{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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. In recent years, political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "50 50 N, 4 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "30,528 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "30,278 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "250 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "about the size of Maryland"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,297 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "66.5 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "geographic coordinates define outer limit"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "median line with neighbors"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Botrange 694 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "North Sea 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "181 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "44.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 16.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "22.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "33.5% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "57 sq km (2013)"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population concentrated in the northern two-thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world; approximately 97% live in urban areas"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the EU and NATO"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "11,913,633 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Belgian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Belgian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>Het Wereld Feitenboek, een omnisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)<br><br>The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "17.03% (male 1,038,921/female 990,288)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "63.06% (male 3,788,406/female 3,724,202)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "19.91% (2023 est.) (male 1,049,402/female 1,322,414)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "56.5"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "26.1"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "30.4"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "3.3 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "41.6 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "40.4 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "42.8 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.55% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.86 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "9.57 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "4.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of the population concentrated in the northern two-thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world; approximately 97% live in urban areas"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "98.2% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.79 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "29.2 years (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.15 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "3.58 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "2.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "82.06 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "79.47 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "84.79 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.77 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.86 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "66.7% (2018)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "11.1% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "6.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "5.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "22.1% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "1.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "23.4% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "25.8% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "1% (2014/15)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "43.2% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "18 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20 years (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "18.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20.4% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "12.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "96.89 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "7.78 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "44.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 16.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "22.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "33.5% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "98.2% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "forest revenues": {
        "text": "0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "coal revenues": {
        "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "4.708 million tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "1,614,985 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "34.3% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "739 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "3.21 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "45 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "18.3 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Kingdom of Belgium"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Belgium"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Belgique/Belgie/Belgien"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name derives from the Belgae, an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C."
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Brussels"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "50 50 N, 4 20 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "may derive from the Old Dutch <em>bruoc/broek</em>, meaning \"marsh\" and <em>sella/zele/sel</em> signifying \"home\" to express the meaning \"home in the marsh\""
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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": "<strong>note:</strong> 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; the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "\"revisions\" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament; amended many times, last in 2019"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system based on the French Civil Code; note - Belgian law continues to be modified in conformance with the legislative norms mandated by the European Union; judicial review of legislative acts"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Belgium"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal and compulsory"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013); Heir Apparent Princess ELISABETH (daughter of the monarch, born 25 October 2001)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Alexander DE CROO (since 1 October 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Vincent Van QUICKENBORNE (since 1 October 2020), Sophie WILMES (since 1 October 2020), Vincent VAN PETEGHEM (since 1 October 2020), Frank VANDENBROUCKE (since 1 October 2020), Pierre-Yves DERMAGNE (since 1 October 2020), Petra DE SUTTER (since 1 October 2020), Georges GILKINET (since 1 October 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and approved by Parliament"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of:<br>Senate or Senaat (in Dutch), Senat (in French) (60 seats; 50 members indirectly elected by the community and regional parliaments based on their election results, and 10 elected by the 50 other senators; members serve 5-year terms)<br>Chamber of Representatives or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers (in Dutch), Chambre des Representants (in French) (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "<p>Senate - last held 26 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024)</p> Chamber of Representatives - last held on 26 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - elections coincided with the EU elections"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br>Senate - percent of vote by party - N-VA 15%, VB 12%, PS 12%, MR 12%, CD&amp;V 8.3%, Open VLD 8.3%, Ecolo 15%, SP.A 6.7%, CDH 3.3%, PVDA-PTB 8.3%; seats by party - N-VA 9, VB 7, PS 7, MR 7, CD&amp;V 5, Open VLD 5, Ecolo 9, SP.A 4, CDH 2, PVDA-PTB 5; composition as of March 2022 - men 31, women 29, percent of women 48.3%<br>Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - N-VA 16.7%, VB 12%, PS 13.3%, CD&amp;V 8%, PVDA-PTB 8%, Open VLD 8%, MR 9.3%, SP.A 6%, Ecolo 8.7%, Green 5.3%, CDH 3.3%, Defi 1.3%; seats by party - N-VA 25, VB 18, PS 20, CD&amp;V 12, PVDA+PTB 12, Open VLD 12, MR 14, SP.A 9, Ecolo 13, Green 8, CDH 5, Defi 2; composition as of March 2022 - men 87, women 63, percent of women 42%; note - overall Parliament percent of women 43.8%"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the 1993 constitutional revision that further devolved Belgium into a federal state created 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; changes above occurred since the sixth state reform"
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "<strong>Flemish parties:</strong> <br>Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&amp;V [Sammy MAHDI]<br>Forward [Conner ROUSSEAU] (formerly Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A)<br>Groen or Green [Nadia NAJI and Jeremie VANEECKHOUT] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens)<br>New Flemish Alliance or N-VA [Bart DE WEVER]<br>Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Egbert LACHAERT]<br>Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Tom VAN GRIEKEN]<br><strong>Francophone parties:</strong> <br>Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Marc NOLLET and Rajae MAOUANE]<br>Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi [Francois DE SMET]<br>Les Engages [Maxine PREVOT] (formerly Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH)<br>People's Party or PP [Mischael MODRIKAMEN] (dissolved 18 June 2019)<br>Reform Movement or MR [George-Louis BOUCHEZ]<br>Socialist Party or PS [Paul MAGNETTE]<br>Workers' Party or PVDA-PTB [Raoul HEDEBOUW]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Jean-Arthur REGIBEAU (since 17 September 2020)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1430 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 333-6900"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 338-4960"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>Washington@diplobel.fed.be<br><br>https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Michael ADLER (since 15 March 2022)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "27 Boulevard du Regent [Regentlaan], B-1000 Brussels"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "7600 Brussels Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-7600"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[32] (2) 811-4000"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[32] (2) 811-4500"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>uscitizenBrussels@state.gov<br><br>https://be.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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)"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "golden rampant lion; national colors: red, black, yellow"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"La Brabanconne\" (The Song of Brabant)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Louis-Alexandre DECHET [French] and Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1830; according to legend, Louis-Alexandre DECHET, an actor at the theater in which the revolution against the Netherlands began, wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "15 (14 cultural, 1 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "high income economy with strong but moderate growth; high public debt; aging labor force; low labor force participation of low-skilled, migrant, and older workers; strong welfare system; high congestion; complex business permitting and judicial systems"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$599.814 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$565.149 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$597.165 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "6.13% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-5.36% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "2.24% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$51,700 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$49,000 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$52,000 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$533.028 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "2.44% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "0.74% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "1.44% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "AA- (2016)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Aa3 (2011)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "AA (2011)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "0.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "22.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "77.2% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "51.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "23.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "23.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "1.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "85.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-84.4% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, poultry, maize, barley, pears"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "1.28% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "5.24 million (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.3%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "18.6%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "80.1% (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "6.42% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "5.55% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "5.36% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "18.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20.4% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "14.8% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": {
        "text": "27.2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "3.4%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "28.4% (2006)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$253.5 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$258.6 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2020": {
        "text": "119.43% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2019": {
        "text": "103.38% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2018": {
        "text": "101.39% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; general government debt is defined by the Maastricht definition and calculated by the National Bank of Belgium as consolidated gross debt; the debt is defined in European Regulation EC479/2009 concerning the implementation of the protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht) of 7 February 1992; the sub-sectors of consolidated gross debt are: federal government, communities and regions, local government, and social security funds"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "21.97% (of GDP) (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$2.917 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "$5.702 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "$507.275 million (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$515.625 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$417.222 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$441.566 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports."
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Germany 17%, France 14%, Netherlands 13%, United Kingdom 8%, United States 6%, Italy 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, natural gas (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$509.018 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$408.343 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$438.221 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Netherlands 16%, Germany 13%, France 10%, United States 8%, Ireland 5%, China 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, diamonds, natural gas (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": {
        "text": "$41.872 billion (31 December 2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$33.296 billion (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$28.97 billion (31 December 2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2019": {
        "text": "$1,317,513,000,000 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 2018": {
        "text": "$1,332,358,000,000 (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "0.845 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "0.876 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "0.893 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "0.847 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "0.885 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "26.929 million kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "81,171,300,000 kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "14.053 billion kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "13.394 billion kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "3.444 billion kWh (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "33.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "38.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "5.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "15% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "7.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "1.105 million metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "4.167 million metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "504,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "3.467 million metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "11,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "642,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "666,700 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "731,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "680,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "601,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "18.17 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "3.943 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "22.61 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "128.247 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "10.301 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "83.474 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "34.472 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "234.216 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "3,293,420 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "28 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "11,740,118 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "101 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "mobile networks have been upgraded to support growing mobile data use among subscribers, with near-comprehensive LTE coverage; operators have also trialed 5G in preparation for launching services; the auction of 5G-suitable spectrum has been delayed to the beginning of 2022, while the onerous restrictions on radiation have meant that some 5G trials have been suspended; there is effective competition in Belgium between the DSL and cable platforms, while in recent years government support has also encouraged investment in fiber networks; in a bid to encourage investment in under served areas, the regulator in 2018 amended the conditions by which market players grant wholesale access to copper and fiber infrastructure; in May 2019 it opened a further consultation on cost models for access to the networks of cablecos and fiber infrastructure (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "about 28 per 100 fixed-line and 101 per 100 mobile-cellular; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 32; landing points for Concerto, UK-Belgium, Tangerine, and SeaMeWe-3, submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "a segmented market with the three major communities (Flemish, French, and German speaking) each having responsibility for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community; additionally, in excess of 90% of households are connected to cable and can access broadcasts of TV stations from neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network coexisting with private broadcasters"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".be"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10,620,701 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "92% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "4,734,210 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "41 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "7 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "117"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "13,639,487 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1,285,340,000 (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "OO"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "41 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "26"
      },
      "over 3,047 m": {
        "text": "6"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "9"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "8 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "15"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "15 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "1 (2021)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "3,139 km gas, 154 km oil, 535 km refined products (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3,602 km (2020) 3,160 km electrified"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "118,414 km (2015)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "118,414 km (2015) (includes 1,747 km of expressways)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "2,043 km (2012) (1,528 km in regular commercial use)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "201"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 19, container ship 7, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 138 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Oostende, Zeebrugge"
      },
      "container port(s) (TEUs)": {
        "text": "Antwerp (12,020,000) (2021)"
      },
      "LNG terminal(s) (import)": {
        "text": "Zeebrugge"
      },
      "river port(s)": {
        "text": "Antwerp, Gent (Schelde River)"
      },
      "note": "Brussels (Senne River) Liege (Meuse River)"
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Belgian Armed Forces: Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Service (2022)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.1% of GDP (2021)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1% of GDP (2020)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "0.9% of GDP (2019)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "0.9% of GDP (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 25,000 active duty personnel (10,000 Land Component; 1,500 Marine Component; 5,000 Air Force Component; 1,500 Medical Service; 7,000 other, including joint staff, support, and training schools) (2022)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the armed forces have a mix of weapons systems from European countries, Israel, and the US; Belgium has an export-focused defense industry that focuses on components and subcontracting (2022)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 1995 (2022)",
      "note": "<strong>note 1:</strong> in 2020, women comprised about 9% of the military's full-time personnel<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> foreign nationals 18-34 years of age who speak Dutch or French and are citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland may apply to join the military"
    },
    "Military deployments": {
      "text": "125 France (contributing member of EuroCorps); 250 Romania (NATO) (2022)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Belgium, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "Belgium is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Belgium hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels<br><br>in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries<br> <p>in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020</p>"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
    "Terrorist group(s)": {
      "text": "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>none identified</p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "20,086 (Syria), 7,049 (Afghanistan), 5,769 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 68,616 (Ukraine) (as of 27 February 2023)"
      },
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "1,190 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>a primary entry point for cocaine smuggled into Europe; also a transit point for precursor chemicals from China for amphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy) production labs in Belgium; a transit country for new psychoactive substances (NPS); increasing number of amphetamine and ecstasy production labs in Belgium; heroin also transits through Belgium.</p>"
    }
  }
}