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> Our information files > Country Sheet : Netherlands

Country Sheet : Netherlands

Information file

Last Update on 15th December 2024

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NETHERLANDS

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In English - version of 15th December 2024

Geography

Area : 41.543 km²

Borders : 1,027 km (Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km)

Coastline : 451 km

Capital : Amsterdam

Official language : Dutch

Flag

Image Drapeau

Population

Population : 17,811,291 inhabitants (2023)

Crude natural change rate : 7.4‰ (2023)

Population repartition: 15.3% under 15 years old, 20.2% over 65 years old (2023)

Foreign residents: 3% EU nationals, 3.4% non-EU nationals (2019)

Crude net migration rate: 2‰ (2023 est.)

First time asylum applicants: 39,710 (2023)

Life expectancy: men 80.5 years old, women 83.4 years old (2023)

Religions: None 54.1%, Catholics 20.1%, Protestants 14.8%, Muslims 5% (2019 est.)

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.)

Source : Eurostat

Economy

Currency: Euro

GDP: € 1,067,599 millions (2023)

GDP per capita (PPS): € 44, 460 (2023)

GDP growth : 0.1% (2023)

Inflation: 3.8% (November 2024)

Public debt: 43.2% (Q1 2024)

Unemployment: 3.7% (October 2024)

Stock of foreign direct investment from the entire world: 516.2% of GDP (2022)

Budget balance: -0.3% of GDP (2023)

Source : Eurostat, OECD, BNP Paribas

Political system

Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy

Head of State: King Willem-Alexander since 30th April 2013; he presides over the Council of State.

Head of Government: Dick Schoof (unaffiliated) was appointed Prime Minister on May 28th 2024. He took office on July 2nd 2024 and leads a PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB.

Bicameral parliamentary system comprises: The Eerste Kamer (Senate), of which 75 members are elected for four years by members of the provincial assemblies; And the Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber of the States-General) of which 150 members are elected for four years by direct universal suffrage.

Political representation

Composition of the Tweede Kamer (in November 2023):

  • 37 seats PVV (Freedom Party, extreme right)
  • 25 seats GL-PvdA (Green Left-Worker's Party)
  • 24 seats VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)
  • 20 seats NSC (New Social Contract, Christian Democrats)
  • 9 seats D66 (Democrats 66)
  • 7 seats BBB (Farmer-Citizen Movement)
  • 5 seats CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal)
  • 5 seats SP (Socialist Party)
  • 3 seats Denk
  • 3 seats CU (Christian Union)
  • 3 seats FvD (Forum for Democracy, populist)
  • 3 seats SGP (Reformed Political Party, conservative)
  • 3 seats PvdD (Party for Animals)
  • 2 seats Volt (European Federalist)
  • 1 seat JA21 (populist)

Composition of the Eerste Kamer (on 30th May 2023)

  • 16 seats BBB (Farmer Citizen Movement)
  • 14 seats GroenLinks-PvdA (GreenLeft-Labour Party)
  • 10 seats VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)
  • 6 seats CDA (Christian Democratic Party)
  • 5 seats D66 (Democrats 66)
  • 4 seats PVV (Party for Freedom)
  • 3 seats SP (The Socialist Party)
  • 3 seats CU (ChristianUnion)
  • 3 seats PvdD (Party for the Animals)
  • 3 seats JA21 (The Right Answer 21)
  • 2 seats FVD (Forum for Democracy)
  • 2 seats SGP (Reformed Political Party)
  • 2 seats Volt
  • 1 seat 50PLUS (defending pensioners)
  • 1 seat OPNL (Independent Politics Netherlands, regionalist)

Women's representations

  • In the government: 7/16
  • Tweede Kamer: 61/150
  • Eerste Kamer: 30/75

Next Elections:

  • Next general elections in 2028

    • NETHERLANDS

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    In English - version of 15th December 2024