Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
13,817,479
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
52.570 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Lusaka
Amsterdam
Largest city
Lusaka (population: 1,267,440)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.453
0.958
GDP per capita
$1,600 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
80.6%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
2.8
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
15.2%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
14.000%
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
24 October 1964 (from UK)
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
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
