Economy Nauru
Economy - overview:Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exportsof phosphates, but reserves are now depleted. Few other resourcesexist with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia,its former occupier and later major source of support. Therehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income fromphosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of theexhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts ofphosphate income have been invested in trust funds to help cushionthe transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. As a resultof heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faces virtualbankruptcy. To cut costs the government has called for a freeze onwages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments,privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of someoverseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged theregistration of offshore banks and corporations. In 2004 thedeterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital plantcontinued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government andeconomy afloat has substantially mounted. Few comprehensivestatistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDPvarying widely.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-3.6% (1993)
Labor force - by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation
Unemployment rate:0% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $23.4 millionexpenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA(FY95/96)
Agriculture - products:coconuts
Industries:phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:30 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:27.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$18 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:phosphates
Exports - partners:Japan 42.3%, India 38.5%, South Korea 7.7% (2003)
Imports:$31 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Imports - partners:Australia 67.9%, Indonesia 10.7%, US 7.1% (2003)
Debt - external:$33.3 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.) (2000 est.)
Currency:Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.2641 (2002)1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Nauru
Telephones - main lines in use:1,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephonecommunication provided via Australian facilitiesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:500 (1997)
Internet country code:.nr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:300 (2002)
Transportation Nauru
Highways: total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Nauru
Merchant marine:none
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Nauru
Military branches:no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,275 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,810 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement,defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Nauru
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:offshore banking recently stopped, remains on Financial Action TaskForce Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continuedfailure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Navassa Island
Introduction Navassa Island
Background:This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for itsguano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse,built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of NavassaIsland transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of theInterior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it asa unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year itbecame a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditionshave continued.
Geography Navassa Island
Location:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of TiburonPeninsula of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 5.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 5.4 sq km
Area - comparative:about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:8 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:marine, tropical
Terrain:raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed byvertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
Natural resources:guano
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at GuantanamoBay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock but with enough grassland to supportgoat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
People Navassa Island
Population:uninhabitednote: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island(July 2004 est.)
Government Navassa Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish andWildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the CaribbeanIslands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; inSeptember 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance ofNavassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southernside of the island; there has also been a private claim advancedagainst the island
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Navassa Island
Economy - overview:Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling activities withinrefuge waters.
Transportation Navassa Island
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Navassa Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Navassa Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Nepal
Introduction Nepal
Background:In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of ruleby hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system ofgovernment. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracywithin the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoistinsurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threateningto bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-firebetween the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003.In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family,including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for"incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and weresubsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoinginsurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, theking in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected PrimeMinister who formed a four-party coalition government, which theking subsequently tasked with paving the way for elections to beheld in spring of 2005.
Geography Nepal
Location:Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 140,800 sq kmwater: 4,000 sq kmland: 136,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropicalsummers and mild winters in south
Terrain:Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hillregion, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 mhighest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999)
Natural resources:quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits oflignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 21.68% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 77.68% (2001)
Irrigated land:11,350 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and faminedepending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summermonsoons
Environment - current issues:deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives);contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agriculturalrunoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicularemissions
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location between China and India; containseight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - theworld's tallest - on the border with China
People Nepal
Population:27,070,666 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.4% (male 5,500,698; female 5,151,705)15-64 years: 57% (male 7,912,553; female 7,518,430)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 483,998; female 503,282) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 19.9 yearsmale: 19.7 yearsfemale: 20 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.23% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:31.96 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.66 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 68.77 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 70.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 67.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 59.4 yearsmale: 59.73 yearsfemale: 59.06 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.29 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:58,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa,Tharu, and others (1995)
Religions:Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
Languages:Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozenother languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many ingovernment and business also speak English (1995)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 45.2%male: 62.7%female: 27.6% (2003 est.)
Government Nepal
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepalconventional short form: Nepal
Government type:parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Capital:Kathmandu
Administrative divisions:14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri,Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali,Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
National holiday:Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)
Constitution:9 November 1990
Legal system:based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to thethrone 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRABir Bikram Shah)head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 3 June2004); note - Prime Minister THAPA resigned 7 May 2004cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarchnote: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting atthe royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of mostof the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, isbelieved to have been responsible for the shootings before fatallywounding himself; immediately following the shootings and whilestill clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died threedays later and was succeeded by his uncle
Legislative branch:
: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) note: Nepal's Parliament was dissolved on 22 May 2002 election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1 elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next election NA 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed bythe monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; theother judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation ofthe Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [MadhavKumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP(also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA,chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [ChitraBAHADUR, chairman]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP [BhadriPrasad MANDAL, acting party president]; Nepal Workers and PeasantsParty or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; NepaliCongress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; SushilKOIRALA, general secretary]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [SherBahadur DEUBA, president]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [NA leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRAHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist, chief negotiator]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation:AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, MICAH, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC,SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kedar Bhakta SHRESTHAFAX: [1] (202) 667-5534consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 667-4550chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTYembassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandumailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [977] (1) 411179FAX: [977] (1) 419963
Flag description:red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlappingright triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylizedmoon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
Economy Nepal
Economy - overview:Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in theworld with 42% of its population living below the poverty line.Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihoodfor over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP.Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agriculturalproduce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Securityconcerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict and the 11 September2001 terrorist attacks in the US have led to a decrease in tourism,a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope forexploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recentforeign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade orinvestment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because ofthe small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, itsremoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife,and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The internationalcommunity's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's developmentbudget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likelycontinue as a major ingredient of growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $38.29 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.7 (FY95/96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 10 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 81%, industry 3%, services 16%
Unemployment rate:47% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $665 millionexpenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(FY99/00 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Industries:tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseedmills; cigarette; cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:8.7% (FY99/00)
Electricity - production:1.755 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.764 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:227 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$568 million f.o.b., but does not include unrecorded border tradewith India (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners:India 50.7%, US 26%, Germany 6.6% (2003)
Imports:$1.419 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners:India 22.9%, China 13.4%, UAE 12.5%, Singapore 7.1%, Saudi Arabia5.5%, Kuwait 4.6% (2003)
Debt - external:$2.7 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$424 million (FY00/01)
Currency:Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code:NPR
Exchange rates:Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 76.1414 (2003), 77.8766 (2002),74.9492 (2001), 71.0938 (2000), 68.2394 (1999)
Fiscal year:16 July - 15 July
Communications Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:371,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:50,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fairradiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephonenetworkdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications;microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)
Radios:840,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:130,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.np
Internet hosts:917 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:80,000 (2002)
Transportation Nepal
Railways: total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 13,223 km paved: 4,073 km unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:46 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 9over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 371,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)
Military Nepal
Military branches:Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service),Nepalese Police Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,865,849 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,566,576 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 308,776 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$295 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Nepal
Disputes - international:joint border commission continues to work on small disputedsections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricterborder regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegalcross-border activities
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 104,235 (Bhutan)IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forcesand Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic andinternational drug markets; transit point for opiates from SoutheastAsia to the West
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Netherlands
Introduction Netherlands
Background:The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgiumseceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remainedneutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation byGermany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, theNetherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. Thecountry was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), andparticipated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Geography Netherlands
Location:Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 41,526 sq kmwater: 7,643 sq kmland: 33,883 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills insoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 mhighest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel,arable land
Land use: arable land: 26.71% other: 72.32% (2001) permanent crops: 0.97%
Irrigated land:5,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, andnutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution fromvehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-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-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, 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
Geography - note:located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas orMeuse, and Schelde)
People Netherlands
Population:16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,527,316; female 1,457,192)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:total: 38.7 yearsmale: 37.9 yearsfemale: 39.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.57% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:11.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.68 yearsmale: 76.15 yearsfemale: 81.34 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups:Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainlyTurks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Religions:Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%,unaffiliated 40% (1998)
Languages:Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (2000 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government Netherlands
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlandsconventional short form: Netherlandslocal long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlandenlocal short form: Nederland
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions:12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe,Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg,Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas:Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence:23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countriesconclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it was not until1648 that Spain recognized their independence)
National holiday:Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accessionto the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution:adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002
Legal system:civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitutiondoes not permit judicial review of acts of the States General;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir ApparentWILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following SecondChamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of amajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by themonarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarchnote: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heirapparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabineton legislative and administrative policy
Legislative branch:bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the FirstChamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by thecountry's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the SecondChamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be heldMay 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to beheld May 2007)election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, SocialistParty 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 PimFortuyn 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 Party8, D66 6, other 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by themonarch)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques MarcelVERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 orD66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party orPvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Gerard van AS]; People's Partyfor Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Jozias VAN AARTSEN];Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Netherlands Trade Union Federation (FNV) (consisting of a merger ofSocialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade UnionFederation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of Middle and HighPersonnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant EmployersAssociations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinationalfirms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
International organization participation: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
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAMconsulate(s): Bostonconsulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 362-3430telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBELembassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Haguemailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similarto 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
Economy Netherlands
Economy - overview:The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which dependsheavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrialrelations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable currentaccount surplus, and an important role as a European transportationhub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing,chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highlymechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the laborforce but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industryand for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners,began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The countrycontinues to be one of the leading European nations for attractingforeign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the fouryears before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above theEU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budgetposition, and is moving toward the EU 3% of GDP budget deficit limit.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $461.4 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.5% industry: 24.4% services: 73.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.6 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:7.46 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $237.1 billionexpenditures: $249.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:54.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electricalmachinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction,microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:-2.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:88.32 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:99.42 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:4.209 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:21.49 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.693 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$12.09 billion (2003)
Exports:$253.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 25.3%, Belgium 12.6%, France 10.2%, UK 10.1%, Italy 6%, US4.5% (2003)
Imports:$217.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs,clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 18.2%, Belgium 10%, US 8%, UK 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 5%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$21.44 billion (2003)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $3.3 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:10.004 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12.5 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed and well maintaineddomestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellulartelephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five majornetwork operators utilizing the third generation of the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM)international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)
Radios:15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations:21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:8.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nl
Internet hosts:4,518,226 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):52 (2000)
Internet users:8.5 million (2003)
Transportation Netherlands
Railways: total: 2,808 km standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 116,500 kmpaved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
Waterways:5,046 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem,IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen
Merchant marine:total: 635 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWTforeign-owned: Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 9, Germany 54, Ireland14, Norway 9, Singapore 1, Sweden 19, Thailand 1, United Kingdom 31,United States 16registered 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 carrier15, passenger 12, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 37, rollon/roll off 14, short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 7
Airports:27 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 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:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2003 est.)
Military Netherlands
Military branches:Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval AirService and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, RoyalConstabulary, Defense Interservice Command
Military manpower - military age and obligation:20 years of age for an all volunteer force (May 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,070,043 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,534,392 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 97,624 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$8,044.4 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Netherlands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and othersynthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashishentering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financialsector vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Netherlands Antilles
Introduction Netherlands Antilles
Background:Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacaowas hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity(and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20thcentury with the construction of oil refineries to service the newlydiscovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin isshared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten andis part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion is calledSaint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe.
Geography Netherlands Antilles
Location:Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includesCuracao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of theVirgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 960 sq kmnote: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and SintMaarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)water: 0 sq kmland: 960 sq km
Area - comparative:more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and arerarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius aresubject to hurricanes from July to October
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are dividedgeographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, SintEustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern)group (Bonaire and Curacao)
People Netherlands Antilles
Population:218,126 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.5% (male 27,387; female 26,094)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 70,024; female 76,552)65 years and over: 8.3% (male 7,443; female 10,626) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 32.1 yearsmale: 30.6 yearsfemale: 33.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.86% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:15.36 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.6 yearsmale: 73.37 yearsfemale: 77.95 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.02 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups:mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Religions:Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-Englishdialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.7%male: 96.7%female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
Government Netherlands Antilles
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Netherlands Antilleslocal long form: noneformer: Curacao and Dependencieslocal short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internalaffairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defenseand foreign affairs
Government type:parliamentary
Capital:Willemstad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accessionto the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution:29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, asamended
Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system with some English common lawinfluence
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1July 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Etienne YS (since 3 June 2004)elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed bythe monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime ministerby the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be heldby NA 2006)note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, PLKP, DP St. Maarten, UPBonaire, WIPM Saba, DP Statiacabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)