CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Netherlands


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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 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 EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 7,643 sq km land: 33,883 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: other: 72.32% (2001) permanent crops: 0.97% !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: !| Geography - note:
 * Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
 * 52 30 N, 5 45 E
 * Europe
 * total: 41,526 sq km
 * slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
 * total: 1,027 km
 * 451 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
 * mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
 * lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
 * natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
 * arable land: 26.71%
 * 5,650 sq km (1998 est.)
 * flooding
 * 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
 * party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
 * located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,598,706; female 5,459,936) 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 953,370; female 1,321,679) (2004 est.) !| Median age: male: 37.9 years female: 39.6 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 76.15 years female: 81.34 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Dutch !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 99% (2000 est.) male: NA female: NA
 * 16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,527,316; female 1,457,192)
 * total: 38.7 years
 * 0.57% (2004 est.)
 * 11.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 2.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 * total: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 78.68 years
 * 1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * 0.2% (2001 est.)
 * 17,000 (2001 est.)
 * less than 100 (2003 est.)
 * noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
 * Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
 * Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)
 * Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Dependent areas: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy !| Legislative branch: elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held May 2007) election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5 !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s): Boston consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300 chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
 * constitutional monarchy
 * Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
 * 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
 * Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
 * 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it was not until 1648 that Spain recognized their independence)
 * Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
 * adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002
 * 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
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
 * 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)
 * Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
 * Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Gerard van AS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Jozias VAN AARTSEN]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties
 * Netherlands Trade Union Federation (FNV) (consisting of a merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
 * AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
 * three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 24.4% services: 73.1% (2003 est.) !| Investment (gross fixed): !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: 25.1% (1994) !| Distribution of family income - Gini index: !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $249.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003) !| Public debt: !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Oil - proved reserves: !| Natural gas - production: !| Natural gas - consumption: !| Natural gas - exports: !| Natural gas - imports: !| Natural gas - proved reserves: !| Current account balance: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: !| Economic aid - donor: !| Currency: note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget position, and is moving toward the EU 3% of GDP budget deficit limit.
 * purchasing power parity - $461.4 billion (2003 est.)
 * -0.7% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 2.5%
 * 20.1% of GDP (2003)
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: 2.8%
 * 32.6 (1994)
 * 2.1% (2003 est.)
 * 7.46 million (2003)
 * agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73% (1998 est.)
 * 5.3% (2003 est.)
 * revenues: $237.1 billion
 * 54.1% of GDP (2003)
 * grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
 * agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
 * -2.1% (2003 est.)
 * 88.32 billion kWh (2001)
 * 99.42 billion kWh (2001)
 * 4.209 billion kWh (2001)
 * 21.49 billion kWh (2001)
 * 46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
 * 2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
 * 88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)
 * 77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 1.693 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
 * $12.09 billion (2003)
 * $253.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
 * Germany 25.3%, Belgium 12.6%, France 10.2%, UK 10.1%, Italy 6%, US 4.5% (2003)
 * $217.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing
 * Germany 18.2%, Belgium 10%, US 8%, UK 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 5% (2003)
 * $21.44 billion (2003)
 * ODA, $3.3 billion (2002 est.)
 * euro (EUR)
 * EUR
 * euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five major network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004) !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 10.004 million (2002)
 * 12.5 million (2003)
 * general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
 * AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)
 * 15.3 million (1996)
 * 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
 * 8.1 million (1997)
 * .nl
 * 4,518,226 (2004)
 * 52 (2000)
 * 8.5 million (2003)
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!| Railways: standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2003) !| Highways: paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,650 km (1999) !| Waterways: !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: foreign-owned: Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 9, Germany 54, Ireland 14, Norway 9, Singapore 1, Sweden 19, Thailand 1, United Kingdom 31, United States 16 registered in other countries: 241 (2004 est.) by type: bulk 1, cargo 375, chemical tanker 59, combination bulk 1, container 71, liquefied gas 13, multi-functional large load carrier 15, passenger 12, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 37, roll on/roll off 14, short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 7 !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 !| Airports - with unpaved runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.) !| Heliports:
 * total: 2,808 km
 * total: 116,500 km
 * 5,046 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2004)
 * condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716 km (2004)
 * Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen
 * total: 635 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWT
 * 27 (2003 est.)
 * total: 20
 * total: 7
 * 1 (2003 est.)
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary, Defense Interservice Command
 * 20 years of age for an all volunteer force (May 2004)
 * males age 15-49: 4,070,043 (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 3,534,392 (2004 est.)
 * males: 97,624 (2004 est.)
 * $8,044.4 million (2003)
 * 1.6% (2003)
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