Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Chairman of the General National Congress: Mohamed Magarief
Population
16,730,632
5,613,380
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
77.830 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Tripoli (Tarabulus)
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Tripoli (population: 1,150,990)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.84
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
$14,100 US
Literacy Rate
99%
82.6%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
2.6
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
7.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
30.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
constitutional monarchy
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian 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)
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
