Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Acting president: Andry Rajoelina
Population
16,730,632
22,005,222
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
64.000 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Antananarivo (population: 1,391,430)
Human Development Index
0.958
0.533
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
99%
68.9%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
9.4%
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished in practice
Political System
constitutional monarchy
republic
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)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
16
0
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Area
41,543 km sq
587,041 km sq
Coastline
451 km
4,828 km
Climate
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
