Country Summary: Belgium
Country Name: Belgium
Capital: Brussels
Official Visa & Travel Information: Kingdom of Belgium: Federal Public Service - Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation (Visa Services)
Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Democracy under a Constitutional Monarchy.
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. In recent years, political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.
Continent: Europe
Population: 11,913,633 (2023 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)
Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.)
Economic Overview: High income economy with strong but moderate growth; high public debt; aging labor force; low labor force participation of low-skilled, migrant, and older workers; strong welfare system; high congestion; complex business permitting and judicial systems.
Currency: European Euro (EUR)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $41.872 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $599.814 billion (2021 est.); note: data is in 2017 U.S. dollars
Real GDP Growth Rate: 6.13% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per Capita: $51,700 (2021 est.); note: data is in 2017 U.S. dollars
Exports:
$515.625 billion (2021 est.); note: data is in current year U.S. dollars and does not include illicit exports or re-exports
Comparison Ranking: 18
Export Commodities: Vaccines and cultures, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, and amphetamine production and MDMA (ecstasy) production (remain significant illicit trade commodities) (2021)
Export Partners: Germany 17%, France 14%, Netherlands 13%, United Kingdom 8%, United States 6%, Italy 5% (2019)
Imports:
$509.018 billion (2021 est.) note: data is in current year U.S. dollars
Comparison Ranking: 15
Import Commodities: Cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, and natural gas (2019)
Import Partners: Netherlands 16%, Germany 13%, France 10%, United States 8%, Ireland 5%, China 5% (2019)
Natural Resources: Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, and arable land.
Agricultural Products: Sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, poultry, maize, barley, and pears.
Industries: Engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, and petroleum.
Industrial Production Growth Rate:
1.28% (2021 est.)
Comparison Ranking: 145
Labor Force: 5.24 million (2021 est.)
Labor Force By Occupation:
Agriculture: 1.3%
Industry: 18.6%
Services: 80.1% (2013 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 6.42% (2021 est.)
Natural Hazards: Flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes.
Geography:
Total: 30,528 sq km
Land: 30,278 sq km
Water: 250 sq km
(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)
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