the euro became the sole currency
for everyday transactions within the
member countries
Currency code: EUR; BEF
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.1324
(January 2002), 1.1175 (2001),
1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999);
Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77
(January 1999), 36.229 (1998),
35.774 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Belgium
----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 974,494 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: highly
developed, technologically advanced,
and completely automated domestic
and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular
telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio
relay network
international: 5 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1
Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 8.075 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 4.72 million (1997)
Internet country code: .be
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 61 (2000)
Internet users: 2.807 million (2001)
Transportation Belgium
----------------------
Railways: total: 3,422 km
standard gauge: 3,422 km 1.435-
m gauge (2,517 km electrified; 2,563
km double-tracked) (2001)
Highways: total: 145,774 km
paved: 116,182 km (including 1,674
km of expressways)
unpaved: 29,592 km (1999)
Waterways: 1,570 km (route length in regular
commercial use) (2001)
Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products
1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km
Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest
ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt,
Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende,
Zeebrugge
Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 31,362 GRT/54,058 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical
tanker 9, petroleum tanker 5,
includes some foreign-owned ships
registered here as a flag of
convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands
3 (2002 est.)
Airports: 42 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2001)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2001)
Heliports: 1 (2001)
Military Belgium
----------------
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Components, National
Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,508,557 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 2,070,016 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching males: 63,247 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $3,076.5 million (FY01/02)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.4% (FY01/02)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Belgium
----------------------------
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: growing producer of synthetic drugs;
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
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Belgium, IL (village, FIPS 4689)
Location: 40.06150 N, 87.63068 W
Population (1990): 511 (206 housing units)
Area: 1.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Belgium, WI (village, FIPS 6150)
Location: 43.50058 N, 87.85029 W
Population (1990): 928 (349 housing units)
Area: 2.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53004
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Belgium, IL -- U.S. village in Illinois
Population (2000): 466
Housing Units (2000): 202
Land area (2000): 0.423193 sq. miles (1.096066 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 0.423193 sq. miles (1.096066 sq. km)
FIPS code: 04689
Located within: Illinois (IL), FIPS 17
Location: 40.062286 N, 87.638895 W
ZIP Codes (1990):
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Belgium, IL
Belgium
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Belgium, WI -- U.S. village in Wisconsin
Population (2000): 1678
Housing Units (2000): 592
Land area (2000): 1.442838 sq. miles (3.736934 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 1.442838 sq. miles (3.736934 sq. km)
FIPS code: 06150
Located within: Wisconsin (WI), FIPS 55
Location: 43.500735 N, 87.846897 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 53004
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Belgium, WI
Belgium
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