Belgium Issues - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 16,604 (Syria), 5,602 (Iraq), 5,070 (Afghanistan) (2019)

stateless persons: 1,264 (2020)

Illicit drugs

growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; 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; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

NOTE: The information regarding Belgium on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belgium 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belgium 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.