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Belgium : Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 square kilometers) | 168 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 50 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 61 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | Yes |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | No |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 63 |
| Percent other wooded land | 64 |
Belgium : Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | Yes | No |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | - | - |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | - | Yes |
Belgium : Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 0.5 | n.s. | | n.s. | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 100 | 25 | - | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 20 | 40 | - | |
Belgium : Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 8738 | 1926 | 659 | 32448 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 9395 | Yes | Yes | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| | Yes | Yes | |
Belgium : Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | 1696 | 15 | 1728 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 16 | 64 | - | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| | 45 | - | |
Belgium : Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 18 | 20 | 31 | 53 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 32 | 29 | 87920 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 7 | | 30522 | |
Belgium : Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| - | - | | - | - | 3 | 4 |
Belgium : Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 3852 | 2957 |
| PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
| Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
| 3789 | 100 | 500 |
| HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
| Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
| 500 | 600 | 100 | | 160 |
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Belgium: Environment
| Environment - current issues | 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 | | Natural hazards | flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes |
Belgium: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 23.28%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 76.32%
note: includes Luxembourg (2001) | | Natural resources | construction materials, silica sand, carbonates |
Belgium: Economy
| 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 nearly 100% 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 2004-05. | | GDP - per capita | $31,800 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 1.5% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 1.3%, industry: 24.7%, services: 74% (2004 est.) | | Industries | engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum | | Population below poverty line (%) | 4% (1989 est.) | | Debt - external | $980.1 billion (30 June 2005 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.) |
Belgium: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 10,364,388 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 0.15% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 342.3 | | Median age (years) | total: 40.55 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 1.64 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% |
Largest Cities in Belgium
Cities and urban areas in Belgium with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Brussels | Belgium | 958800 | 1740300 |
| Antwerp | Belgium | 444100 | 947600 |
| Ghent | Belgium | 222400 | 222400 |
| Charleroi | Belgium | 201000 | 201000 |
| Liege | Belgium | 184300 | 619700 |
| Brugges | Belgium | 115400 | 115400 |
| Namur | Belgium | 106100 | 106100 |
Belgium: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 5,120,400 (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 8,135,500 (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 149,757 km
paved: 117,110 km (including 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,647 km (2003) |
Belgium: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 78.62 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 81.94 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 0.2% (2003 est.) |
Belgium
: References & Data Sources
 Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005 & 2010) and the State of the World's Forests (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001)
Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com
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