Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Belgium Almanac
Official Name:
Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk België, or
simply Belgique in French and België in Flemish.
Population:
Of its 10.5 million people, 58 percent are Flemish,
31 percent are Walloon, and 11 percent are “mixed or other.”
About three-quarters are Catholic, and the rest are Protestant
or other.
latitude and longitude:
50
°
N and 4
°
E. The latitude is similar
to Alberta, Canada.
Area:
With only 12,000 square miles, it's one of the smallest
countries in Europe.
geography:
Belgium's flat coastal plains in the northwest and
central rolling hills make it easy to invade (just ask Napoleon
or Hitler). There are some rugged mountains in the southeast
Ardennes Forest. The climate is temperate.
biggest Cities:
The capital city of Brussels has about 1.8
million people, followed by Antwerp's 950,000.
economy:
With few natural resources, Belgium imports most
of its raw materials and exports a large volume of manu-
factured goods, making its economy unusually dependent
on world markets. It can be a sweet business—Belgium is
the world's number one exporter of chocolate. It's prosper-
ous, with a GDP per capita of $35,350. As the “crossroads”
of Europe, Brussels is the headquarters of both the EU and
NATO.
government:
A parliamentary democracy, Belgium's official
head of state is King Albert II. Regional tensions dominate
politics: Flemish-speaking, entrepreneurial Flanders wants
more autonomy, while the French-speaking “rust belt”
of Wallonia is reluctant to give it. The division has made it
increasingly difficult for the Belgian Parliament to form a sta-
ble coalition government. One prime minister recently said
that Belgians are united only by the king, a love of beer, and
the national soccer team. Voting is compulsory. More than 90
percent of registered voters participated in the last general
election (compared to approximately 62 percent in the US).
Flag:
Belgium's flag is composed of three vertical bands of
black, yellow, and red.
The Average belgian:
The average Belgian is 42 years old—
five years older than the average American—and will live to
be 79. He or she is also likely to be divorced—Belgium has the
highest divorce rate in Europe, with 60 for every 100 mar-
riages. Beer is the national beverage—on average Belgians
drink 26 gallons a year, just behind the Austrians and just
ahead of the Brits.
