Area: 30 528 km²
Population: 10.5 million
Capital city: Brussels
Currency: 1 euro = 100 cent
National day: 21 July
EU-membership: 23 July 1952 (ECSC, founding member)

Head of State: King Albert II
Head of Government: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt
Foreign Minister: Karel de Gucht
Government: Governing parties:
Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (VLD – Flemish Liberals), 25 seats
Parti Socialiste (PS – French-speaking Socialists), 25 seats
Mouvement Réformateur (MR – French-speaking Liberals), 25 seats
Sociaal Progressief Alternatief (SP.A/SPIRIT Flemish Socialists), 23 seats
Parliament: Chamber of Representatives: Chambre des Représentants/Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, 150 members
Senate: 71 members, next election in 2007

GDP: € 303 billion (2005)
GDP per capita in PPS: € 27 800 (2005)
Economic growth in real terms: + 1,5% (2005)

Links:
Head of State: http://www.monarchie.be
Head of Government: http://premier.fgov.be
Federal Portal: http://www.belgium.fgov.be
Foreign Minister: http://diplobel.fgov.be
Parliament: http://www.fed-parl.be

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