Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
48,860,500
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
79.300 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Seoul
Amsterdam
Largest city
Seoul (population: 10,349,300)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.928
0.958
GDP per capita
$32,100 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
97.9%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
3.400%
4.400%
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
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
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$397,300,000,000 $
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,101.7 (2008 est.), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004)
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
2.700%
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
31
16
Location
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Area
99,720 km sq
41,543 km sq
Coastline
2,413 km
451 km
Climate
temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
