General Facts :

Surface: 30.519 km²
Population: 9.979.000 inhabitants
Density of population: 327 inhabitants/km²
Capital: Brussels (960.000 inhabitants)
Official language: Dutch and French
Official currency: Belgium Franc
Brut Intern Product: 15.540 $/inhabitant
State type: Kingdom

Geographical Characteristics :

Belgium is situated in the west of Europe. The altitude of the country lowers from south-east to north-west, from Ardeni to the North Sea. The higher side is the Ardennes Massive with a maximum altitude of 694 m and is crossed by valleys. The country has the Condroz Plateau which is fragmented by the Sambre-Meuse Passage. In the north-west side of the country there are the Campine and Flandra Hills with altitudes less than 200 m and the Flemish coas t plain.

Climate :

The climate is temperate-oceanic with medium rainfall of 800 mm per year. It is rougher in Ardeni. The hydrographic network is dense, formed of Schelde and Maas and their tributaries and most of it is navigable. The vegetation is forestry and richer in Ardeni. In the rest of the country it is replaced by cultivated plants and grasslands. The country has one national park, 27 natural reservations and 194 private reservations.

Population :

The country has 9.979.000 inhabitants. The birth rate is 12.8‰ and the death rate is 10.7‰. 97% of the population lives in cities. The most important cities are: Anvers (468.000 inhabitants), Gent (230.000 inhabitants), Charleroi (207.000 inhabitants), Liege (185.000 inhabitants), Bruges (117.000 inhabitants) and Namur (104.000 inhabitants). The Dutch are 56% Flemings, 44% Walloons and Germans. In 1986 there were 869.000 residents. The population is denser in the north and west, in the Flemish region (423 inhabitants/km² and even 555 inhabitants/km² in Anvers). In the Brussels region the population exceeds 6.000 inhabitants/km². The most important religions are: 90% Catholics, Muslims, Protestants.

State :

The country is a constitutional monarchy, a kingdom, according to the Constitution in 1831. The legislative activity is exerted by the Bicameral Parliament, formed of the Senate and the Representants Room, and the executive by a cabinet. The political parties are 18 and some of them are: Christian Social Party, Socialist Party, Ecologist Party, Flaming National Party and Walloon Party.

Economy :

The country is economically developed and its deposits are: pit coal and construction rocks. The nuclear energy assures 2/3 of the production of electric energy. The industry is various. Over 28% of the active population works in industry. The industries are: cars, steel, petroleum, plastic, glass, textiles and food. The processing of diamonds takes place in Anvers. 3% of the population works in agriculture. People grow cows and pigs. They also cultivate cereals, sugar cane and vegetables. Belgium has a big communication network. The exterior trade is active, the exports brig 56% of the incomes.

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Tags: brussels, dutch, french, belgium franc, kingdom

Date Added: 25 November '06

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