l use) (2003)

Pipelines:
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt,
Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine:
total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,146,301 GRT/1,588,184 DWT
foreign-owned: Denmark 6, Finland 1, France 2, Netherlands 3
registered in other countries: 69 (2004 est.)
by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 11, container 6, liquefied
gas 18, petroleum tanker 6

Airports:
42 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)

Military Belgium

Military branches:
Army, Naval, and Air Operations Commands

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,509,538 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,068,221 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,270 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.999 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues Belgium

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound
ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine
processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and
marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of
legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering
related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol and tobacco

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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@Belize

Introduction Belize

Background:
Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the
independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.
Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism
has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued
by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug
trade, and increased urban crime.

Geography Beli