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NAVIGATION
Kingdom of Belgium
Royaume de Belgique
Koninkrijk Belgie
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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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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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km water: 280 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 km |
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: median line with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast) |
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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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coal, natural gas |
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Land use:
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arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0% note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.) other: 75% |
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Irrigated land:
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40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding is a threat 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, intense 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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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10,274,595 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 17.3% (male 911,729; female 871,470)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,395,885; female 3,341,536) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 716,673; female 1,037,302) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.15% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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10.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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4.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.13 years
female: 81.62 years (2002 est.) male: 74.8 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.61 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.15% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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7,700 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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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%, Protestant or other 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: 98% male: NA% female: NA% |