total: 2.79 cu km/yr (23%/47%/30%)
per capita: 286 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes
People ::Belarus
Population:
9,648,533 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 707,550/female 667,560)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 3,337,253/female 3,540,916)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 446,746/female 948,508) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.6 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 41.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.378% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 224
Birth rate:
9.71 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Death rate:
13.86 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Net migration rate:
0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 177 male: 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.63 years country comparison to the world: 141 male: 64.95 years
female: 76.67 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 213
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Nationality:
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups:
Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Belarusian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.4% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 39
Government ::Belarus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
local short form: Byelarus'
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Capital:
name: Minsk
geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers
Independence:
25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergey SIDORSKIY (since 19 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed the president to run in a third election, which was held on 19 March 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 82.6%, Aleksandr MILINKEVICH 6%, Aleksandr KOZULIN 2.3%; note - election marred by electoral fraud
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and eight members appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held 28 September and 3 October 2008 (next to be held fall of 2012); international observers determined that despite minor improvements the election ultimately fell short of democratic standards; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won every seat
election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)
Political parties and leaders:
pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY];Communist Party of Belarus or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement(Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolay ULAKHOVICH, chairman];Liberal Democratic Party [Sergey GAYDUKEVICH]; Republican Party ofLabor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party [VladimirALEXANDROVICH]
opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party (unregistered) [Pavel SEVERINETS]; Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Sergey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered) [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV, Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Levon BARSHCHEVSKIY]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada (People's Assembly) or BSDPH [Anatoliy LEVKOVICH]; European Coalition [Nikolay STATKEVICH]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and Progress (unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatoliy LEBEDKO]; Women's Party Hope (Nadezhda) [Valentina MATUSEVICH, chairperson]
other opposition includes: Christian Conservative BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party of Popular Accord [Sergey YERMAKK]; Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH]; BelarusianCongress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK]; BelarusianHelsinki Committee [Tatiana PROTKO]; Belarusian Organization ofWorking Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; BPF-Youth [Franak VYACHORKA]; Charter97 [Andrey SANNIKOV]; For Freedom [Aleksandr MILINKEVICH]; LeninCommunist Union of Youth (youth wing of the Belarusian Party ofCommunists or PKB); National Strike Committee of Entrepreneurs[Aleksandr VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership NGO [NikolayASTREYKA]; Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol SHUMCHENKO];Vyasna [Ales BYALATSKY]; Women's Independent Democratic Movement[Ludmila PETINA]; Young Belarus (Malady Belarus) [Artur FINKEVICH];Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dmitriy DASHKEVICH]; Zubr youth group[Vladimir KOBETS]
International organization participation:
BSEC (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Oleg KRAVCHENKO
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jonathan MOORE
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347 through 7348
Flag description:
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band color recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents hope and the many forests of the country
Economy ::Belarus
Economy - overview:
Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure by central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world. Because of these restrictive economic policies, Belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment. Nevertheless, government statistics indicate GDP growth has been strong in recent years, reaching 10% in 2008, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high rate of inflation. Belarus receives discounted oil and natural gas from Russia and much of Belarus' growth can be attributed to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices. Trade with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner - decreased in 2007-08, largely as a result of a change in the way the Value Added Tax (VAT) on trade was collected. Russia has introduced an export duty on oil shipped to Belarus, which will increase gradually through 2009, and a requirement that Belarusian duties on re-exported Russian oil be shared with Russia - 80% was slated to go to Russia in 2008, and 85% in 2009. Russia also increased Belarusian natural gas prices from $47 per thousand cubic meters (tcm)in 2006 to $100 per tcm in 2007, and to $128 per tcm in 2008, and plans to increase prices gradually to world levels by 2011. Russia's recent policy of bringing energy prices for Belarus to world market levels may result in a slowdown in economic growth in Belarus over the next few years. Some policy measures, including improving energy efficiency and diversifying exports, have been introduced, but external borrowing has been the main mechanism used to manage the growing pressures on the economy. Belarus felt the effects of the global financial crisis in late 2008 and reached agreement with Russia in November for a $2 billion stabilization loan and with the IMF for a $2.5 billion stand-by agreement in January 2009. In line with IMF conditionality, Belarus devalued the ruble approximately 20% in January 2009 and has tightened some fiscal and monetary policies. Belarus's economic growth is likely to slow in 2009 as it faces decreasing demand for its exports, and will find it difficult to increase external borrowing if the credit markets continue to tighten.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$114.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $103.9 billion (2007 est.)
$96.06 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$60.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 8.2% (2007 est.)
9.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,800 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $10,700 (2007 est.)
$9,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 41.2%
services: 50.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
4.869 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 77
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 34.7%
services: 51.3% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.6% (2005) country comparison to the world: 12 note: officially registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers
Population below poverty line:
27.1% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
27.9 (2005) country comparison to the world: 122 21.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
31.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Budget:
revenues: $25.15 billion
expenditures: $25.97 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 8.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 37 10% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.55% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 99 8.58% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$4.872 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 55 $4.065 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$8.784 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 55 $6.823 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.42 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 60 $12.16 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate:
12% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - production:
29.92 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - consumption:
30.54 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - exports:
5.062 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
9.406 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
32,950 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - consumption:
184,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - exports:
303,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - imports:
444,800 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Oil - proved reserves:
198 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - production:
152 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - consumption:
21.75 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - imports:
21.6 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Current account balance:
-$5.063 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 -$3.042 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$33.04 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $24.33 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Russia 32.2%, Netherlands 16.9%, Ukraine 8.5%, Latvia 6.6%, Poland 5.5%, UK 4.4% (2008)
Imports:
$39.16 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $28.4 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 59.8%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 5.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.687 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $3.952 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$15.15 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 77 $12.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Exchange rates:
Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2,130 (2008 est.), 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006), 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004)
Communications ::Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.718 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 41
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.693 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 66
Telephone system:
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; state-owned Beltelcom is the sole provider of fixed-line local and long distance service; fixed-line teledensity of roughly 35 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 90 per 100 persons; modernization of the network progressing with roughly two-thirds of switching equipment now digital
domestic: fixed-line penetration is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved; 3 GSM wireless networks are experiencing rapid growth; strict government controls on telecommunications technologies
international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
.by
Internet hosts:
113,115 (2009) country comparison to the world: 70
Internet users:
3.107 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 57
Transportation ::Belarus
Airports:
65 (2009) country comparison to the world: 75
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 35
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 25 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 5,250 km; oil 1,528 km; refined products 1,730 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 5,538 km country comparison to the world: 32 broad gauge: 5,512 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 25 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 94,797 km country comparison to the world: 48 paved: 84,028 km
unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)
Waterways:
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by shallowness) (2003) country comparison to the world: 36
Ports and terminals:
Mazyr
Military ::Belarus
Military branches:
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,491,643
females age 16-49: 2,528,779 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,720,049
females age 16-49: 2,069,898 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 60,009
female: 56,834 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Transnational Issues ::Belarus
Disputes - international:
Boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania in 2006; 1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security
Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in 2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Belgium (Europe)
Introduction ::Belgium
Background:
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.
Geography ::Belgium
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and theNetherlands
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 30,528 sq km country comparison to the world: 140 land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 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:
66.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
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:
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land use:
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89%
note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
20.8 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
per capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat along rivers and 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, 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
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-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, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
People ::Belgium
Population:
10,414,336 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 857,373/female 822,303)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,480,072/female 3,419,721)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 760,390/female 1,074,477) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.7 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 43 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.094% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Birth rate:
10.15 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Death rate:
10.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Net migration rate:
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Urbanization:
urban population: 97% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 201 male: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.22 years country comparison to the world: 33 male: 76.06 years
female: 82.53 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups:
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Languages:
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 40
Government ::Belgium
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
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
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
National holiday:
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
Constitution:
7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state
Legal system:
based on 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 Herman VAN ROMPUY (30 December 2008)
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 is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament
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 10 June 2007 (next to be held no later than June 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit 10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker List 3.4%, FN 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV 12, MR 11, Open VLD 9, VB 8, PS 7, SP.A 6, CDH 5, Ecolo 5, Groen! 2, LDD 1, FN 1, independents 4; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB 12%, Open VLD 11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo 5.1%, Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV 23, N-VA 7, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A 14, CDH 10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour deCassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by thegovernment; candidacies have to be submitted by the High JusticeCouncil)
Political parties and leaders:
Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV [MarianneTHYSSEN]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; Flemish Liberals andDemocrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Groen! [Mieke VOGELS] (formerlyAGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DEWEVER]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Geert LAMBERT]; note - prior to19 April 2008, known as Spirit; Social Progressive Alternative orSP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB[Bruno VALKENIERS]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,Isabelle DURANT]; Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [JoelleMILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS]; Reform Movement orMR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; otherminor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation ofBelgian Industries
other: 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 participation:
ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members),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, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SchengenConvention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Wayne BUSH
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
Flag description:
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)
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. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is more than 80% of GDP. On the positive side, the government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000-2008 period, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth and foreign direct investment dropped in 2008. In 2009 Belgium is likely to have negative growth, growing unemployment, and a 3% budget deficit, stemming from the worldwide banking crisis.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$390.2 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $386.3 billion (2007 est.)
$376.5 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$506.2 billion (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 2.6% (2007 est.)
3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $37,200 (2007 est.)
$36,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.8%
industry: 23.2%
services: 76.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
4.99 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 72
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 25%
services: 73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 7.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15.2% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28 (2005) country comparison to the world: 120 28.7 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Budget:
revenues: $239.4 billion
expenditures: $245.7 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
89.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 96.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 1.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 100 5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.03% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
NA (31 December 2008)
NA (31 December 2007)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
NA (31 December 2008)
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$767.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 14 $552 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 25 $386.4 billion (31 December 2007)
$396.2 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - production:
82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - consumption:
84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - exports:
6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
11,220 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - consumption:
716,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - exports:
507,500 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31