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Belgium

Belgium is officially known as The Kingdom of Belgium.It is situated in Western Europe and geographically at 50 50 N, 4 00 E.It occupies total 30,528 sq km in the world while land area is spanned through 30,278 sq km and water portion has captured total 250 sq km.The country is sharing its border with France,Germany,Luxembourg ,Netherlands. The capital city is Brussels which is geographically located at the point of 50 50 N, 4 20 E.The national holiday is celebrated on 21st July,in which King LEOPOLD I was crowned as the king.

Belgium has been the founder member of NATO and European Union.

HISTORY:-Gallia Belgica.was formed by the Romans,after overthrowing the local tribes in 1st century.Later many powers such as German in the 5th century, Merovingia in 8th century, Burgundian Netherlands in the 14th and 15th centuries reigned the region. Finally Emperor Charles V won the country with 17 provinces in the 1540s. The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), Franco-Spanish and Franco-Austrian wars(17th and 18th centuries) were some of the significant wars before independence.In 1930, 4th October the Netherlands freed the country as a result of Belgian Revolution.But the country again came under control of Germany during World War I & II.After the World war II in 1945,Belgium founded and joined NATO and set up its headquarter in Brussels.

GEOGRAPHY:-Belgium is geographically located at 50 50 N, 4 00 E. The country is flat though the land becomes wooded and hilly in the southeastern part.The northeastern coastal area is flat.Central zone is mountainous. The lowest point of the country is North Sea (0 m),while the highest point is Signal de Botrange 694 m.The coastline is spanned through 66.5 km.Flooding causes severe damage sometimes to the country.

CLIMATE:- The climate is mostly temperate all over.winters are tender,summers are cool and humid, sometimes with medium to heavy rains.

CULTURE:-Belgian culture is mainly dominated by the regions and communities, though influence of European culture can be traced.

The instances of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture can be seen in various Belgian works of arts. Bobbejaan Schoepen, Toots Thielemans, Jacques Brel are universally acclaimed singers of Belgium.In the world of pop music Telex, Front 242, K's Choice, Hooverphonic, Zap Mama, Soulwax and dEUS are well known.Emile Verhaeren, Hendrik Conscience,Georges Simenon, Suzanne Lilar,Amélie Nothomb,Maurice Maeterlinck are some of the famous writers.Poet and playwright Maurice Maeterlinck has won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1911 Hergé,the creator of Tintin is also belgian. Football and cycling are the most popular sports in Belgium.Belgium organized Summer Olympics in 1920 and European Football Championships in 1972 and UEFA European Football Championship in 2000 with the Netherlands.

STATES:-Belgium is a union of ten provinces, three regions, three communities, 589 municipalities.

Province:- Antwerp,Limburg,Flemish Brabant,East Flanders,West Flanders(Flemish Region), Hainaut,Walloon Brabant,Namur,Liège,Luxembourg(Walloon Region)

Region:- the Flemish Region, subdivided into five provinces;

the Walloon Region, subdivided into five provinces;

the Brussels-Capital Region.

Community:- the Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking);

the French (i.e., French-speaking) Community;

t he German-speaking Community.

GOVERNMENT:-Belgium government works as Parliamentary democracy under Constitutional monarchy.The constitution was formed on 7th february,1831,and revised on 14th july ,1993.The government is composed of three branches-

1.Executive,which consists of the King (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government), Council of Ministers (cabinet)

2.Legislative,which consists of bicameral parliament-Senate(71 seats) and House of Representatives(150 seats)

3.Judicial consists of the Supreme Court of Justice.

The prominent political parties are Christian Democratic, Liberal, Socialist, Green, Vlaams Belang, Social Progressive Alternative etc.Voting rights are compulsory for all above 18.

King Albert II

Prime Minister Yves Leterme

ECONOMY:- The country is located at the most prosperous industrial zone,which makes it the world’s one of the top ten trading countries.Belgium supports open economy.In early 1800s the country observed first European Industrial Revolution.

Monetary unit: Euro

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $330.6 billion; per capita $31,900

Real growth rate: 1.5%.

Inflation: 2.7%.

Unemployment: 8.4%

Arable land: 27.42%.

Agriculture: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk.

Labor force: 4.77 million; agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.).

Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum.

Natural resources: coal,construction materials, silica sand, carbonates.

Exports: $269.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs.

Export partners: Germany 19.7%, France 16.9%, Netherlands 12%, U.K. 7.9%, U.S. 6.2%, Italy 5.2%.

Imports: $264.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products.

Import partners (2006): Netherlands 18.3%, Germany 17.3%, France 11.4%, U.K. 6.6%, Ireland 5.7%, U.S. 5.4%.

Major trading partners: Germany, France, Netherlands, UK, U.S., Italy, Ireland (2004).

Budget:

revenues: $217 billion

expenditures: $217.4 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 86.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

POPULATION:- The total population is 10,403,951 with a growth rate of 0.1%.

Region wise Flamish region is populated by 58% while Walloon region is populated with 32% of the entire population.

Density per sq mi: 343

Literacy rate: 98% (2003 est.)

TRASPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 3,521 km,

Highways: total: 149,757 km,

Waterways: 2,043 km,

Ports and harbors: Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge.

Airports: 43

Heliports:1

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 10.2/1000

Infant mortality rate: 4.5/1000

Life expectancy: 79.0;

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,071

Risk factors are:

- Chronic diseases

- Anaemia

- Child malnutrition

- Alcohol, tobacco consumption

- Access to water, sanitation

UNICEF:-UNICEF started working in Belgium in 26th june 1952.It is the first country to join the National Committee for UNICEF in Europe.UNICEF in Belgium mainly works on fundraising by donation,selling cards,gifts and advocating children’s rights.They are campaigning for children rights through an online project called “What do you think?” (Project website-www. whatdoyouthink.be).The work of UNICEF is going on with the help of some 50 sub-committees around the country.

RACE:-

Fleming 58%

Walloon 31%

mixed or other 11%

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 75%

Protestant or other 25%

LANGUAGES:-Dutch (Flemish) (60%), French (40%),German (less than 1%) are main and official languages of Belgium.

CITIES:- Brussels is the capital and the largest city.Other largest cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur.

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