Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
1,628,603
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
49.110 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Largest city
Bissau (population: 388,028)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.383
0.958
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
42.4%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
1.9
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
14%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
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)
Religions
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
16
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Area
36,125 km sq
41,543 km sq
Coastline
350 km
451 km
Climate
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
