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Background: The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a 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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Common Name: Netherlands
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Local Official Name: Nederland
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Abbreviated Name: Kingdom of the Netherlands
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Official Name: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
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Official Script Name: Netherlands
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Local Common Name: Netherlands
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Former Name: Netherlands
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Queen BEATRIX
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Government Type: constitutional monarchy
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Independence: 1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence
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Constitution: adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 1983 February 17
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National Holiday: Queen's Day , 30 April
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International Organization Participation: AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), 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, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
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Administrative Divisions: 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
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Dependent Areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
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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
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005); note - Prime Minister BALKENENDE tendered his resignation on 30 June 2006
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:
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 25 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held 22 November 2006)
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:
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
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Party Leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Ernst Hirsch BALLIN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Lousewies VAN DER LAAN]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Ton VAN DILLEN]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Pieter WINSEMIUS]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering
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Location of Netherlands: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
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Continent: Europe
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Land Area Total: 41,526 sq km
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Region: Western Europe |
Land Area Land: 33,883 sq km
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Capitol City: Amsterdam
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Land Area Water: 7,643 sq km
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Current: +1
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Latitude: 052 30 N
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Border Boundary Land: 1,027 km
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Longitude: 005 45 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 451 km
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Arable Land: 21.96 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.77 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 322 m
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Location: Vaalserberg
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Lowest Elevation: -7 m
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Location: Zuidplaspolder
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Largest City in Netherlands: Amsterdam
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Amsterdam Largest City Population: 1,137,000
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Threatened Species: 28
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Environmental 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
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Environmental Agreements: 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
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Irrigated Land: 5,650
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Bordering Countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
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Natural Resources: natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
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Geographical Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
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Comparative Area of Netherlands: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
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Netherlands's Geography: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Netherlands.
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General Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
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Natural Hazards: flooding
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Economic Overview: 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 2% 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 2001-05, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average.
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GDP: $497,900,000,000 USD
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Currency: euro
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GDP per Capita: $30,300 USD
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Currency Code: EUR
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GDP Growth Rate: 1.50 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% EUR
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Currency Exchange Rate History: euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175
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GDP of Agriculture: 2.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 19.00 %
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GDP of Services: 79.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 1.70 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 6.60 %
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Tourism: 9,881,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 2.50 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $291,800,000,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 22.90 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $303,700,000,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 95,000,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 3,800,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 101,600,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 20,800,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 90.27%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 4.24%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.16%
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Other Electricity Production: 5.33%
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Oil Production: 94,870 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 73,130,000,000 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 920,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 50,400,000,000 cu m
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Oil Exports: 1,418,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 49,280,000,000 cu m
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Oil Imports: 2,284,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 20,780,000,000 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 88,060,000 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 1,756,000,000,000 cu m
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External Debt: $1,645,000,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $4,000,000,000 USD
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Agricultural Products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
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Primary Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
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Industrial Growth Rate: -1.40 %
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Import Amount in USD: $326,600,000,000 USD - machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing
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Import Partners: Germany 16.6%, Belgium 9.3%, China 8.8%, US 7.6%, UK 5.8%, France 4.7%, Russia 4.4%
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Export Amount in USD: $365,100,000,000 USD - machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
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Export Partners: Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.1%, Italy 5.7%, US 4.3%, Spain 4.1%
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GINI Index: 30.90%
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Labor Force Number of People: 7,530,000
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Labor Force by Occupations: services 79%, industry 19%, agriculture 2%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 253 |
Number of People with Radios: 15,300,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 21 |
Number of People with Televisions: 8,100,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 7,600,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 15,834,000 |
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Internet Service Providers: 6,781,729 |
Internet Users: 10,806,328 |
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Internet Country Code: .nl |
Newspapers: 306 |
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Two Letter Country Code: NL |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 31 |
Electricity Voltage: 230 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
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)
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Highways: 104,850 km |
Railways: 2,808 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 8,882 km |
Waterways: 6,183 km
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Airports: 20 |
Heliports: 1
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Motor Vehicles: 440 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 181,370,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 10.40 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 558 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,042,775 GRT/5,016,265 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 345, chemical tanker 29, container 59, liquefied gas 12, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 157 (Australia 1, Belgium 2, Denmark 9, Finland 13, Germany 56, Ireland 10, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 7, Sweden 26, UK 19, US 13)
registered in other countries: 222 (Antigua and Barbuda 14, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 24, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 4, Cyprus 18, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 29, Luxembourg 2, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands Antilles 54, Norway 3, Panama 21, Philippines 19, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 2, UK 3, US 4, unknown 1)
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Ports and Harbors: Amsterdam, Groningen, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen, Zaanstad
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Population: 16 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 10.90 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 395.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 8.68 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 0.49% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.66 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 1,515,123 |
Population Female 0-14: 1,445,390 |
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Population Male 15-64: 5,656,448 |
Population Female 15-64: 5,525,481 |
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Population Male 65+: 994,723 |
Population Female 65+: 1,354,296 |
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Population 0-14: 18.00% |
Literacy Rate: 99.00% |
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Population 15-64: 67.80% |
Literacy rate of Males: 99.00% |
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Population 65+: 14.20% |
Literacy rate of Females: 99.00% |
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Population that is Male: 49.00
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Population that is Female: 51.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 72.96 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 4.96 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 76.39 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 81.59 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.20%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 19,000
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 2.72
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Nationality: DUTCH
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Ethnic Groups: Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians)
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Primary Language: Dutch
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Other Languages: Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
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Primary Religion: Roman Catholic
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Other Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%, other 2.5%, none 41%
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Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes naval air and marine corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht or KLu), Royal Military Police, Defense Interservice Command (DICO)
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 20 years
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Manpower Available: 7,028,295 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 5,643,186 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 195,752 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 1.60
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Netherlands Spa and Resort Directory
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Netherlands Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Netherlands Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Netherlands City Information Game Earn Real Money
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