Statistical information The Netherlands 1996The%20Netherlands

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The Netherlands in the World
The Netherlands in the World

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The Netherlands - Introduction 1996
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Background: The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern industrialized nation the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC.


The Netherlands - Geography 1996
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Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 37,330 km²
Land: 33,920 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries: Total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: Mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders; some hills in southeast

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
Extremes highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m

Natural resources:
Natural gas
Petroleum
Fertile soil

Land use

Land use
Arable land: 26%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 32%
Forests and woodland: 9%
Other: 32%

Irrigated land: 5,500 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


The Netherlands - People 1996
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Population:
15,568,034 (July 1996 est.)
15,452,903 (July 1995 est.)

Growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.) 0.52% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
Adjective: Dutch

Ethnic groups:
Dutch 96%
Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)


LanguagesDutch

Religions:
Roman Catholic 34%
Protestant 25%
Muslim 3%
Other 2%
Unaffiliated 36% (1991)


Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years:
18% (male 1,457,694; female 1,393,402) (1996)
18% (male 1,445,451; female 1,382,057) (1995)

15-64 years:
68% (male 5,412,402; female 5,228,579) (1996)
68% (male 5,369,018; female 5,184,224) (1995)

65 years and over:
14% (male 836,934; female 1,239,023) (July 1996 est.)
14% (male 833,817; female 1,238,336) (July 1995 est.)


Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.) 0.52% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 12.08 births/1000 population (1996 est.) 12.42 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.) 8.48 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.25 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.) 1.29 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Current issues Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
International agreements: party to_Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified_Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
International agreements note: Located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
All ages:
0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:4.9 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
6 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)


Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.73 years (1996) 77.95 years (1995)
Male: 74.91 years (1996) 74.9 years (1995)
Female: 80.68 years (1996 est.) 81.17 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)


Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1979 est.)
Total population: 99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


The Netherlands - Government 1996
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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Conventional short form: Netherlands
Local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Local short form: Nederland (Pronunciation)

Government type: Constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular_provincie; Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland Dependent Areas:Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Dependent areas

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 17 February 1983

Legal system: Civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April 1967)
Head of government: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August 1994); Vice Prime Minister Hans DIJKSTAL and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994)
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: Bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) First Chamber (Eerste Kamer):members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms; election last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(75 total) number of seats by party NA Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer):Members directly elected for four-year terms; elections last held on 3 May 1994 (next to be held in May 1998; results_PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other 16.5%; seats_(150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad), justices are nominated for life by the crown from a list compiled by the Second Chamber of the Staten Generaal

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation

Flag descriptionflag of The%20Netherlands: Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


The Netherlands - Economy 1996
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Economy overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs a.htming most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanizing most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechaniz.htmricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Indeed the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the U.S. and France. High unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate:
3.2% (1999 est.)
3.7% (1998 est.)
3.3% (1997)
3.3% (1996)
2.6% (1985-1995)


Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $19,500 (1995 est.)
$17940 1994 est. GDP composition by sector:

agriculture 3.4%
industry 26.9%
services 69.7% (1994)


Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominates; crops_grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages of grain, fats, and oils

Industries:
Agroindustries
Metal and engineering products
Electrical machinery and equipment
Chemicals
Petroleum
Fishing
Construction
Microelectronics


Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1995 est.)
Growth rate -1.5% (1993 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP


Labor force: 6.4 million (1993)
By occupation services: 73%
By occupation manufacturing and construction: 23%
By occupation agriculture: 4% (1994)
Labor force

Unemployment rate:
5.2% (1997)
6.3% (1996)
6.9% (1995)
7.1% (1994)
6.6% (1993)


Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $109.9 billion
Expenditures: $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1992 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: Calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports:
total value. $146 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
$153 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:
Metal products
Chemicals
Processed food and tobacco
Agricultural products

Partners:
EU 73% (Germany 28%
Belgium-Luxembourg 13%
U.K. 9%)
Central and Eastern Europe 2%
U.S. 5% (1994)


Imports
Total value:
$133 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
$137 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Commodities:
Raw materials and semifinished products
Consumer goods
Transportation equipment
Crude oil
Food products

Partners:
EU 56% (Germany 21%
Belgium-Luxembourg 11%
U.K. 8.5%)
U.S. 8.6% (1994)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $0

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


The Netherlands - Energy 1996
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Electricity
Capacity: 17,520,000 kW
Production: 72.4 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 5,100 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


The Netherlands - Communication 1996
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Telephones

Telephone system: 8.272 million (1983) telephones; highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay links
Local: nationwide mobile phone systems
Intercity: microwave radio relay
International: 5 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earth station

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


The Netherlands - Military 1996
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure:
$8.2 billion, 2.1% of GDP (1995)
$7.1 billion, 2.2% of GDP (1994)


Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


The Netherlands - Transportation 1996
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 29
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 8
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (1995)
With paved runways under 914 m: 8

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

Pipelines: Crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger

Merchant marine
Total: 352 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,681,133 GRT/3,379,762 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 206, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 3, container 34, liquefied gas tanker 13, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 38, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
Note: many Dutch-owned ships are operating under the registry of Netherlands Antilles (1995 est.)

Ports and terminals


The Netherlands - Transnational issues 1996
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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: Important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs


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