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Compare Belgium (2001) - Guernsey (2007)

Compare Belgium (2001) z Guernsey (2007)

 Belgium (2001)Guernsey (2007)
 BelgiumGuernsey
Administrative divisions 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen; note - the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10 provinces none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Age structure 0-14 years:
17.48% (male 916,957; female 876,029)

15-64 years:
65.57% (male 3,390,145; female 3,336,908)

65 years and over:
16.95% (male 709,212; female 1,029,511) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 4,914/female 4,784)


15-64 years: 67.4% (male 21,897/female 22,298)


65 years and over: 17.8% (male 4,955/female 6,725) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Airports 42 (2000 est.) 2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total:
24

over 3,047 m:
6

2,438 to 3,047 m:
8

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
6 (2000 est.)
total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
18

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
16 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
30,510 sq km

land:
30,230 sq km

water:
280 sq km
total: 78 sq km


land: 78 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative about the size of Maryland about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Background Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has 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. Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Birth rate 10.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.65 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues:
$114.8 billion

expenditures:
$117 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.6 billion (1999)
revenues: $563.6 million


expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)
Capital Brussels name: Saint Peter Port


geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Coastline 66 km 50 km
Constitution 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
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
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey


conventional short form: Guernsey
Currency Belgian franc (BEF); euro (EUR)

note:
on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Belgium at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
-
Death rate 10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $28.3 billion (1999 est.) $NA
Dependency status - British crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)

embassy:
27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels

mailing address:
PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

telephone:
[32] (2) 508-2111

FAX:
[32] (2) 511-2725
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Alexis REYN

chancery:
3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 333-6900

FAX:
[1] (202) 333-3079

consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
none (British crown dependency)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA, $764 million (1997) -
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
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, although the government is encouraging investment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt is expected to fall below 100% of GDP in 2002, and the government has succeeded in balancing is budget. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. Economic growth in 2000 was broad based, putting the government in a good position to pursue its energy market liberalization policies and planned tax cuts. Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and 32% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
Electricity - consumption 75.089 billion kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 8.207 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 9.055 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 79.829 billion kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
40.01%

hydro:
0.42%

nuclear:
58.33%

other:
1.24% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
North Sea 0 m

highest point:
Signal de Botrange 694 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Environment - current issues the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges NA
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
-
Ethnic groups Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996) Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002)


note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
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 Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

note:
government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005)


head of government: Chief Minister Michael W. TORODE (since 5 March 2007)


cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation


elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation


election results: Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA
Exports $181.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $NA
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Exports - partners EU 76% (Germany 18%, France 18%, Netherlands 12%, UK 10%) (1999) UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross
GDP purchasing power parity - $259.2 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
1.4%

industry:
26%

services:
72.6% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 10%


services: 87% (2000)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $25,300 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 4.1% (2000 est.) 3% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 50 50 N, 4 00 E 49 28 N, 2 35 W
Geography - note crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
145,774 km

paved:
116,182 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)

unpaved:
29,592 km (1999)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
3.7%

highest 10%:
20.2% (1992)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs growing producer of synthetic drugs; 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 -
Imports $166 billion (c.i.f., 2000) $NA
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners EU 71% (Germany 18%, Netherlands 17%, France 14%, UK 9%) (1999) UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)
Independence 21 July 1831 (from the Netherlands) none (British crown dependency)
Industrial production growth rate 5.5% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal tourism, banking
Infant mortality rate 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2000 est.) 3.4% (June 2006)
International organization participation ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC UPU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 61 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA
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 monarch) Royal Court
Labor force 4.34 million (1999) 31,470 (March 2006)
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.) -
Land boundaries total:
1,385 km

border countries:
France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
24%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
20%

forests and woodland:
21%

other:
34%
arable land: NA%


permanent crops: NA%


other: NA%
Languages Dutch 58%, French 32%, German 10%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Legal system civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are 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 are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:
Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 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; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments


elections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held in 2008)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Life expectancy at birth total population:
77.96 years

male:
74.63 years

female:
81.46 years (2001 est.)
total population: 80.53 years


male: 77.53 years


female: 83.64 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
98%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims continental shelf:
median line with neighbors

exclusive fishing zone:
median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Merchant marine total:
21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,912 GRT/53,161 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 6 (2000 est.)
-
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Medical Service -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2.5 billion (FY01) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY99) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
2,517,596 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
2,079,624 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
63,247 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 21 July (1831) Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Nationality noun:
Belgian(s)

adjective:
Belgian
noun: Channel Islander(s)


adjective: Channel Islander
Natural hazards flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes NA
Natural resources coal, natural gas cropland
Net migration rate 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km -
Political parties and leaders AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dos GEYSELS]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president]; Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Patrick JANSSENS, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET, president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME, president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO, president]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; Volksunie or VU [leader vacant]; other minor parties none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; 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 none
Population 10,258,762 (July 2001 est.) 65,573 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 4% NA%
Population growth rate 0.16% (2001 est.) 0.239% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge -
Radio broadcast stations FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 8.075 million (1997) -
Railways total:
3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)

standard gauge:
3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)
-
Religions Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25% Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.69 male(s)/female

total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.027 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.982 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.737 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities

domestic:
nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network

international:
5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: 1 submarine cable
Telephones - main lines in use 4.769 million (1997) 45,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 974,494 (1997) 43,800 (2004)
Television broadcast stations 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997) 1 (1997)
Terrain flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast mostly level with low hills in southwest
Total fertility rate 1.61 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.4 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 8.4% (2000 est.) 0.9% (March 2006 est.)
Waterways 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) -
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