About
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.
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Source: The World Factbook
Population: 10,364,388 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Brussels
Languages: Dutch (official)
60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Government: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
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
Geography: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the
European Union and NATO
Ethnic groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Economy: 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 nearly 100% 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 2004-05.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $31,800 (2005
est.)
GDP real growth: 1.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.6% (2005 est.)
Internet country code: .be
Dial code: +32
Cities
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Find a flight to any city in Belgium
Local currency is the Euro
Airlines based in Belgium
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