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 20 October, 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. Citing dissatisfaction with the government'slack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency, the king inFebruary 2005 dissolved the government and assumed power.
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 kmland: 136,800 sq kmwater: 4,000 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:Tarai 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
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:27,676,547 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39% (male 5,575,157/female 5,221,794)15-64 years: 57.3% (male 8,137,410/female 7,720,691)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 499,039/female 522,456) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.07 yearsmale: 19.91 yearsfemale: 20.24 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.2% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:31.45 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 66.98 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 65.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 59.8 yearsmale: 60.09 yearsfemale: 59.5 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:61,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%,unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Religions:Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9%(2001 census)note: only official Hindu state in the world
Languages:Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana)5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%,unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)note: many in government and business also speak English
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; note - thePrime Minister resigned in Februrary 2005cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation ofthe prime minister; note - the King dissolved the Cabinet inFebruary 2005elections: 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) elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next election NA); 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
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]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA,president]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, partypresident; Sushil KOIRALA, general secretary]; Nepal Sadbhavana(Goodwill) Party or NSP [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, acting partypresident]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan ManBIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [leader NA]
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, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kedar Bhakta SHRESTHAchancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534consulate(s) general: New York
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 40% 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 have led to a decreasein tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerablescope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areasof recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign tradeor investment 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$39.53 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40% (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.)
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.)
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:2.054 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.5% hydro: 91.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.005 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:142 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:237 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
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 47.4%, US 22.7%, Germany 8.4% (2004)
Imports:$1.419 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners:India 46.3%, China 10.8%, UAE 9.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004)
Debt - external:$2.7 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$424 million (FY00/01)
Currency (code):Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code:NPR
Exchange rates:Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003),77.877 (2002), 74.949 (2001), 71.094 (2000)
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 (2004)
Highways: total: 13,223 km paved: 4,073 km unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
Airports: 46 (2004 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 service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,107,091 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4.193 million (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 308,031 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$99.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2004)
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 20 October, 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 kmland: 33,883 sq kmwater: 7,643 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% permanent crops: 0.97% other: 72.32% (2001)
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:16,407,491 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.1% (male 1,523,316/female 1,453,232)15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,627,007/female 5,491,802)65 years and over: 14.1% (male 974,037/female 1,338,097) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 39.04 yearsmale: 38.22 yearsfemale: 39.9 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.53% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:11.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.73 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.81 yearsmale: 76.25 yearsfemale: 81.51 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:19,000 (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) (1999est.)
Religions:Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%,other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)
Languages:Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (2000 est.)male: NA%female: 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 Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005)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 EENENNAAMchancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Yorkconsulate(s): Boston
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 in2001-04, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the fouryears before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above theEU average.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$481.1 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $29,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 24.5% services: 73.1% (2004 est.)
Labor force:7.53 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:6% (2004 est.)
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):1.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $256.9 billionexpenditures: $274.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:55.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
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:0.8% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:90.61 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.3% other: 5.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:100.7 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:4.5 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:20.9 billion kWh (2002)
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:$19.9 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$293.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 25%, Belgium 12.4%, UK 10.1%, France 9.9%, Italy 6%, US4.3% (2004)
Imports:$252.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs,clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 17.9%, Belgium 9.9%, US 7.9%, China 7.4%, UK 6.4%, France4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$21.44 billion (2003)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $4 billion (2003 est.)
Currency (code):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 - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
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) (2004)
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, Groningen, Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen,Zaanstad
Merchant marine:total: 558 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWTby type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 361, chemical tanker 32, container48, liquefied gas 13, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 14, petroleumtanker 14, refrigerated cargo 32, roll on/roll off 15, specializedtanker 4foreign-owned: 139 (Bahamas 5, Belgium 2, Canada 1, Denmark 4,Finland 7, Germany 62, Ireland 13, Norway 9, Sweden 19, UnitedKingdom 6, United States 11)registered in other countries: 223 (2005)
Airports:27 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2004 est.)
Military Netherlands
Military branches:Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval AirService and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (KoninklijkeLuchtmacht, KLu), Royal Constabulary, Defense Interservice Command(DICO) (2004)
Military service age and obligation:20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 3,557,918 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 2,856,691 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 99,934 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9.408 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2004)
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 20 October, 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 (France).
Geography Netherlands Antilles
Location:Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed offive islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast ofVenezuela, and St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius lie east of theUS Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 960 sq kmland: 960 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and SintMaarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
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:219,958 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.2% (male 27,302/female 26,002)15-64 years: 67.3% (male 70,838/female 77,148)65 years and over: 8.5% (male 7,673/female 10,995) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 32.46 yearsmale: 30.86 yearsfemale: 34.01 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.82% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.03 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.83 yearsmale: 73.58 yearsfemale: 78.2 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2 children born/woman (2005 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 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-DayAdventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, otherChristian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%(2001 census)
Languages:Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
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: nonelocal short form: Nederlandse Antillenformer: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; fullautonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Governmentresponsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:parliamentary
Capital:Willemstad; note - located on Curacao, the largest of the islands
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)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)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 Statia
Legislative branch:unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St.Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held in 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP St. M 2, UP Bonaire 2, WIPM 1, DPnote: the government of Prime Minister Etienne YS is a coalition ofseveral parties; current government formed after collapse of FOL ledgovernment on 4 April 2004
Judicial branch:Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Etienne YS]; C 93 [StanleyBROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; DemocraticParty of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; DemocraticParty of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS];Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [EricLODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA];National Alliance [William MARLIN]; National People's Party or PNP[Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [KennethGIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UP Bonaire [RamonsitoBOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.];People's Party or PAPU [Richard HODI]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK[Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL];Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA[Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp[Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI];Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers'Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO,WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSONconsulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacaomailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacaotelephone: [599] (9) 4613066FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Flag description:white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed ona vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed starsare arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; thefive stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao,Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy Netherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstaysof this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the pasteight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and awell-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in theregion. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the USand Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequatewater supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetaryproblems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an agingpopulation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.45 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force:89,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:15.6% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $710.8 millionexpenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1997 est.)
Agriculture - products:aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.005 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:934.3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$1.579 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:petroleum products
Exports - partners:US 20.4%, Panama 11.2%, Guatemala 8.8%, Haiti 7.1%, Bahamas, The5.6%, Honduras 4.2% (2004)
Imports:$2.233 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:Venezuela 51.1%, US 21.9%, Netherlands 5% (2004)
Debt - external:$1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued itssupport with $40 million (2000)
Currency (code):Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:ANG
Exchange rates:Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2004), 1.79(2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:81,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:81,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally adequate facilitiesdomestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksinternational: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (2004)
Televisions:69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.an
Internet hosts:119 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Netherlands Antilles
Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km
Ports and harbors:Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad
Merchant marine:total: 168 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,317,007 GRT/1,668,499 DWTby type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 23, cargo 72, chemical tanker2, container 21, liquefied gas 6, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 3,refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 2foreign-owned: 158 (Belgium 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Germany 57, HongKong 3, Netherlands 71, Peru 1, Sweden 9, Turkey 7, United Kingdom2, United States 1) (2005)
Airports:5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2038 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Netherlands Antilles
Military branches:National Guard, Police Force
Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for military recruitment; no conscription (July 2002)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 54,200 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 45,273 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 1,720 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Netherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US andEurope; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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