Background: The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, thenetherlands regained its independence in 1813. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. thenetherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, thenetherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba -- became special municipalities in thenetherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curaçao joined thenetherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of thenetherlands. In 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as 'short as possible and as long as needed.'

Area
Total: 41,543 km²
Land: 33,893 km²
Water: 7,650 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 1,053 km
Border countries (2): (2) Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km

Coastline: 451 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

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

Elevation
Highest point: Mount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of thenetherlands following the dissolution of thenetherlands Antilles) 862 m
Lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
Mean elevation: 30 m
Note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 30% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Other: 35.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,969 km² (2019)

Major rivers: Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: flooding
Volcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as 'The Quill,' is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada

Geography
Note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), and Scheldt (Schelde)); about a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level

Population
Total: 17,772,378 (2024 est.)
Male: 8,844,100
Female: 8,928,278
Distribution: an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country
Growth rate: 0.39% (2024 est.)

Languages: Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province)
Major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status; Dutch is the official language of the three special municipalities of the Caribbean Netherlands; English is a recognized regional language on Sint Eustatius and Saba; Papiamento is a recognized regional language on Bonaire

Religions: Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of thenetherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 1,384,142/female 1,312,455)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 5,750,034/female 5,640,691)
65 years and over: 20.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,709,924/female 1,975,132)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 56 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 23.7 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 42.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 40.9 years
Female: 43.5 years

Population growth rate: 0.39% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 10.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country

Urbanization
Urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 80.3 years
Female: 83.5 years

Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3.6% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Amsterdam
Geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Time zone note: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4
Etymology: the name is derived from the Dutch name of the local river, the Amstel, and the Dutch word dam, which has the same meaning in English; the river name is said to derive from the Germanic words ama (current) and stelle (place)
Note: The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie), 3 public entities* (openbare lichamen, singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko, singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Note 1: thenetherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of thenetherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, are Caribbean islands; all four are considered equal partners, but thenetherlands makes up about 98% of the Kingdom's total land area and population and administers most of the Kingdom's affairs
Note 2: although Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are officially incorporated into the country of thenetherlands under the broad designation of 'public entities', Dutch government sources often call them 'special municipalities;' Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands

Legal system: civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
Head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers are also appointed by the monarch
Note: Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF resigned on 3 June 2025 after a party withdrew from his governing coalition, but he will continue in a caretaker capacity until new elections are held, probably in the fall of 2025

Legislative branch
Legislature name: States General (Staten-Generaal)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of bright red (top), white, and cobalt blue

National anthem
Title: 'Het Wilhelmus' (The William)
Lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
History: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:
Note: includes one site in Curaçao

Real gdp growth rate: 1% (2024 est.); 0.1% (2023 est.); 5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1% (2024 est.); 0.1% (2023 est.); 5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 42.1% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 88.5% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -77.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Industry: 17.9% (2024 est.)
Services: 70.3% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: -1.5% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 10.315 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3.6% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3.6% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $451.11 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $455.334 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $1.032 trillion (2024 est.); $1.022 trillion (2023 est.); $1.007 trillion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $884.154 billion (2024 est.); $893.132 billion (2023 est.); $915.294 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 59.982 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 137.747 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 188.191 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 23.701 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 112.037 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 52.454 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 4.262 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 21.2 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 7.83 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2025 est.); 2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 44 (2025)
Note: Includes 3 airports in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Heliports: 194 (2025)

Railways
Total: 3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified

Merchant marine
Total: 1,187 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 36, general cargo 521, oil tanker 27, other 592