BELGIUM

Official name---- Kingdom of Belgium.

Capital----- Brussels.

Area------ 30528 sq. km.

Major cities--(population)----- antwerp ---0.45million, 
ghent ---0.22million, chorlesoi ---0.20million, liege --
0.19million, brussels ---0.13million.

Population --- 10.16 million.

Growth rate --- 0.11%.

Density ---- 333person/ sq.km.

Urbanization---- urban--- 97%, rural--- 3%.

Life expectancy --- total -- 77years, female -- 81years, 
male --- 74 years.

Infant mortality rate --- 6 death / 1000 live birth.

Ethnic division ---- flemish --55%, Walloon -- 33%, Mixed --
- 12%.

Languages ------ Deutch(official)---56%, French(official)---
 32%, German(official)--- 1%,legally bilingual---11%.

Religion----- Roman catholic---75%,Protestant or other ---
25%.

Government ----- type -- constitutional monarchy.

Independence ---- 4 october 1830( from Netherlands).

Constitution--- 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993, 
parliament approved a constitutional package creating a 
federal state.

Voting rights --- universal and compulsory at age 18.

Membership of international organization ---- AG
(observer),Australia group, FAO, EU,G--24,IMF,NATO,UN.

Economy---- gross domestic product-- GDP.US$264.4 billion.

Per capita --- US$ 26030.

Monetary unit--- 1 Belgium franc(BF) consisting of 100 
centimer exchange rate is linked to the Euro currency; 
existing national currency will be replaced by the Euro in 
2002.

Export ---- iron and steel, transport equipment, traction, 
diamond.

Import ---- fuel, grains, chemicals, foodstuff.

Major trading partner for export ---- EU countries, US.

Major trading partner for import ----- EU countries, US.

Industries ---- Engineering and metal products, motor 
vehicle assembly, processed foods, chemicals.

Agriculture --- Emphasis on livestock production--- beef, 
real, pork, milk.

Natural resources --- coal, natural gas.

                                        PORTUGAL

Official name--- Portugal republic.

Capital--- Lisbon.

Area--- 92345 sq.km.

Major cities ----(population)  Lisbon-- 1.86million, 
oporto --- 0.30 million., vila nova de gaia ---- 0.24 
million, Amadora 

--- 0.17 million.

Population --- 9.93 million.

Growth rate ---- 0.01%.

Density ---- 108 /sq.km.

Urbanization --- urban--36%,rural --- 64%.

Life expectancy ---- total -- 75 years, female --- 79 
years, male --- 72 years.

Infant mortality rate ---- 7 death /1000 live birth.

Ethnic division ---- Homogeneous .Mediterranian African 
less than 0.1 million.

Languages---- Portugese (official), English, French, German.

Religion ---- Roman catholic 97%, protestant demonination --
-1%, other --2%.

Government ---- type --- republic.

Independence ---- 1140(independent republic proclaimed 5 
october 1910).

Constitution --- 25 April 1976, revised 30 october 1982 and 
1 June 1989.


Voting rights--- universal at age 18.

Membership of international organization ---- Australia 
Group, FAO, G-24, IMF,NAM, (guest), NATO, UN.

Economy ---- gross domestic product-GDP -US$ 104 billion.

Per capita --- US$ 10470.

Monetary unit --- 1 portugese escudo(ESC) consisting of 100 
centanos.exchange rate in linked to the Euro currency; 
existing national currency will be replaced by the Euro in 
2002.

Exports---- clothing, footwear, machinery, hide and shuns. 

Imports ------ machinery and  transport equipment, 
petroleum textiles.

Major trading partners for exports ------  EU countries, US.

Major trading partners for imports ---- EU countries, US.

Industries ----- textiles and footwear, wood pulp, paper, 
cork.

Agriculture ----- small, inefficiency farm, major crops 
grain, potatoes, olives.

Natural resources ---- forests(cork), tungsten, iron ore.