Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
16,344,687
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
53.800 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Largest city
Niamey (population: 774,235)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.37
0.958
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
28.7%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
2.8
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.4%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished
Political System
republic
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
Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
16
Location
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Area
1,267,000 km sq
41,543 km sq
Coastline
0 km
451 km
Climate
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
