 | |
| Geography |
|
Located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
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| Location: |
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
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| 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
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point:
Vaalserberg 322 m
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| 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)
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| Irrigated land: |
5,650 sq km (2003)
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| Natural hazards: |
flooding
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| 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
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| 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, Kyoto Protocol, 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: |
16,715,999 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 1,485,873/female 1,416,999)
15-64 years:
67.7% (male 5,720,387/female 5,604,014)
65 years and over:
14.9% (male 1,070,496/female 1,418,230) (2009 est.)
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| Median age: |
total: 40.4 years
male:
39.6 years
female:
41.2 years (2009 est.)
|
| Population growth rate: |
0.412% (2009 est.)
|
| Birth rate: |
10.4 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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| Death rate: |
8.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
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| Net migration rate: |
2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
5.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
|
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.4 years
male:
76.8 years
female:
82.14 years (2009 est.)
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| Total fertility rate: |
1.66 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2007 est.)
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| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
18,000 (2007 est.)
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| HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
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| Nationality: |
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective:
Dutch
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| Ethnic groups: |
Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands Antilles & Aruba 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)
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| Religions: |
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
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| Languages: |
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
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| 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
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| Government type: |
constitutional monarchy
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| Capital: |
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates:
52 23 N, 4 54 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)
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| Dependent areas: |
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
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| 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)
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| National holiday: |
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
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| Constitution: |
adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002
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| Legal system: |
based on civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government:
Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002); Deputy Prime Ministers Wouter BOS (since 22 February 2007) and Andre ROUVOET (since 22 February 2007)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is 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
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| 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 four-year terms)
elections:
First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be held by early 2011)
election results:
First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11, Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%, other 6.6%; seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7
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| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Pieter VAN GEEL]; Christian Union Party [Arie SLOB]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Mariette HAMER]; Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER VLIES]; Socialist Party [Agnes KANT]; plus a few minor parties
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Bert VAN BOGGELEN]; Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]; Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek HERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN]; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Richard STEENBORG]
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| International organization participation: |
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS
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, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s):
Boston
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Fay Hartog LEVIN
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) 361-4688
consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam
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| Economy |
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The Netherlands economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account 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. The country has been one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the four largest investors in the US. After 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Netherlands' economy - which is highly open and dependent on foreign trade and financial services - has been hard-hit by global economic crisis. Dutch GDP contracted 4.3% in 2009. Exports declined nearly 25% in 2009 due to a sharp contraction in world demand. The Dutch financial sector, the 7th largest banking sector in the world, was also hit hard by the global financial crisis, due in part to high exposure by some Dutch banks to U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In response to turmoil in financial markets, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars into a third, to prevent further systemic risk. 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, have resulted in a government budget deficit of nearly 5% of GDP in 2009 that contrasts sharply with a surplus of 1.1% of GDP in 2008. With unemployment rising, the government of Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE is likely to come under increased pressure to keep the budget deficit in check while promoting economic recovery.
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| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity):
$652.3 billion (2009 est.)
$681.6 billion (2008 est.)
$668.3 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
|
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate):
$789.7 billion (2009 est.)
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| GDP - real growth rate: |
-4.3% (2009 est.)
2% (2008 est.)
3.6% (2007 est.)
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| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP):
$39,000 (2009 est.)
$40,900 (2008 est.)
$40,300 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1.9%
industry:
24.4%
services:
73.7% (2009 est.)
|
| Labor force: |
7.71 million (2009 est.)
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| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 2%
industry:
18%
services:
80% (2005 est.)
|
| Unemployment rate: |
5% (2009 est.)
3.95% (2008 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)
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| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (2009 est.)
2.5% (2008 est.)
|
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
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| Budget: |
revenues: $335.4 billion
expenditures:
$372.5 billion (2009 est.)
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| Public debt: |
62.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
58.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
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| Agriculture - products: |
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
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| Industries: |
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
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| Industrial production growth rate: |
-8% (2009 est.)
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| Electricity - production: |
97.19 billion kWh (2007 est.)
|
| Electricity - consumption: |
110.2 billion kWh (2007 est.)
|
| Electricity - exports: |
9.28 billion kWh (2008 est.)
|
| Electricity - imports: |
25.01 billion kWh (2008 est.)
|
| Oil - production: |
72,090 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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| Oil - consumption: |
962,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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| Oil - exports: |
1.647 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
| Oil - imports: |
2.678 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
|
| Oil - proved reserves: |
100 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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| Natural gas - production: |
84.69 billion cu m (2008 est.)
|
| Natural gas - consumption: |
48.34 billion cu m (2008 est.)
|
| Natural gas - exports: |
61.72 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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| Natural gas - imports: |
25.34 billion cu m (2008 est.)
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| Natural gas - proved reserves: |
1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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| Current account balance: |
$33.72 billion (2009 est.)
$41.93 billion (2008 est.)
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| Exports: |
$397.6 billion (2009 est.)
$531.7 billion (2008 est.)
|
| Exports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
|
| Exports - partners: |
Germany 25.5%, Belgium 13.8%, France 8.9%, UK 8.8%, Italy 5.2% (2008)
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| Imports: |
$358.9 billion (2009 est.)
$474.8 billion (2008 est.)
|
| Imports - commodities: |
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing
|
| Imports - partners: |
Germany 16.6%, China 10.1%, Belgium 8.7%, US 7.5%, UK 5.8%, Russia 5.4%, France 4.4% (2008)
|
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
$28.51 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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| Debt - external: |
$2.452 trillion (30 June 2009 est.)
$2.461 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
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| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$661 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$644.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$866.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$843.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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| Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$456.2 billion (31 December 2008)
$956.5 billion (31 December 2007)
$779.6 billion (31 December 2006)
|
| Exchange rates: |
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005)
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: |
7.324 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
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| Cellular Phones in use: |
19.927 million (2008)
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| 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 (2007)
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| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 4, FM 567, shortwave 1 (2008)
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| Television broadcast stations: |
342 (2008)
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| Internet country code: |
.nl
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| Internet hosts: |
12.388 million (2009)
|
| Internet users: |
14.273 million (2008)
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| Transportation |
| Airports: |
27 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
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| Airports (paved runways): |
total: 20
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
9
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
1 (2009)
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| Airports (unpaved runways): |
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m:
3
under 914 m:
4 (2009)
|
| Heliports: |
1 (2009)
|
| Pipelines: |
gas 3,816 km; oil 365 km; refined products 716 km (2008)
|
| Railways: |
total: 2,811 km
standard gauge:
2,811 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2008)
|
| Roadways: |
total: 135,470 km (includes 2,582 km of expressways) (2007)
|
| Waterways: |
6,215 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2007)
|
| Merchant marine: |
total: 622
by type:
bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical tanker 44, container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned:
203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14, France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12, Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14)
registered in other countries:
178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2, Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1, Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US 1, unknown 1) (2008)
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| Ports and terminals: |
Amsterdam, IJmuiden, 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 (2009)
|
| Military service age and obligation: |
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
|
| Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 3,950,825
females age 16-49:
3,850,800 (2008 est.)
|
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 3,224,790
females age 16-49:
3,143,096 (2009 est.)
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