Country
Countries A-Z
Belgium
Kingdom of Belgium
Koninkrijk België (Dutch)
Royaume de Belgique (French)
Königreich Belgien (German)
Note: After a record 541 days with a caretaker government in place, on December 6, 2011, Elio di Rupo of the Socialist Party was sworn in as prime minister of a six-party coalition government. The new government was the result of months of negotiations, which reportedly accelerated after Belgium's credit rating was downgraded. The conservative New Flemish Alliance, the largest single party in parliament, refused to join the government and became the main opposition party. Di Rupo's government survived a confidence vote on December 10.
Political Status: Independence proclaimed October 4, 1830; monarchical constitution of 1831 most recently revised in 1970.
Area: 11,781 sq. mi. (30,513 sq. km.).
Population: 11,354,432 (2012E—UN); 10,438,353 (2012E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2005E): BRUSSELS (urban ...