Netherlands Population: 16,805,037
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| Background | |
| The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. |
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| Geography | |
| Located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) | |
| Location: | Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany |
| Geographic coordinates: | 52 30 N, 5 45 E |
| Area: | total: 41,543 sq km land: 33,893 sq km water: 7,650 sq km Size comparison: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km |
| Coastline: | 451 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters |
| Terrain: | mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m |
| Natural resources: | natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land |
| Land use: | arable land: 21.96% permanent crops: 0.77% other: 77.27% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 4,600 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | flooding |
| Current Environment Issues: | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 16,805,037 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 17.1% (male 1,468,364/female 1,401,651) 15-24 years: 12.2% (male 1,041,181/female 1,002,125) 25-54 years: 40.8% (male 3,436,713/female 3,411,374) 55-64 years: 12.9% (male 1,083,095/female 1,085,929) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 1,284,788/female 1,589,817) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 41.5 years male: 40.7 years female: 42.3 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.452% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.89 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 80.91 years male: 78.84 years female: 83.08 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.78 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 22,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch |
| Ethnic groups: | Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Caribbean 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.) |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 30%, Protestant 20% (Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%), Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006) |
| Languages: | Dutch (official), Frisian (official) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland |
| Government type: | constitutional monarchy |
| Capital: | name: Amsterdam geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components |
| Administrative divisions: | 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) |
| Dependent areas: | Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten |
| Independence: | 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence) |
| National holiday: | Queen's Day (Birthday of deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980) |
| Constitution: | adopted 1815; amended many times |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch; note - Queen Beatrix announces her abdication effective 30 April 2013 head of government: Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk ASSCHER (since 5 November 2012); note - Mark RUTTE tendered his resignation 23 April 2012; new elections were held on 12 September 2012 in which his party won the most seats; during the interim period he remained in office in a care-taking position; he was sworn in again to be prime minister on 5 November 2012 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve at most four-year terms) elections: First Chamber - last held on May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015); Second Chamber - last held on 12 September 2012 (next to be held by September 2016) election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VVD 16, PvdA 14, CDA 11, PVV 10, SP 8, D66 5, GL 5, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 26.6%, PvdA 24.8%, PVV, 10.1%, SP 9.7%, CDA 8.5%, D66 8.0%, CU 3.1%, GL 6.7%, other 2.5%; seats by party - VVD 41, PvdA 38, PVV 15, SP 15, CDA 13, D66 12, CU 5, GL 4, other 7 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Sybrand VAN HAERSMA BUMA]; Christian Union or CU [Arie SLOB]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left or GL [Bram VAN OJIK]; Labor Party or PvdA [Diederik SAMSOM]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Halbe ZIJLSTRA]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ]; Socialist Party of SP [Emile ROEMER]; plus a few minor parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]; Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Hans BIESHEUVEL]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Ton HEERTS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Wiebe DRAIJER]; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Reginald VISSER] |
| International organization participation: | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Simon BEKINK chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Boston |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Edwin NOLAN embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209 FAX: [31] (70) 310-2207 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam |
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| Economy | |
| The Dutch economy is the fifth-largest economy in the euro-zone and is noted for its stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable trade surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. After 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Dutch economy - highly dependent on an international financial sector and international trade - contracted by 3.5% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis. The Dutch financial sector suffered, due in part to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In 2008, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars of capital into other financial institutions, to prevent further deterioration of a crucial sector. The government also sought to boost the domestic economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks for employers to retain workers, and expanding export credit facilities. The stimulus programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a government budget deficit of 5.3% of GDP in 2010 that contrasted sharply with a surplus of 0.7% in 2008. The government of Prime Minister Mark RUTTE began implementing fiscal consolidation measures in early 2011, mainly reductions in expenditures, which resulted in an improved budget deficit of 3.8% of GDP. In 2012 tax revenues dropped nearly 9%, and GDP contracted. Although jobless claims continued to grow, the unemployment rate remained relatively low at 6.8 percent. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $709.5 billion (2012 est.) $712.8 billion (2011 est.) $705.1 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $770.2 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -0.5% (2012 est.) 1.1% (2011 est.) 1.6% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $42,300 (2012 est.) $42,700 (2011 est.) $42,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.8% industry: 24.1% services: 73.2% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 7.746 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 2% industry: 18% services: 80% (2005 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 6.8% (2012 est.) 5.8% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 10.5% (2005) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.9% (1999) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 30.9 (2007) 32.6 (1994) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2012 est.) 2.3% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 16.6% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $347.4 billion expenditures: $386.6 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 68.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 65.1% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment. Debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions. |
| Agriculture - products: | grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock |
| Industries: | agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing |
| Industrial production growth rate: | -0.6% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 108 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 107.4 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 12.81 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 15.58 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 81.09 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 49.05 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 54.8 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 22.76 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 1.303 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $77.2 billion (2012 est.) $70.92 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $556.5 billion (2012 est.) $550.2 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs |
| Exports - partners: | Germany 26.2%, Belgium 14.1%, France 9.3%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.8% (2011) |
| Imports: | $490.1 billion (2012 est.) $492.1 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing |
| Imports - partners: | Germany 14.5%, China 11.8%, Belgium 8.6%, UK 6.1%, Russia 6%, US 5.9%, France 4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $51.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $46.24 billion (2010 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $2.655 trillion (30 June 2011) $3.733 trillion (31 December 2009) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $608.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $589.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $971.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $943.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $594.7 billion (31 December 2011) $661.2 billion (31 December 2010) $542.5 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 7.135 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 25 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 19.835 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: highly developed and well maintained domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) services international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .nl |
| Internet hosts: | 13.699 million (2012) |
| Internet users: | 14.872 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 27 (2012) country comparison to the world: 124 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 4,413 km; oil 365 km; refined products 716 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,896 km standard gauge: 2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,195 km electrified) (2009) |
| Roadways: | total: 136,827 km (includes 2,631 km of expressways) (2008) |
| Waterways: | 6,214 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2009) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 744 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 514, carrier 15, chemical tanker 56, container 67, liquefied gas 21, passenger 17, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 19, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 196 (Australia 1, Bermuda 1, Denmark 27, Finland 13, France 2, Germany 86, Ireland 8, Italy 6, Japan 1, Norway 19, Sweden 12, UAE 4, US 16) registered in other countries: 233 (Antigua and Barbuda 17, Bahamas 23, Belize 1, Canada 1, Curacao 43, Cyprus 23, Germany 1, Gibraltar 34, Italy 2, Liberia 31, Luxembourg 3, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 21, Panama 6, Paraguay 1, Philippines 17, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 1, UK 1, unknown 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Moerdijk, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2012) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 3,911,098 females age 16-49: 3,817,031 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 3,201,328 females age 16-49: 3,122,889 (2010 est.) |
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