]! ^! 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 ^# 50 50 N, 4 00 E ^$ Europe ^% `! 30,528 sq km `" 30,278 sq km `# 250 sq km ^& about the size of Maryland ^' `! 1,385 km `Y France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km ^( 66.5 km ^) `$ 12 nm `M 24 nm `N geographic coordinates define outer limit `O 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 ^, `% North Sea 0 m `& Signal de Botrange 694 m ^- construction materials, silica sand, carbonates ^. `' 27.42% `( 0.69% `) 71.89% `* includes Luxembourg (2005) ^/ 400 sq km (2003) ^0 flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes ^1 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) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges _P `P 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 `Q none of the selected agreements ^2 crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO 
]# ^3 10,392,226 (July 2007 est.) ^4 `+ 16.5% (male 873,130/female 836,785) `, 66.1% (male 3,467,044/female 3,406,030) `- 17.4% (male 746,969/female 1,062,268) (2007 est.) ^5 `! 41.1 years `. 39.9 years `/ 42.4 years (2007 est.) ^6 0.12% (2007 est.) ^7 10.29 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^8 10.32 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^9 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^: `0 1.05 male(s)/female `1 1.043 male(s)/female `, 1.018 male(s)/female `- 0.703 male(s)/female `2 0.959 male(s)/female (2007 est.) ^; `! 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births `. 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births `/ 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) ^< `2 78.92 years `. 75.75 years `/ 82.24 years (2007 est.) ^= 1.64 children born/woman (2007 est.) ^> 0.2% (2003 est.) ^? 10,000 (2003 est.) ^@ less than 100 (2003 est.) ^A `3 Belgian(s) `4 Belgian ^B Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% ^C Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25% ^D Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) ^E `5 age 15 and over can read and write `2 99% `. 99% `/ 99% (2003 est.) 
]$ ^F `6 Kingdom of Belgium `7 Belgium `Z Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie `[ Belgique/Belgie ^H federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy ^I `8 Brussels `9 50 50 N, 4 20 E `: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) `p +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October ^J 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders* region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces): Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur `* 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 ^K 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne) ^L 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I ^M 7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state ^N civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations ^O 18 years of age; universal and compulsory ^P `; King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch `< Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999) `= Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch `> none; the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament `* government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit ^Q 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) `> Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003 (next to be held 10 June 2007) `? Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit 15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH 5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - PS 25, VLD 25, MR 24, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD & V 21, VB 18, CDH 8, Ecolo 4, other 2 `* 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 ^R 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) ^S Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal and Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN! [Vera DUA] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Johan Vande LANOTTE]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE] Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reform Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties ^T Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade 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 ^U ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC ^V `R Ambassador Dominique STRUYE DE SWIELANDE `S 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 `T [1] (202) 333-6900 `U [1] (202) 333-3079 `V Los Angeles, New York `^ Atlanta ^W `R Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William IMBRIE; note - Ambassador-designate Sam FOX may become the new ambassador in early 2007 pending Senate confirmation hearing `_ Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels `` PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 `T [32] (2) 508-2111 `U [32] (2) 511-2725 ^X three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France 
]% ^Y 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 90% 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 2004-06. ^Z $330.4 billion (2006 est.) ^[ $367.8 billion (2006 est.) ^\ 2.5% (2006 est.) ^] $31,800 (2006 est.) ^^ `@ 1% `A 24% `B 74.9% (2005 est.) ^_ 4.89 million (2006 est.) ^` `@ 1.3% `A 24.5% `B 74.2% (2003 est.) ^a 8.1% (2006 est.) _! 4% (1989 est.) _" `C 3.2% `D 23% (1996) _d 25 (1996) _# 2.1% (2006 est.) _V 19.4% of GDP (2006 est.) _$ `E $195.7 billion `F $195.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion (2006 est.) _% 90.3% of GDP (2006 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 _( 3% (2006 est.) _) 80.22 billion kWh (2004) _* 82.41 billion kWh (2004) _+ 6.8 billion kWh (2004) _, 14.6 billion kWh (2004) _- 10,690 bbl/day (2004) _. 641,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) _/ 450,000 bbl/day (2001) _0 1.042 million bbl/day (2001) _1 0 cu m (2004 est.) _2 17.06 billion cu m (2004 est.) _X 0 cu m (2004 est.) _Y 16.88 billion cu m (2004 est.) _Q $6.925 billion (2006 est.) _3 $335.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _4 machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs _5 Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 8.2%, US 6.4%, Italy 5.3% (2005) _6 $333.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _7 machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products _8 Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, UK 6.8%, Ireland 6.5%, US 5.4% (2005) _[ $9.626 billion (August 2006 est.) _9 $1.053 trillion (30 June 2006 est.) _\ ODA, $1.072 billion (2002) _; euro (EUR) `* 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 _< euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002) _= calendar year 
]& _> 4.801 million (2004) _? 9.46 million (2005) _@ `G highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities `H nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network `I country code - 32; submarine cables - 5; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2005) _A AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998) _B 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) _C .be _D 2.871 million (2006) _E 5.1 million (2005) 
]' _F 43 (2006) _G `! 25 `a 6 `J 7 `b 3 `c 2 `W 7 (2006) _R `! 18 `c 2 `W 16 (2006) _] 1 (2006) _^ gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006) _e `! 3,521 km `m 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005) _H `! 150,567 km `K 117,442 km (includes 1,747 km of expressways) `L 33,125 km (2004) _b 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003) _S `! 66 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,952,159 GRT/6,521,645 DWT by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 10, liquefied gas 15, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 4 `X 10 (Denmark 4, Greece 4, UK 2) `d 113 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 13, Bermuda 4, Cyprus 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 6, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 2, Greece 12, Hong Kong 3, Luxembourg 9, Malta 10, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 4, Panama 11, Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 12, Sweden 2) (2006) _I Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge 
]( _J Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands (2005) _T 16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001) _K males age 16-49: 2,436,736 females age 16-49: 2,369,463 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 1,998,003 females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.) _L males age 18-49: 64,263 females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.) _U 1.3% (2005 est.) 
]) _N none _O 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 