Belgium (in French, Belgique; in Dutch, België), officially Kingdom of Belgium, constitutional monarchy in north-western Europe, bounded on the north by the Netherlands and the North Sea, on the east by Germany and Luxembourg, and on the south and south-west by France. With the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium forms the Low, or Benelux, Countries. It is about 282 km (175 mi) long, from the south-east to the north-west, about 145 km (90 mi) wide, and is roughly triangular in shape. The area is 30,528 sq km (11,787 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Brussels, located in the centre of Belgium.
Population
10,130,574
(1995 official estimate)
Population Density
331 people/sq km (859 people/sq mi)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
97% Urban
3% Rural
Largest Cities
Brussels 951,580
Antwerp 459,072
Ghent 227,483
(1995 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
57% Flemings
32% Walloons
11% Other
including Germans, Italians, Moroccans, French, Dutch, and Turks
Languages
Dutch, French, German
Religions
80% Roman Catholicism
20% Other
including Islam, Judaism, and Protestantism
Time and Date in Brussels
Countries Currency Unit
BEF/Unit
Units/BEF
DZD
Algeria Dinars
0.598271
1.67148
USD
United States Dollars
46.3139
0.0215918
ARS
Argentina Pesos
15.7263
0.0635878
AUD
Australia Dollars
24.7092
0.0404708
ATS
Austria Schillings **
2.93161
0.341109
BSD
Bahamas Dollars
46.3139
0.0215918
BBD
Barbados Dollars
23.2733
0.0429676
BEF
Belgium Francs **
1.00000
1.00000
BMD
Bermuda Dollars
46.3139
0.0215918
BRL
Brazil Reals
19.9200
0.0502009
GBP
United Kingdom Pounds
66.0373
0.0151430
BGL
Bulgaria Leva
20.7159
0.0482721
CAD
Canada Dollars
29.0340
0.0344424
CLP
Chile Pesos
0.0705521
14.1739
CNY
China Yuan Renminbi
5.59523
0.178724
CYP
Cyprus Pounds
70.4931
0.0141858
CZK
Czech Republic Koruny
1.30650
0.765405
DKK
Denmark Kroner
5.43013
0.184158
XCD
East Caribbean Dollars
17.1533
0.0582978
EGP
Egypt Pounds
9.99761
0.100024
EUR
Euro
40.3399
0.0247894
FJD
Fiji Dollars
20.7221
0.0482576
FIM
Finland Markkaa **
6.78468
0.147391
FRF
France Francs **
6.14978
0.162607
DEM
Germany Deutsche Marks **
20.6255
0.0484838
XAU
Gold Ounces
13,998.18
0.0000714379
GRD
Greece Drachmae **
0.118386
8.44697
HKD
Hong Kong Dollars
5.93799
0.168407
HUF
Hungary Forint
0.165895
6.02789
ISK
Iceland Kronur
0.463168
2.15904
INR
India Rupees
0.948979
1.05376
IDR
Indonesia Rupiahs
0.00471416
212.127
IEP
Ireland Pounds **
51.2211
0.0195232
ILS
Israel New Shekels
9.76481
0.102409
ITL
Italy Lire **
0.0208338
47.9989
JMD
Jamaica Dollars
0.972777
1.02798
JPY
Japan Yen
0.349144
2.86415
JOD
Jordan Dinars
65.3229
0.0153086
LBP
Lebanon Pounds
0.0305904
32.6899
LUF
Luxembourg Francs **
1.00000
1.00000
MYR
Malaysia Ringgits
12.1911
0.0820271
MXN
Mexico Pesos
5.14010
0.194549
NZD
New Zealand Dollars
20.4005
0.0490184
NOK
Norway Kroner
5.23105
0.191166
NLG
Netherlands Guilders **
18.3054
0.0546285
PKR
Pakistan Rupees
0.771256
1.29659
PHP
Philippines Pesos
0.907760
1.10161
XPT
Platinum Ounces
24,035.91
0.0000416044
PLN
Poland Zlotych
11.2638
0.0887802
PTE
Portugal Escudos **
0.201215
4.96982
ROL
Romania Lei
0.00140622
711.125
RUR
Russia Rubles
1.48824
0.671936
SAR
Saudi Arabia Riyals
12.3502
0.0809704
XAG
Silver Ounces
214.426
0.00466361
SGD
Singapore Dollars
25.1405
0.0397764
SKK
Slovakia Koruny
0.965878
1.03533
ZAR
South Africa Rand
4.07774
0.245234
KRW
South Korea Won
0.0350649
28.5185
ESP
Spain Pesetas **
0.242448
4.12460
XDR
IMF Special Drawing Rights
57.7450
0.0173175
SDD
Sudan Dinars
0.178131
5.61386
SEK
Sweden Kronor
4.47006
0.223711
CHF
Switzerland Francs
27.5471
0.0363015
TWD
Taiwan New Dollars
1.32515
0.754632
THB
Thailand Baht
1.06342
0.940359
TTD
Trinidad and Tobago Dollars
7.56764
0.132142
TRL
Turkey Liras
0.0000344573
29,021.45
VEB
Venezuela Bolivares
0.0502980
19.8815
ZMK
Zambia Kwacha
0.0103611
96.5152
Belgium :
Geographic coordinates
50 50 N, 4 00 E
Belgium :
Population growth rate
0.16%
Belgium :
Birth rate
10.74 births/1,000 population
Belgium :
Death rate
10.1 deaths/1,000 population
Belgium :
People living with HIV/AIDS
7,700
Belgium :
Independence
21 July 1831
Belgium :
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 July
Belgium :
Constitution
7 February 1831
Belgium :
GDP
purchasing power parity - $259.2 billion
Belgium :
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $25,300
Belgium :
Electricity - consumption
75.089 billion kWh
Belgium :
Exports
$181.4 billion machinery and equipment, chemicals,diamonds.
Belgium :
Imports
$166 billion metals and metal products
Belgium :
Telephones
4.769 million
Belgium :
Mobile cellular
974,494
Belgium :
Radio broadcast stations
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1
Belgium :
Radios
8.075 million
Belgium :
Television broadcast stations
25
Belgium :
Televisions
4.72 million
Belgium :
Internet country code
.be
Belgium :
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
61
Belgium :
Internet users
2.7 million
Belgium :
Railways
13,472 km
Belgium :
Highways
145,774 km
Belgium :
Waterways
2,043 km
Belgium :
Pipelines
crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km
Belgium :
Ports and harbors
Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Belgium :
Merchant marine
21 ships
Belgium :
Airports
42
Belgium :
Heliports
N/A
Belgium :
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Medical Service
