Statistical information The Netherlands 1998The%20Netherlands

Map of The Netherlands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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The Netherlands in the World
The Netherlands in the World

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The Netherlands - Introduction 1998
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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 1998
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Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map referenceEurope

Area
Total: 41,526 km²
Land: 33,889 km²
Water: 7,637 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 1,027 km
Border countries: (2) 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: 27%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 31%
Forests and woodland: 10%
Other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 5,600 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded

Geography
Note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)


The Netherlands - People 1998
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Population: 15,731,112 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)

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

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

Languages: Dutch

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,472,236; female 1,406,919)
15-64 years: 68% (male 5,457,225; female 5,268,376)
65 years and over: 14% (male 862,574; female 1,263,782) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 11.62 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.11 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 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
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Biodiversity

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 (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 5.17 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.01 years
Male: 75.14 years
Female: 81.03 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1998 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 can read and write
Total population: 99% (1979 est.)
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


The Netherlands - Government 1998
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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

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: (2) Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April

Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of 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 (born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of Queen BEATRIX: ead of
Government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994) and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the queen
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary, constitutional monarch; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the queen; vice prime ministers appointed by the queen
Note: there is a Council of State composed of the queen, crown prince, and councillors consulted by the executive on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: First Chamber_last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999); Second Chamber_last held 3 May 1994 (next to be held 6 May 1998)
Election results: First Chamber_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_VVD 23, CDA 19, PvdA 14, D'66 7, other 12; Second Chamber_percent of vote by party_PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other 16.5%; seats by party_PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are nominated for life by the crown

Political parties and leaders

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS (appointed 9 October 1997)
In the us chancery: 4,200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 244-5,300
In the us fax: [1] (202) 362-3,430
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH
From the us embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2,514 EJ, The Hague
From the us mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 9,715
From the us telephone: [31] (70) 310-9,209
From the us fax: [31] (70) 361-4,688
From the us consulates general: Amsterdam

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 1998
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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 affecting most aspects of economic activity. Industrial activity features food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% 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 US and France. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending have been accompanied by sustained growth in output and employment. Growth in 1998 should be a brisk 3.5%. The Dutch will almost certainly qualify for the first wave of countries entering the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3.25% (1997)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $22,000 (1997 est.)

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4%
Industry: 18%
Services: 78% (1996)

Agriculture products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics

Industrial production growth rate: 3.75% (1997)

Labor force
Total: 6.6 million (1997)
By occupation services: 75%
By occupation manufacturing and construction: 23%
By occupation agriculture: 2% (1996)
Labor force

Unemployment rate: 6.9% (1997)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $103.4 billion
Expenditures: $112.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1998 draft)

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:$203.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodoties: manufactures and machinery, chemicals; processed food and tobacco, agricultural products
Partners: EU 80% (Germany 29%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%, UK 10%), Central and Eastern Europe 4%, US 3% (1996)

Imports: total value:$1.791 trillion (c.i.f., 1997)
Commodoties: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
Partners: EU 64% (Germany 22%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 10%), Central and Eastern Europe 4%, US 8% (1996)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $0

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1_2.0462 (January 1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994), 1.8573 (1993)


The Netherlands - Energy 1998
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Electricity
Capacity: 20.09 million kW (1996 est.)
Production: 82 billion kWh (1996 est.)
Consumption per capita: 4,968 kWh (1996 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


The Netherlands - Communication 1998
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Telephones: 8.272 million (1983 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay
Domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay
International: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations_3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


The Netherlands - Military 1998
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $8.2 billion (1995)
Percent of gdp: 2.1% (1995)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


The Netherlands - Transportation 1998
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 28 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 19
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
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
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 9
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)

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

Railways
Total: 2,739 km
Standard gauge: 2,739 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1996)

Roadways

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

Merchant marine
Total: 453 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,141,630 GRT/3,597,975 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 269, chemical tanker 33, combination bulk 2, container 44, liquefied gas tanker 16, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 7, oil tanker 28, passenger 6, refrigerated cargo 28, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 3
Note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry of Netherlands Antilles (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


The Netherlands - Transnational issues 1998
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Disputes international: none

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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