Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
President: Michael D Higgins
Population
16,730,632
4,722,028
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
80.320 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Dublin
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Dublin (population: 1,024,030)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.96
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$40,100 US
Literacy Rate
99%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
7.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
15.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Pallonji Mistry ($2.5bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
14.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
constitutional monarchy
republic, 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)
6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 $
$2,352,000,000,000 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 - 0.6689 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
16
3
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Area
41,543 km sq
70,273 km sq
Coastline
451 km
1,448 km
Climate
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
