Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
Population
16,730,632
22,015,576
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
81.900 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Canberra
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.965
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$40,800 US
Literacy Rate
99%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
8.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
29.6%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
5.100%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
constitutional monarchy
federal parliamentary democracy
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)
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 $
$1,376,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
16
46
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Area
41,543 km sq
7,741,220 km sq
Coastline
451 km
25,760 km
Climate
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
