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.

GEOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE
Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the North Sea. Although generally flat, the terrain becomes increasingly hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes) region. Climate is cool, temperate, and rainy; summer temperatures average 77°F, winters average 45°F. Annual extremes (rarely attained) are 10°F and 90°F.

Geographically and culturally, Belgium is at the crossroads of Europe, and during the past 2,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different races and cultures. Consequently, Belgium is one of Europe's true melting pots with Celtic, Roman, Germanic, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Austrian cultures having made an imprint.

Belgium is divided ethnically into the Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons, the 70,000 residents of the eastern German cantons, and the bilingual capital of Brussels representing the remainder. The population density is the second highest in Europe, after the Netherlands.

HISTORY
Because of the emerging language, economic, and political differences, there were increased cleavages in Belgian society. The Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and the 19th century further accentuated the linguistic North-South division. Francophone Wallonia became an early industrial boom area, affluent and politically dominant. Dutch speaking Flanders remained agricultural and was economically and politically outdistanced by Brussels and Wallonia. The last 50 years have marked the rapid economic development of Flanders, necessitating a corresponding shift of political to the Flemish, who now constitute an absolute majority (58%) of the population.

ECONOMY
Belgium, a highly developed market economy, belongs to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of leading industrialized democracies. In recent years, with a geographic area about equal to that of Maryland, and a population of just over 10 million, Belgium ranks seventh in per capita GDP worldwide. In 2001, the per capita income was $22,578. For 2002, the federal government presented a budget that was almost in equilibrium (0.2% of GDP deficit). GDP growth remains moderate at 2.2%.

Full country name: Kingdom of Belgium
Area: 30,518 sq km
Population: 10.2 million
Capital city: Brussels (pop: 980,000)
People: 55% Flemish (of Teutonic origin), 33% Walloons (French Latin) and about 10% foreigners.
Language: Flemish, French and German. Most Belgians also speak English.
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic
Government: constitutional parliamentary monarchy
Prime Minister: Guy Verhofstadt
GDP: US$259.2 billion
GDP per head: US$25,300
Annual growth: 2.8%
Inflation: 2.2%
Major industries: Services, agriculture, chemicals, engineering, metal products, car manufacturing, iron and steel, textiles and food
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany, France, Netherlands, UK), USA
Member of EU: yes
Euro zone participant: yes