Belgium

Country Name:
Kingdom of Belgium
Year Founded:
1830
Population:
10,414,336 (July 2009 est.)
Primary Language:
Dutch, French and German
Ethnic Make-up:
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Political System:
Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Year Entered the European Union:
Founding member.
Representative of the European Union (include party):
Ambassador Jan MATTHYSEN
Type of Economy:
This modern, private-enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base.
Currency:
Eur
Current Exchange rate for American Currency:
0.7426
GDP:

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$398.7 billion (2008 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$495.4 billion (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.3% (2008)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,300 (2008 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1% industry: 24.2% services: 74.9% (2008 est.)

Percentage of Trade within the European Union:
70%
Unemployment Rate:
6.5% (2008)
Chief Exports:
Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs.
Key Imports :
Machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products.
Major Religions:
Roman Catholicism
Surrounding Countries:
France, Luxembourg, Germany and Netherlands.
Literacy Rate:
98%
One Interesting Fact:
Folklore plays a major role in Belgium's cultural life: the country has a comparatively high number of processions, cavalcades, parades, 'ommegangs' and 'ducasses', 'kermesse', and other local festivals, nearly always with an originally religious or mythological background.