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Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) - Belgium (2004)

Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) z Belgium (2004)

 Turks and Caicos Islands (2008)Belgium (2004)
 Turks and Caicos IslandsBelgium
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen


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
Age structure 0-14 years: 31.3% (male 3,466/female 3,345)


15-64 years: 64.8% (male 7,398/female 6,690)


65 years and over: 3.9% (male 394/female 453) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 901,486; female 863,092)


15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,424,438; female 3,364,057)


65 years and over: 17.3% (male 739,479; female 1,055,724) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Airports 8 (2007) 42 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 6


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
total: 25


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: 7 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
total: 18


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)
Area total: 430 sq km


land: 430 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 30,528 sq km


land: 30,278 sq km


water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC about the size of Maryland
Background The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory. 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.
Birth rate 21.48 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 10.59 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $47 million


expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)
revenues: $151.6 billion


expenditures: $151.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion (2003)
Capital name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)


geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W


time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October
Brussels
Climate tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Coastline 389 km 66.5 km
Constitution Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006) 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands


abbreviation: TCI
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium


conventional short form: Belgium


local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie


local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Currency - euro (EUR)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Death rate 4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $NA $28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS


embassy: Regentlaan 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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE


chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900


FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York
Disputes - international have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient $4.1 million (1997) -
Economy - overview The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. 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. 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. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US.
Electricity - consumption 10.76 million kWh (2005) 78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 11.57 million kWh (2005) 74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
lowest point: North Sea 0 m


highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater the environment is exposed to 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; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ethnic groups black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10% Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)


head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution


cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
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 formally appointed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by Parliament


note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) 450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners US, UK (2006) Germany 19.5%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 9%, US 6.7%, Italy 5.4% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
GDP - purchasing power parity - $299.1 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 1.9%


industry: 26.3%


services: 71.8% (2003)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $29,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.9% (2000 est.) 1.1% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 45 N, 71 35 W 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Geography - note about 40 islands (eight inhabited) crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
Heliports - 1 (2003 est.)
Highways - total: 148,216 km


paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)


unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe 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; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol and tobacco
Imports 83.55 bbl/day (2004) 1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners US, UK (2006) Germany 17.7%, Netherlands 16.5%, France 13.2%, UK 7.5%, US 5.9%, Ireland 5.7% (2003)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)
Industrial production growth rate NA% -1.5% (2003 est.)
Industries tourism, offshore financial services engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Infant mortality rate total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 17 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (1995) 1.6% (2003 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Irrigated land NA 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
Labor force 4,848 (1990 est.) 4.73 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,385 km


border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Land use arable land: 2.33%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.67% (2005)
arable land: 23.28%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 76.32%


note: includes Luxembourg (2001)
Languages English (official) Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Legal system based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2
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 18 May 2003 (next to be held no later than May 2007)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit 15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH 5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2


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 the Political parties and leaders entry
Life expectancy at birth total population: 74.95 years


male: 72.69 years


female: 77.32 years (2007 est.)
total population: 78.44 years


male: 75.26 years


female: 81.75 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: NA


female: NA
Location Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit


continental shelf: median line with neighbors
Merchant marine registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2007) total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,146,301 GRT/1,588,184 DWT


by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 11, container 6, liquefied gas 18, petroleum tanker 6


foreign-owned: Denmark 6, Finland 1, France 2, Netherlands 3


registered in other countries: 69 (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Army, Naval, and Air Operations Commands
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $3.999 billion (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.3% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 2,509,538 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 2,068,221 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 61,270 (2004 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Nationality noun: none


adjective: none
noun: Belgian(s)


adjective: Belgian
Natural hazards frequent hurricanes flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Natural resources spiny lobster, conch coal, natural gas, construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Net migration rate 9.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US -
Pipelines - gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK] Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Flemish Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note - new party now associated with SP.A; Vlaams Belang or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Christian, Socialist, and Liberal 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
Population 21,746 (July 2007 est.) 10,348,276 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 4% (1989 est.)
Population growth rate 2.722% (2007 est.) 0.16% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors - Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003) FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways - total: 3,518 km


standard gauge: 3,518 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2003)
Religions Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.036 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.106 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female


total population: 1.073 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing


domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available


international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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: country code - 32; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 5,700 (2002) 5,120,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,700 (1999) 8,135,500 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003) 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Total fertility rate 3.02 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.64 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 10% (1997 est.) 8.1% (2003 est.)
Waterways - 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)
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