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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 7,210,800 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

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 many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations providing national or regional coverage

Internet country code [time series]

.nl

Internet users [time series]

total: 15,385,203 | percent of population: 90.4% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: highly developed and well maintained; while fixed-line voice market is in decline the VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) and mobile platforms advance; one of the highest fixed broadband penetration rates in the world; government investments; preparations for 5G trials, plans for 3G network shutdown in 2022; LTE-A services; MNOs and banks launch m-payments system (2019) | domestic: extensive fixed-line, fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with five major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications technology; one in five households now use Voice over the Internet Protocol services; fixed-line 38 per 100 and mobile-cellular 120 per 100 persons (2018) | international: country code - 31; landing points for Farland North, TAT-14, Circe North, Concerto, Ulysses 2, AC-1, UK-Netherlands 14, and COBRAcable submarine cables which 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) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 6.551 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 20.532 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

vegetables, ornamentals, dairy, poultry and livestock products; propagation materials

Budget [time series]

revenues: 361.4 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 352.4 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

0% (31 December 2016) | 0.05% (31 December 2015) | 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 [time series]

1.33% (31 December 2017 est.) | 1.47% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$87.46 billion (2017 est.) | $62.92 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.063 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.054 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

30.3 (2015 est.) | 25.1 (2013 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Netherlands, the sixth-largest economy in the European Union, plays an important role as a European transportation hub, with a consistently high trade surplus, stable industrial relations, and low unemployment. Industry focuses on 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 food-processing and underpins the country’s status as the world’s second largest agricultural exporter. The Netherlands is part of the euro zone, and as such, its monetary policy is controlled by the European Central Bank. The Dutch financial sector is highly concentrated, with four commercial banks possessing over 80% of banking assets, and is four times the size of Dutch GDP. In 2008, during the financial crisis, the government budget deficit hit 5.3% of GDP. Following a protracted recession from 2009 to 2013, during which unemployment doubled to 7.4% and household consumption contracted for four consecutive years, economic growth began inching forward in 2014. Since 2010, Prime Minister Mark RUTTE’s government has implemented significant austerity measures to improve public finances and has instituted broad structural reforms in key policy areas, including the labor market, the housing sector, the energy market, and the pension system. In 2017, the government budget returned to a surplus of 0.7% of GDP, with economic growth of 3.2%, and GDP per capita finally surpassed pre-crisis levels. The fiscal policy announced by the new government in the 2018-2021 coalition plans for increases in government consumption and public investment, fueling domestic demand and household consumption and investment. The new government’s policy also plans to increase demand for workers in the public and private sector, forecasting a further decline in the unemployment rate, which hit 4.8% in 2017.

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.885 (2017 est.) | 0.903 (2016 est.) | 0.9214 (2015 est.) | 0.885 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$555.6 billion (2017 est.) | $495.4 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and livestock, manufactured goods

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 24.2%, Belgium 10.7%, UK 8.8%, France 8.8%, Italy 4.2% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$832.2 billion (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$924.4 billion (2017 est.) | $898.6 billion (2016 est.) | $879.4 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 44.3% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 24.2% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 83% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) | industry: 17.9% (2017 est.) | services: 70.2% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$53,900 (2017 est.) | $52,800 (2016 est.) | $51,900 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.9% (2017 est.) | 2.2% (2016 est.) | 2% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

31.2% of GDP (2017 est.) | 28.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% | highest 10%: 24.9% (2014 est.)

Imports [time series]

$453.8 billion (2017 est.) | $402.9 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners [time series]

China 16.4%, Germany 15.3%, Belgium 8.5%, US 6.9%, UK 5.1%, Russia 4.3% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.3% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.3% (2017 est.) | 0.1% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

7.969 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 1.2% | industry: 17.2% | services: 81.6% (2015 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$652.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $735.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $675 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

8.8% (2015 est.)

Public debt [time series]

56.5% of GDP (2017 est.) | 61.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$38.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $38.21 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$419 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $364.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$6.579 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) | $5.623 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$5.499 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) | $4.759 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.687 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.547 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$419 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $364.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

43.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.9% (2017 est.) | 6% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

250.2 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

7,984 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

1.094 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

18,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

81.13 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

108.8 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

19.34 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

75% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

24.26 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

34.17 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

109.3 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

43.38 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

51.25 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

51 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

45.33 billion cu m (2017 est.) | note: the Netherlands has curbed gas production due to seismic activity in the province of Groningen, largest source of gas reserves

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

801.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

954,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

2.406 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

2.148 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

1.282 million bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 41,543 sq km | land: 33,893 sq km | water: 7,650 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Netherlands Print Image Description slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate [time series]

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Coastline [time series]

451 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 30 m | lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m | highest point: Mount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) 862 m | note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water and air pollution are significant environmental problems; pollution of the country's rivers from industrial and agricultural chemicals, including heavy metals, organic compounds, nitrates, and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Geography - note [time series]

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde); about a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level

Irrigated land [time series]

4,860 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,053 km | border countries (2): Belgium 478 km, Germany 575 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 55.1% (2011 est.) | arable land: 29.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 24.2% (2011 est.) | forest: 10.8% (2011 est.) | other: 34.1% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding volcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640;; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as The Quill, is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean;; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada

Natural resources [time series]

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Population distribution [time series]

an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, though sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country

Terrain [time series]

mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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) | note: the Netherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, are all islands in the Caribbean; while all four parts are considered equal partners, in practice, most of the Kingdom's affairs are administered by the Netherlands, which makes up about 98% of the Kingdom's total land area and population note: three other Caribbean islands, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, are considered to be special municipalities of the Netherlands proper

Capital [time series]

name: Amsterdam; note - The Hague is the seat of government | geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 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: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4 etymology: the original Dutch name, Amstellerdam, meaning "a dam on the Amstel River," dates to the 13th century; over time the name simplified to Amsterdam

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution [time series]

history: previous 1597, 1798; latest adopted 24 August 1815 (substantially revised in 1848) | amendments: proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king; amended many times, last in 2010 (2016)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands | conventional short form: Netherlands | local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden | local short form: Nederland | abbreviation: NL | etymology: the country name literally means "the lowlands" and refers to the geographic features of the land being both flat and down river from higher areas (i.e., at the estuaries of the Scheldt, Meuse, and Rhine Rivers; only about half of the Netherlands is more than 1 meter above sea level)

Dependent areas [time series]

Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Ambassador Andre HASPELS (since 16 September 2019) | chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443 | FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013); Heir Apparent Princess Catharina-Amalia (daughter of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER, born 7 December 2003) | head of government: Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010; Deputy Prime Ministers (since 26 October 2017) Hugo DE JONGE, Karin Kajsa OLLONGREN, and Carola SCHOUTEN (since 26 October 2017); note - Mark RUTTE heads his third cabinet put in place since 26 October 2017 | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime ministers are appointed by the monarch

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of red (bright vermilion; top), white, and blue (cobalt); similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were derived from 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 its dye tended to turn red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

Government type [time series]

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Independence [time series]

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)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices or raadsheren, and 3 justices in exceptional service, referred to as buitengewone dienst); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers | judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the Second Chamber of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70 | subordinate courts: courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of: First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial council members by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve up to 4-year terms) | elections: First Chamber - last held on 27 May 2019 (next to be held on NA May 2023) Second Chamber - last held on 15 March 2017 (next to be held 15 March 2021) | election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FvD 12, VVD 12, CDA 9, GL 8, D66 7, MvdA 6, PVV 5, SP 4, CU 4, other 8; composition - men 49, women 26, percent of women 34.7% Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - VVD 21.3%, PVV 13.1%, CDA 12.4%, D66 12.2%, GL 9.1%, SP 9.1%, PvdA 5.7%, CU 3.4%, PvdD 3.2%, 50 Plus 3.1%, other 7.4%; seats by party - VVD 33, PVV 20, CDA 19, D66 19, GL 14, SP 14, PvdA 9, CU 5, PvdD 5, 50 Plus 4, other 8; composition - men 96, women 54, percent of women 36%; note - total States General percent of women 35.6%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion, tulip; national color: orange

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Sybrand VAN HAERSMA BUMA] Christian Union or CU [Gert-Jan SEGERS] Democrats 66 or D66 [Rob JETTEN] Denk [Tunahan KUZU] 50 Plus [Henk KROL] Forum for Democracy or FvD [Thierry BAUDET] Green Left or GL [Jesse KLAVER] Labor Party or PvdA [Lodewijk ASSCHER] Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS] Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME] People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Mark RUTTE] Reformed Political Party or SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ] Socialist Party or SP [Emile ROEMER] plus a few minor parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In February 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."

Military and Security

Military and security forces [time series]

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Marechaussee (Military Police) (2019)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.36% of GDP (2019 est.) | 1.21% of GDP (2018) | 1.15% of GDP (2017) | 1.16% of GDP (2016) | 1.13% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2016)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.28% (male 1,428,837 /female 1,362,686) | 15-24 years: 12.03% (male 1,052,357 /female 1,011,710) | 25-54 years: 39.18% (male 3,371,698 /female 3,348,595) | 55-64 years: 13.41% (male 1,143,824 /female 1,155,751) | 65 years and over: 19.1% (male 1,487,278 /female 1,788,492) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Netherlands Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for the Netherlands. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

10.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

73% (2013) | note: percent of women aged 18-45

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

10.4% (2016)

Death rate [time series]

9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 53.1 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 25.6 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 27.4 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 3.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.5% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Dutch 76.9%, EU 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.3%, Indonesian 2.1%, German 2.1%, Surinamese 2%, Polish 1%, other 4.8% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

23,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Dutch (official) | note: Frisian is an official language in Fryslan province; Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; Dutch is the official language of the three special municipalities of the Caribbean Netherlands; English is a recognized regional language on Sint Eustatius and Saba; Papiamento is a recognized regional language on Bonaire

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.5 years (2018 est.) | male: 79.3 years | female: 83.8 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.14 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.009 million Rotterdam (2019)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 42.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 41.6 years | female: 43.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

29.6 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) | adjective: Dutch

Net migration rate [time series]

1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

20.4% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.51 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population [time series]

17,151,228 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.38% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 23.6%, Protestant 14.9% (includes Dutch Reformed 6.4%, Protestant Church of The Netherlands 5.6%, Calvinist 2.9%), Muslim 5.1%, other 5.6% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 50.7% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 97.5% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 99.9% of population (2015 est.) | total: 97.7% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 0.1% of population (2015 est.) | total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 18 years | male: 18 years | female: 18 years (2016)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.78 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 8.9% | male: 9% | female: 8.8% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 91.9% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 and a significant consumer of ecstasy; a large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 32,092 (Syria), 15,478 (Somalia), 14,931 (Eritrea), 9,259 (Iraq), 6,267 (Afghanistan) (2017) | stateless persons: 1,951 (2018)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

29 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 23 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2017) | under 914 m: 2 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 6 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013) | under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

PH (2016)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,233 | by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 41, general cargo 586, oil tanker 21, other 572 (2018)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 8 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 244 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 34,870,204 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,292,794,685 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

14000 km gas, 2500 km oil and refined products, 3000 km chemicals (2016)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): IJmuiden, Vlissingen | container port(s) (TEUs): Rotterdam (13,734,000) (2017) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Rotterdam | river port(s): Amsterdam (Nordsee Kanaal); Moerdijk (Hollands Diep River); Rotterdam (Rhine River); Terneuzen (Western Scheldt River)

Railways [time series]

total: 3,058 km (2016) | standard gauge: 3,058 km 1.435-m gauge (2,314 km electrified) (2016)

Roadways [time series]

total: 139,124 km (includes 3,654 km of expressways) (2016)

Waterways [time series]

6,237 km (navigable by ships up to 50 tons) (2012)