Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
King: Albert II Prime Minister-designate: Elio di Rupo
Population
16,730,632
10,438,353
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
79.650 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Brussels
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Brussels (population: 1,019,020)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.948
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$38,200 US
Literacy Rate
99%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
7.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
36.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Albert Frere ($2.4bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
7.700%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
constitutional monarchy
federal parliamentary democracy under a 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)
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 $
$1,399,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6802 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
16
2
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
