Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
42.98 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
7.83 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems with a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder in regional and local markets; 2 nationwide commercial TV 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
Communications: Internet country code
.nl
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
97.0% (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21.81 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
4.262 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
128.54 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
23.4 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, potatoes, onions, pork, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$455.334 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$451.11 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$69.676 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$113.676 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$110.923 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.007 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$1.022 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$1.075 trillion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
80.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
25.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
43.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
69.5% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
19.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
17.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
70.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$87,320 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.333 trillion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$1.291 trillion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
25.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
25.70 (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
21.4% (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.6% (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$915.294 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$893.132 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$925.616 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-1.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.3% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Labor force
10,347,056 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Population below poverty line
14.5% (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
56.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
54.2% of GDP (1994, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.263 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.263 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.291 trillion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$71,300 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$70,700 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.4% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$63.353 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$69.83 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$118.057 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
39.4% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
8.5% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
9.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
8.8% (2025, World Bank)
Energy: Coal: consumption
12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
100.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100.0% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: nuclear
3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
59.982 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
0.48GW (2025 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
1 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of operational nuclear reactors
1 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Percent of total electricity production
3.2% (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
137.747 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
23.701 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
52.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
112.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
188.191 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
De Hondsrug; Schelde Delta (includes Belgium) (2024)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
2 (2024)
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
53.5% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
30.0% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
11.1% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: other
35.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
449 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
63.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
17.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
123.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
265.086 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
5.784 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
2.185 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
95.9% (2025, World Bank)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
8.805 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
28.3% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Geography: Area: land
33,893 sq km
Geography: Area: water
7,650 sq km
Geography: Coastline
451 km
Geography: Elevation: 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
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Zuidplaspolder -7 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
30 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
52 31 N, 5 46 E
Geography: Geography - note
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), and Scheldt (Schelde)); about a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level
Geography: Irrigated land
2,969 sq km (2019)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,053 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
53.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 30% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
10.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
35.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
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
Geography: Population distribution
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, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country
Geography: Terrain
mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Government: Administrative divisions
12 provinces ( provincies , singular - provincie ), 3 public entities* ( openbare lichamen , singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko , singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is derived from the Dutch name of the local river, the Amstel, and the Dutch word dam , which has the same meaning in English; the river name is said to derive from the Germanic words ama (current) and stelle (place)
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
52 21 N, 4 55 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Capital: time zone note
time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983
Government: Country name: abbreviation
NL
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Netherlands
Government: Country name: etymology
the English name is derived from the country's Dutch name, which means "the lowlands" and describes the geographic area; only about half the Netherlands is more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) above sea level
Government: Country name: local long form
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Government: Country name: local short form
Nederland
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Joseph POPOLO (since 29 October 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Amsterdam
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
AmsterdamUSC@state.gov https://nl.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[31] (70) 310-2207
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC 20521-5780
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[31] (70) 310-2209
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
was@minbuza.nl https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 362-3430
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 244-5300
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers are also appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)
Government: Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of bright red (top), white, and cobalt blue history: the colors come from WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange; originally the upper band was orange, but the dye would turn red over time, so red was eventually made the permanent color
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices, and 3 justices in exceptional service); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the House of Representatives of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
10/29/2025
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
150 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Democrats 66 (D66) (26); Party for Freedom (PVV) (26); People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (22); Green Left - Labour Party (PvdA) (20); Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) (18); JA21 (9); Other (29)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
42.7%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
May 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
5/30/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
75 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
40%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
States General (Staten-Generaal)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
Government: National color(s)
orange
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion, daisy
Government: Political parties
Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA Christian Union or CU Correct Answer 2021 or JA21 Democrats 66 or D66 Denk Farmer-Citizen Movement or BBB 50Plus Forum for Democracy or FvD Green Left (GroenLinks) or GL Labor Party or PvdA New Social Contract or NSC Party for Freedom or PVV Party for the Animals or PvdD People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD Reformed Political Party or SGP Socialist Party or SP Together or BIJ1 Volt Netherlands or Volt
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, the Netherlands regained its independence in 1813. 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 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 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 - note
the Dutch military is charged with the three core tasks of defending the country’s national territory and that of its allies, enforcing the national and international rule of law, and providing assistance during disasters and other crises; it also has some domestic security duties, including in the Dutch Caribbean territories; the military operates globally but rarely carries out its operations independently, focusing instead on working through NATO and bilaterally with regional partners; it has particularly close ties with Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the UK, including some combined military units and staffs the Netherlands has been a member of NATO since its founding in 1949, and the Dutch military is involved in NATO missions and operations with air, ground, and naval forces, including air policing missions over the Benelux countries and Eastern Europe, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and several NATO naval flotillas, as well as standby units for NATO’s rapid response force; the military has previously deployed forces to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo and also contributes to EU- and UN-led missions; Royal Netherlands Marechaussee detachments have been included in international police units deployed by NATO (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Netherlands (Dutch) Armed Forces (Nederlandse Krijgsmacht): Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Military Constabulary) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 43,000 active-duty professional military personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
350 Lithuania (NATO); 150 Romania (NATO); approximately 800 deployed to Dutch territories in the Caribbean (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and modern European- and US-sourced equipment; the Netherlands has an advanced domestic defense industry that focuses on armored vehicles, naval ships, and air defense systems; it also participates with the US and other European countries on joint development and production of advanced weapons systems (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
1.9% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
17 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; the military is an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997 (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
14.9% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
64.2% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
20.9% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
9.20 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Contraceptive prevalence rate
73.0% (2013, World Bank)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
10.0% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
9.60 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
33 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
56.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
23.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
100.0% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
12% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.79 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
11.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.42 (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
3.10 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
3.70 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
3.40 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
83.40 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
80.60 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
4.00 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Median age: female
43.5 years
People and Society: Median age: male
40.9 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
30.2 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Dutch
People and Society: Net migration rate
2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.4% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.88 (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Population
18,087,633 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population distribution
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, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.5% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: female
9,100,258 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: male
8,987,375 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
97.7% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
19 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
18 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
19 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
16.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
21% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
18.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.43 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.8% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
95.9% (2025, World Bank)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1960s - established space program 1974-1983 - developed advanced astronomical observatory satellites jointly with US, including the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite 1985 - first Dutch citizen in space on the US Space Shuttle 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - launched the first of four planned synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellites
Space: Space agency/agencies
Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
has a national space program focused on developing advanced space technologies and services based on satellite data; builds and operates a range of satellites, including communications and remote sensing (RS); researches and develops technologies related to astrophysics, atmospheric measuring instruments, planetary/exoplanetary research, propulsion systems, RS, robotics, and telecommunications; founding member of the ESA and active in the EU space community; hosts the ESA's main research and technology center; participates in building European satellite launch vehicles and a range of other European space programs, such as Copernicus Earth observation and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; participates in international programs, including the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array project; works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Japan and the US; has a robust commercial space sector (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
283,935 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
4,134 (2025, UNHCR)
Transportation: Airports
44 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
PH
Transportation: Heliports
194 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 11, container ship 36, general cargo 521, oil tanker 27, other 592
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
1,187 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Europoort, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen
Transportation: Ports: large
2
Transportation: Ports: medium
4
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
12
Transportation: Ports: small
5
Transportation: Ports: total ports
18 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
7
Transportation: Railways: total
3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.