GeoFroggy

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Background

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.

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Area Comparative

Tbout the size of Maryland

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Climate

Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Population Distribution

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

Flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Environment Current Issues

Array

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Europe

Irrigated Land

230 sq km

Area 2020

Total

30,528 sq km
Land

30,278 sq km
Water

250 sq km

Coastline

66.5 km

Geographical Coordinates

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Land use 2020

Agricultural Land
44.1%
Arable Land
27.2%
Forest
22.4%
Other
33.5%

Terrain

Flat coastal plains in northwest
Central rolling hills
Rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Elevation

Mean Elevation: 181 m
Lowest Point: North Sea 0 m
Highest Point: Botrange 694 m

Land Boundaries

Total
1,297 km
France
556 km
Germany
133 km
Luxembourg
130 km
Netherlands
478 km

Natural Resources

Construction materials
Silica sand

Carbonates
Arable land

Belgium