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
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
People ::Netherlands
Population:
16,783,092 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 1,485,873/female 1,416,999)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 5,720,387/female 5,604,014)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 1,070,496/female 1,418,230) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.8 years
male: 40 years
female: 41.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.39% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Birth rate:
10.3 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Death rate:
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Net migration rate:
2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.052 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 193 male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.55 years country comparison to the world: 34 male: 76.94 years
female: 82.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
18,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups:
Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%,Moroccan 2%, Caribbean 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, otherProtestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages:
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 45
Government ::Netherlands
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: The Hague is the seat of government; time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland,Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant(North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht,Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Dependent areas:
Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten
Independence:
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002
Legal system:
based on 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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 Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Maxime VERHAGEN (since 14 October 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy 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 to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 29 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); Second Chamber - last held 9 June 2010 (next to be held by May 2015)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 21, PvdA 14, VVD 14, Socialist Party 11, Christian Union 4, Green Left Party 4, D66 2, other 5; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 20.5%, PvdA 19.6%, PVV, 15.4%, CDA 13.6%, SP 9.8%, D66 6.9%, GL 6.7%, CU 3.2, other 4.3%; seats by party - VVD 31, PvdA 30, PVV 24, CDA 21, SP 15, D66 10, GL 10, CU 5, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime VERHAGEN]; ChristianUnion [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD];Green Left [Jolande SAP]; Labor Party or PvdA [Job COHEN]; Party forFreedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or PvdD[Marianne THIEME]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD[Mark RUTTE] (Liberal); Reformed Political Party of SGP [Kees VANDER STAAIJ]; Socialist Party [Emile ROEMER]; plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]; Confederationof Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES];Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [LoekHERMANS]; Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [AgnesJONGERIUS]; Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN];Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [RichardSTEENBORG]
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council(observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE,CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Regina "Renee" JONES-BOS
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fay HARTOG LEVIN
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use
National anthem:
name: "Het Wilhelmus" (The William)
lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
note: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century, making it the oldest national anthem in the world; also known as "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" (William of Nassau), it is in the form of an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza spells the name of the leader of the Dutch Revolt
Economy ::Netherlands
Economy - overview:
The Netherlands 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 only 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 has been one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the four largest investors in the US. After 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Netherlands' economy - which is highly open and dependent on foreign trade and financial services - was hard-hit by global economic crisis. Dutch GDP contracted 3.9% in 2009, while exports declined nearly 25% due to a sharp contraction in world demand. The Dutch financial sector has also suffered, due in part to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In response to turmoil in financial markets, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars into a third, to prevent further systemic risk. The government also sought to boost the domestic economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks for employers to retain workers, and expanding export credit facilities. The stimulus programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a government budget deficit of nearly 4.6% of GDP in 2009 and 5.6% in 2010 that contrasts sharply with a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2008. With unemployment weighing on private-sector consumption, the government of Prime Minister Mark RUTTE is likely to come under increased pressure to keep the budget deficit in check while promoting economic recovery.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$680.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $669 billion (2009 est.)
$696.1 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$770.3 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 -3.9% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $40,000 (2009 est.)
$41,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 24.9%
services: 72.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
7.86 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 18%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 4.8% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10.5% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.9 (2007) country comparison to the world: 107 32.6 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
18% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Public debt:
64.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 60.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 1.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 126 3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.01% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 9.66% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$368.1 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 12 $351.6 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$1.124 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $1.133 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.083 trillion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.824 trillion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$542.5 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 $387.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$956.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - production:
108.2 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - consumption:
124.1 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - exports:
10.56 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
15.45 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
57,190 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - consumption:
922,800 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Oil - exports:
1.66 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - imports:
2.426 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - production:
79.58 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - consumption:
48.6 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - exports:
55.59 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - imports:
24.6 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Current account balance:
$46.69 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $39.58 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$451.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $421.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 25.54%, Belgium 12.49%, France 9.27%, UK 8.17%, Italy 5.07%,US 3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$408.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $371.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.16%, China 11.58%, Belgium 8.68%, US 7.77%, UK 5.72%,Russia 4.47%, France 4.4% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$39.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (30 June 2010)
$3.733 trillion (31 December 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$687.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $654.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$950.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $932.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.32 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 26
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21.182 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 39
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) services
international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)
Broadcast media:
more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems that provide a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder operating in regional and local markets; 2 major nationwide commercial television companies, each with 3 or more stations, and a large number of commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations operating with a mix of public and private stations providing national or regional coverage (2008)
Internet country code:
.nl
Internet hosts:
12.607 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 10
Internet users:
14.872 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 27
Transportation ::Netherlands
Airports:
27 (2010) country comparison to the world: 125
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,816 km; oil 365 km; refined products 716 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,896 km country comparison to the world: 58 standard gauge: 2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 136,827 km (includes 2,582 km of expressways) (2008) country comparison to the world: 36
Waterways:
6,215 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2007) country comparison to the world: 22
Merchant marine:
total: 706 country comparison to the world: 15 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 464, carrier 21, chemical tanker 57, container 73, liquefied gas 19, passenger 17, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 21, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 217 (Australia 1, Denmark 36, Finland 14, France 2, Germany 92, Ireland 7, Italy 9, Japan 1, Norway 18, Sweden 18, UAE 4, US 15)
registered in other countries: 240 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Australia 1, Bahamas 22, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 24, Gibraltar 33, Liberia 35, Luxembourg 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 16, former Netherlands Antilles 52, Panama 8, Paraguay 1, Philippines 18, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Moerdijk, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen
Military ::Netherlands
Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval AirService and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (KoninklijkeLuchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,927,311
females age 16-49: 3,831,110 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,213,954
females age 16-49: 3,133,972 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 104,694
female: 99,874 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Transnational Issues ::Netherlands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy
page last updated on January 12, 2011
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@Netherlands Antilles (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Netherlands Antilles
Background:
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion, called Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France.
Geography ::Netherlands Antilles
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of fiveislands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, andSint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US VirginIslands
Geographic coordinates:
Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 W
Curacao: 12 10 N, 69 00 W
Saba: 17 38 N, 63 14 W
Sint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 W
Sint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 800 sq km country comparison to the world: 187 land: 800 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Saint Martin 15 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% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October; Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten
People ::Netherlands Antilles
Population:
228,693 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 26,429/female 25,162)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 74,183/female 79,434)
65 years and over: 9.6% (male 8,875/female 12,966) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.1 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 35.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.712% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Birth rate:
14.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Death rate:
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Net migration rate:
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Urbanization:
urban population: 93% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 157 male: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.86 years country comparison to the world: 66 male: 74.52 years
female: 79.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Dutch Antillean(s)
adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups:
mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes 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 write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
Government ::Netherlands Antilles
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature) (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held by 2014)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, NA, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E
Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 6, LdK 5, National Alliance 3, PS 2, UPB 2, PNP 1, DP-St. E 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1
note: the government is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; DemocraticParty of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Lista di Kambio or LdK (coalition ofMAN, NPA, and FK); Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE];Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movementor MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat[Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [ErrolCOVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily deJONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY];Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano or PS [Herman WIELS];Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward IslandsPeople's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [SarahWESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Timothy J. DUNN
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
Flag description:
white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the colors reflect those of the Netherlands; the five 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 mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. The Venezuelan state oil company owns the single refinery on the island; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Braxil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides financial aid to support the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.8 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,000 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
91,470 (2007) country comparison to the world: 183
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 20%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.5% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.51% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 8.33% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.517 billion (31 December 2009)
$1.295 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$4.286 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$3.881 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.408 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 116 $3.286 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 $488.6 billion (2003)
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:
Electricity - production:
1.22 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
1.013 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - consumption:
69,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - exports:
224,600 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - imports:
298,500 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Exports:
$3.71 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 120
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 13.09%, Guatemala 10.84%, Singapore 10.65%, Dominican Republic 9.6%, Haiti 7.6%, Bahamas 6.05%, Honduras 4.54%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$15.74 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 79
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.18%, Brazil 8.11% (2009)
Debt - external:
$2.68 billion (2004) country comparison to the world: 135
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009), 1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)