Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
President: Zillur Rahman Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Population
16,730,632
161,083,804
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
70.060 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Dhaka
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Dhaka (population: 10,356,500)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.524
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$1,700 US
Literacy Rate
99%
43.1%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
2.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
5.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
constitutional monarchy
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)
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 $
$25,220,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
16
0
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area
41,543 km sq
143,998 km sq
Coastline
451 km
580 km
Climate
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
