Exact population: 10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)

Literacy: Total population: 98%; male: NA%; female: NA%

Ethnicities: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Area: Total: 30,528 sq km; land: 30,278 sq km; water: 250 sq km

Land boundaries: Total: 1,385 km; border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km

Terrain: Flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Extremes: Lowest point: North Sea 0 m; highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Imports: Germany 18.4%, Netherlands 17%, France 12.5%, UK 6.8%, Ireland 6.3%, US 5.5% (2004)

Exports: Germany 19.9%, France 17.2%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 8.6%, US 6.5%, Italy 5.2% (2004)

Industries: Engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Source: CIA World Factbook