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Belgium
Population: 10 449 361
GDP: 507 400 000 000.00 $
Companies & Organizations: 45
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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.
Political divisions 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. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
Population: 10,449,361 (2014)
Nationality: noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
GDP: $ 507 400 000 000.00 (2013)
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Operations Command.
Belgium is growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy.
Capital: Brussels
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. Crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO.
Geographic coordinates:
50 50 N, 4 00 E.
Area:
total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km.
Land boundaries:
total: 1,297 km
border countries: France 556 km, Germany 133 km, Luxembourg 130 km, Netherlands 478 km.
Coastline: 66.5 km.
Natural resources: construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land.
