Netherlands

Internet country code

.nl

Internet hosts

4,518,226 (2004)

Internet users

8.5 million (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: highly developed and well maintained domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five major network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)

Telephones - main lines in use

10.004 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.5 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Budget

revenues: $237.1 billion expenditures: $249.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

Currency

euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$12.09 billion (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.6 (1994)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $3.3 billion (2002 est.)

Economy - overview

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The 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 no more than 4% 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 continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget position, and is moving toward the EU 3% of GDP budget deficit limit.

Electricity - consumption

99.42 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

4.209 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

21.49 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

88.32 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)

Exports

$253.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Germany 25.3%, Belgium 12.6%, France 10.2%, UK 10.1%, Italy 6%, US 4.5% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $461.4 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 24.4% services: 73.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)

Imports

$217.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners

Germany 18.2%, Belgium 10%, US 8%, UK 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 5% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.1% (2003 est.)

Industries

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.1% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

7.46 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73% (1998 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.693 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

1.418 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

2.284 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

54.1% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$21.44 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

5.3% (2003 est.)

Area

total: 41,526 sq km land: 33,883 sq km water: 7,643 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Coastline

451 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Environment - current 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

Environment - international 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

Geographic coordinates

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Geography - note

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Irrigated land

5,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Land use

arable land: 26.71% permanent crops: 0.97% other: 72.32% (2001)

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Terrain

mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Capital

Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Constitution

adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland

Dependent areas

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York consulate(s): Boston

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) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; 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; vice 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

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it was not until 1648 that Spain recognized their independence)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)

Legal system

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

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 for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held May 2007) election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5

National holiday

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Gerard van AS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Jozias VAN AARTSEN]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Netherlands Trade Union Federation (FNV) (consisting of a merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The 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.

Military branches

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary, Defense Interservice Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$8,044.4 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.6% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,070,043 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 3,534,392 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

20 years of age for an all volunteer force (May 2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 97,624 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,527,316; female 1,457,192) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,598,706; female 5,459,936) 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 953,370; female 1,321,679) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

11.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

17,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.68 years male: 76.15 years female: 81.34 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (2000 est.) male: NA female: NA

Median age

total: 38.7 years male: 37.9 years female: 39.6 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch

Net migration rate

2.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.57% (2004 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering

Airports

27 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Heliports

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

total: 116,500 km paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)

Merchant marine

total: 635 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWT by type: bulk 1, cargo 375, chemical tanker 59, combination bulk 1, container 71, liquefied gas 13, multi-functional large load carrier 15, passenger 12, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 37, roll on/roll off 14, short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 7 foreign-owned: Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 9, Germany 54, Ireland 14, Norway 9, Singapore 1, Sweden 19, Thailand 1, United Kingdom 31, United States 16 registered in other countries: 241 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen

Railways

total: 2,808 km standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2003)

Waterways

5,046 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2004)