Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
11,689,696
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
58.440 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Amsterdam
Largest city
Kigali (population: 745,261)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.435
0.958
GDP per capita
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
70.4%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
50.9%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
republic; presidential, multiparty 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 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
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
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Area
26,338 km sq
41,543 km sq
Coastline
0 km
451 km
Climate
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
