IMF...........................................WB..........................................CIA
rank/measure............................rank/measure.............................rank/measure
16/42,618.............................13/42,213..................................17/43,648
| Economy of Belgium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Rank | 33rd (PPP, 2012) |
| Currency | Euro |
| Fiscal year | Calendar year |
| Trade organisations | EU, WTO and OECD |
| Statistics | |
| GDP | $419.6 billion (PPP, 2012 est.) |
| GDP growth | -0.2% (2012 est.) |
| GDP per capita | $38,100 (2012 est.) |
| GDP by sector | agriculture 0.7%, industry 22.3%, services 77.0%, (2012 est.) |
| Inflation (CPI) | 2.4% (CPI, 2012 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 15.2% (2007 est.) |
| Gini coefficient | 28 (2005) |
| Labour force | 5.055 million (2012 est.) |
| Labour force by occupation | agriculture 2%, industry (25%), services 73%, (2007 est.) |
| Unemployment | 7.4% (September 2012)[1] |
| Average gross salary | €3,133, monthly (2012)[2] |
| Average net salary | €1,984 / $2,615 monthly (2012)[3] |
| Main industries | engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments,processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum |
| Ease of doing business rank | 33rd[4] |
| External | |
| Exports |  $314.6 billion (2012 est.) |
| Export goods | machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs |
| Main export partners |  Germany 18.0% France 16.1% Netherlands 13.0% United Kingdom 7.3% United States 5.3% Italy 4.4% (2012 est.)[5] |
| Imports | $325.2 billion (2012 est.) |
| Import goods | raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transport equipment, oil products |
| Main import partners | Netherlands 20.9% Germany 14.2% France 10.6% United States 6.1% United Kingdom 5.5% Republic of Ireland 4.4% (2012 est.)[6] |
| FDI stock |  $1.184 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) |
| Gross external debt | |
The modern, private enterpriseeconomy of Belgium has capitalised on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. The first country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent of Europe in the early 19th century, Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its neighbors. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flanders in the north, around Brussels and in the two biggest Walloon cities, Liègeand Charleroi, along the sillon industriel. Belgium imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has few natural resources other than fertile soils. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.9% of GDP, while agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP
With exports equivalent to over two-thirds of GNP, Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force. One of the founding members of the European Community, Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union to integrate European economies further. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Together with the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium is also one of Beneluxmember states.
Belgium's public debt is about 98% of GDP. The government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000–2008 period, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth and foreign direct investment dropped in 2008. In 2009 Belgium is likely to have negative growth, growing unemployment, and a 3% budget deficit, stemming from the worldwide banking crisis.
