Youth for Christ ministry in Belgium is still in the target stage. This means key contacts have been identified, and a ministry plan is being developed but ministry has not yet commenced.
About Belgium
Belgium
Introduction
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country 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
Location
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic Coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Area
Total Area: 30,528 sq km Rank: 140
Land Area: 30,278 sq km
Water Area: 250 sq km
Comparison: about the size of Maryland
Land Boundaries: 1,385 km
Bordering Countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Coastline: 66.5 km
Climate
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevations
Lowest Point: North Sea 0 m
Highest Point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural Resources
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land Use
Arable land: 27.42%
Permanent Crops: 0.69%
Other: 71.89%
Note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
Irrigated Land: 400 sq km (2003)
Renewable Water Resources: 20.8 cu km (2005)
Total Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 7.44 cu km/yr (13%/85%/1%)
Freshwater Withdrawal Per Capita: 714 cu m/yr (1998)
Environment
Natural Hazards: flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environmental Issues: the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) had slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environmental Agreements: Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography Notes
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
People
Population: 10,414,336 (July 2010 est.) Rank: 78
Age Structure
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 857,373/female 822,303)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,480,072/female 3,419,721)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 760,390/female 1,074,477) (2010 est.)
Median Age: 40.7 years
Population Growth
Growth Rate: 0.094% (2010 est.) Rank: 192
Birth Rate: 10.15 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 193
Death Rate: 10.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Rank: 56
Net Migration Rate: 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 50
Urbanization
Urban Population: 97% of total population (2008)
Rate of Urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Life and Death
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births Rank: 200
Life Expectancy at Birth: 79.22 years Rank: 33
Fertility Rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.) Rank: 176
Health and Disease
HIV/AIDS - Adult Prevalence Rate: 0.2% (2007 est.) Rank: 108
People living with HIV/AIDS: 15,000 (2007 est.) Rank: 86
HIV/AIDS Deaths: fewer than 100 (2007 est.) Rank: 151
Nationality and Culture
Noun: Belgian(s)
Adjective: Belgian
Ethnic Groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religion: Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Education
Literacy (Meaning, age 15 and over can read and write): 99% Male: 99% Female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): 16 years Male: 16 years Female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures: 6% of GDP (2004) Rank: 40
Government
Country Name
Conventional Long Form: Kingdom of Belgium
Conventional Short Form: Belgium
Local Long Form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Local Short Form: Belgique/Belgie
Government Type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital: Brussels Geographic Coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
Administrative Divisions
3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)
Note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities
Independence: 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
National holiday: 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
Constitution: 7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state
Legal system: based on civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive Branch
Chief of State: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yves LETERME (since 25 November 2009); note - the king accepted the resignation of LETERME on 26 April 2010; LETERME remains as caretaker
Cabinet: Council of Ministers are formally appointed by the monarch
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament
Legislative Branch
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members directly elected by popular vote, 31 indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
Elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13 June 2010 (next to be held no later than June 2014)
Election Results: Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 19.6%, PS 13.6%, CD&V 10%, sp.a 9.5%, MR 9.3%, Open VLD 8.2%, VB 7.6%, Ecolo 5.5%, CDH 5.1% Groen! 3.9%, other 7.7%; seats by party - N-VA 9, PS 7, CD&V4, sp.a 4, MR 4, Open VLD 4, VB 3, Ecolo 2, CDH 2, Groen! 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - N-VA 17.4%, PS 13.7%, CD&V 10.9%, MR 9.3%, sp.a 9.2%, Open VLD 8.6%, VB 7.8%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 4.8%, Groen! 4.4%, List Decker 2.3%, the Popular Party 1.3%, other 4.8%; seats by party - N-VA 27, PS 26, CD&V 17, MR 18, sp.a 13, Open VLD 13, VB 12, CDH 9, Ecolo 8, Groen! 5, List Decker 1, the Popular Party 1
Note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments, each with its own legislative assembly
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
Politics
Political Parties and Leaders: Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV [Marianne THYSSEN]; Dedecker List or LDD [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD; Groen! [Wouter VAN BESLEN] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Geert LAMBERT] (prior to 19 April 2008, known as Spirit); Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS] Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Sarah TURINE]; Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS]; Reform Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries
Other: numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
International Organization Participation: ACCT, ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag Description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)
Economy
Economy Overview: This modern, private-enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy vulnerable to volatility in world markets. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium's trade is with other EU countries and its overall current account deficit widened to 4% of GDP in 2009. Public debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, income distribution is relatively equal and the government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000-2008 period. In 2009 Belgian GDP contracted by 3.1%, the unemployment rate rose slightly, and the budget deficit worsened because of large-scale bail-outs in the financial sector. Belgian banks have been severely affected by the international financial crisis with three major banks all receiving capital injections from the government. An ageing population and rising social expenditures are also increasing pressure on public finances, making it likely the government will need to implement unpopular austerity measures to restore fiscal balance.
Gross Domestic Product
GDP (purchasing power parity): $383.4 billion (2009 est.) Rank: 31
GDP - real growth rate: -2.7% (2009 est.) Rank: 158
GDP - per capita (PPP): $36,800 (2009 est.) Rank: 29
GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 0.6% Industry: 22% Services: 77.4% (2009 est.)
Labor Force
Labor Force: 5.08 million (2009 est.) Rank: 72
Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture: 2% Industry: 25% Services: 73% (2007 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 7.9% (2009 est.) Rank: 81
Poverty
Population below poverty line: 15.2% (2007 est.)
Transnational Issues
International Disputes: none
