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. 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 more than 90% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-06.
Agriculture Products
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Industries
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial Production Growth Rate
3% (2006 est.)
Labor Force
4.9 million (2006 est.)
Electricity production
80.84 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity Consumption
82.99 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity Exports
8.024 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity Imports
14.33 billion kWh (2005)
Economic Aid - Donor
ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)
Unemployment Rate
8.1% (2006 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
4% (1989 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 3.4%
Highest 10%: 28.1% (2000)
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
33 (2000)
Budget
Revenues: $193.6 billion
Expenditures: $193.2 billion (2006 est.)
Public Debt
88.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
$327.1 billion (2005)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
$13.44 billion (2006 est.)
Debt External
$1.053 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
$633.5 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
$485.1 billion (2006 est.)
Exchange Rates
euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
