Background:
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| 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. |
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Location:
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| Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
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Geographic coordinates:
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50 50 N, 4 00 E
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 30,528 sq km
country comparison to the world: 147
land:
30,278 sq km
water:
250 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about the size of Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,385 km
border countries:
France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
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Coastline:
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66.5 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf:
median line with neighbors
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Climate:
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temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
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Terrain:
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flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point:
Signal de Botrange 694 m
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Natural resources:
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construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
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Land use:
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arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops:
0.69%
other:
71.89%
note:
includes Luxembourg (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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20.8 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
per capita:
714 cu m/yr (1998)
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Natural hazards:
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flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: 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
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO |
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Population:
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| 10,414,336 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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Age structure:
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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.)
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Median age:
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total: 41.7 years
male:
40.4 years
female:
43 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.094% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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Birth rate:
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10.15 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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Death rate:
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10.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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Net migration rate:
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1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 97% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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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.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.22 years
country comparison to the world: 33
male:
76.06 years
female:
82.53 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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15,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
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Nationality:
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noun: Belgian(s)
adjective:
Belgian
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Ethnic groups:
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Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
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Languages:
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Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 16 years
male:
16 years
female:
16 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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6% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 40
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