Reuters AlertNet

Belgium

$Small country map\n© Microsoft Virtual Earth$

Capital:	Brussels
Area size:	32820 sq. km Slightly smaller than the Netherlands
Time zone:	Standard Time GMT +1, Summer Time GMT +2
Currency:	Euro
Area code:	(+) 32
Driving:	Right
Climate description:	Continental; hot, dry summers and cold winters.

People

Standard of living

Economy & aid

Health

Disasters, conflict & migration

Language
Flemish and French are are the official languages. French is the main language in the south and east, and Flemish in the north and west. German is spoken by a minority.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2007	10.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	10.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	10.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	10.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	10.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	10.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	10.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	10.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
12.1 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)

Ethnic groups
The country's two major language-based groups are the Flemish (55 percent) and the Walloons (44 percent), with a 1 percent German minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Mainly Catholic, with Protestant, Muslim and Jewish minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	97.3 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	97.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	97.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	97.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	97.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	97.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	97.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	97.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1919 1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	17.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	16.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	17.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	17.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	17.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	17.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Average life expectancy

2005	78.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	79.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	78.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	78.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	78.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	75.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	75.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	81.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	82.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	82.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2001	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	8 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	10 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	17	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	13	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	9	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	4	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2002-2004 average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation

2004	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2006	452 per 1,000 people	International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007
2005	454 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2004	460 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2003	469 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2002	476 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2001	498 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2000	491 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007

Cellular telephone subscribers

2006	926 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2005	900 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2004	874 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2003	828 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2002	782 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2001	747 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2000	549 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007

Internet users

2006	457 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2005	457 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2004	402 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2003	385 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2002	328 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2001	310 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007
2000	292 per 1,000 people	ITU 2007

Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)

2007	21	Transparency International 2007
2006	20 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	19 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	17 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	17	Transparency International
2002	20 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	24	Transparency International
2000	25	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2005	36140 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004	31630 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003	26270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002	23380 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001	23890 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000	25360 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country�s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2005	370.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004	357.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003	309.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002	251.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001	231.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000	231.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Annual GDP growth

2005	1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003	0.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002	1.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001	1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000	3.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Annual inflation

2005	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003	1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000	1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
3.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
28.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	449 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	449 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	419 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	395 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2005	0.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2006
2003	0.2 percent	UNAIDS 2006

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2006	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2005	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2004	13 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2003	14 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2002	15 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2001	16 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008
2000	16 per 100,000 people	WHO 2008

Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium

Number of refugees originating here

2006	64	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	95	UNHCR
2004	45	UNHCR
2003	40	UNHCR
2002	27	UNHCR
2001	13	UNHCR
2000	19	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2006	16820	UNHCR
2005	15282	UNHCR
2004	13529	UNHCR
2003	12596	UNHCR
2002	12578	UNHCR
2001	12265	UNHCR
2000	18832	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	6.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	6.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	5.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	6.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.

Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

Breaking stories

Africa