Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
80.910 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Largest city
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
(population: )
Human Development Index
0.958
NA
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
99%
Corruption Perception Index
8.9
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.8%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
NA
Political System
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)
Religions
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (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
