Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
President: Heinz Fischer
Population
16,730,632
8,219,743
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
79.910 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Vienna
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Wien (population: 1,569,320)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.951
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$42,400 US
Literacy Rate
99%
98%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
8.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
26.6%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Karl Wlaschek ($4.2bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
4.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
constitutional monarchy
federal republic
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)
976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 $
$883,500,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
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%
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
16
3
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Area
41,543 km sq
83,871 km sq
Coastline
451 km
0 km
Climate
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
