Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
President: Choummaly Sayasone
Population
16,730,632
6,586,266
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
62.770 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Vientiane (Viangchan)
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Vientiane (population: 196,731)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.608
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$2,700 US
Literacy Rate
99%
68.7%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
25.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
2.500%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished in practice
Political System
constitutional monarchy
Communist state
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)
19 July 1949 (from France)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
