Netherlands

<p>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.</p> <p>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."</p>

Land

33,893 sq km

Total

41,543 sq km

Water

7,650 sq km

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

451 km

Europe

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

Lowest point

Zuidplaspolder -7 m

Mean elevation

30 m

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m

52 31 N, 5 46 E

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

2,969 sq km (2019)

Border countries

Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

1,053 km

Agricultural land

53.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 30% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)

arable land

29.97%

Forest

10.9% (2023 est.)

Other

35.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

1.07%

No

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

Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/Hv6zQswGhFxoVVBm6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/47796

Europe

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

flooding <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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 gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

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

Western Europe

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

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

15.2% (male 1,384,142/female 1,312,455)

15-64 years

64.1% (male 5,750,034/female 5,640,691)

65 years and over

20.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,709,924/female 1,975,132)

Beer

3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

53.5% (2023 est.)

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

44 per 1,000

adult male

64 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

33 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

3 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

56.8 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

23.7 (2025 est.)

improved total

99.96%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12% national budget (2022 est.)

5 % of GDP

Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.)

0.79 (2025 est.)

10 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

11.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province)

Major-language sample(s)

Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note: </strong>Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status; 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

number of languages

1

Female

83.5 years

Male

80.3 years

Total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (2023)

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

43.5 years

Male

40.9 years

Total

42.2 years (2025 est.)

30.2 years (2020 est.)

Adjective

Dutch

Noun

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

20.4% (2016)

3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

8,959,519

Male

8,874,366

Total

17,833,885 (2025 est.)

0.3% (2025 est.)

Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)

improved total

97.5%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Female

19 years (2021 est.)

Male

18 years (2021 est.)

Total

19 years (2021 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

16.4% (2025 est.)

Male

21% (2025 est.)

Total

18.7% (2025 est.)

1.62 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

93.2% of total population (2023)

measles

89%

12 provinces (<em>provincies</em>, singular - <em>provincie</em>), 3 public entities* (<em>openbare lichamen</em>, singular - <em>openbaar lichaam</em> (Dutch); <em>entidatnan publiko</em>, singular - <em>entidat publiko</em> (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)

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the Netherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, are Caribbean islands; all four are considered equal partners, but the Netherlands makes up about 98% of the Kingdom's total land area and population and administers most of the Kingdom's affairs  <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> although Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are officially incorporated into the country of the Netherlands under the broad designation of "public entities," Dutch government sources often call them "special municipalities;" Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

the name is derived from the Dutch name of the local river, the Amstel, and the Dutch word <em>dam</em>, which has the same meaning in English; the river name is said to derive from the Germanic words <em>ama </em>(current) and <em>stelle </em>(place)

Geographic coordinates

52 21 N, 4 55 E

Name

Amsterdam

Note

<strong>note:</strong> The Hague is the seat of government

Time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Time zone note

time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/nl.svg

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

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

Abbreviation

NL

alternative spellings

NL, Holland, Nederland, The Netherlands

Conventional long form

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Conventional short form

Netherlands

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

FIFA code

NED

Local long form

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local long form (nld)

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Local short form

Nederland

Chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph POPOLO (since 29 October 2025)

Consulate(s) general

Amsterdam

Email address and website

<br>AmsterdamUSC@state.gov<br><br>https://nl.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar

FAX

[31] (70) 310-2207

Mailing address

5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5780

Telephone

[31] (70) 310-2209

Chancery

4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023)

Consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>was@minbuza.nl<br><br>https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc

FAX

[1] (202) 362-3430

Telephone

[1] (202) 244-5300

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

Chief of state

King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)

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

Head of government

Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF resigned on 3 June 2025 after a party withdrew from his governing coalition, but he will continue in a caretaker capacity until new elections are held, probably in the fall of 2025

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of bright red (top), white, and cobalt blue<br><br><strong>history:</strong> 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

note

<strong>note: </strong>similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is wider

The flag of the Netherlands is composed of three equal horizontal bands of red, white and blue.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/nl.svg

parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

26 July 1581 

note

<strong>note:</strong> the northern provinces of the Low Countries formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration in 1581, but, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

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

Subordinate courts

courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court

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

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

States General (Staten-Generaal)

Chamber name

House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Most recent election date

10/29/2025

Number of seats

150 (all directly elected)

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)

Percentage of women in chamber

42.7%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

Chamber name

Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Expected date of next election

May 2027

Most recent election date

5/30/2023

Number of seats

75 (all indirectly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

40%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

orange

Note

<strong>note: </strong>includes one site in Curacao

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)

Total World Heritage Sites

13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)

note

<strong>note:</strong> observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

lion, daisy

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA <br>Christian Union or CU<br>Correct Answer 2021 or JA21<br>Democrats 66 or D66 <br>Denk <br>Farmer-Citizen Movement or BBB <br>50Plus <br>Forum for Democracy or FvD <br>Green Left (GroenLinks) or GL <br>Labor Party or PvdA <br>New Social Contract or NSC <br>Party for Freedom or PVV <br>Party for the Animals or PvdD <br>People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD <br>Reformed Political Party or SGP <br>Socialist Party or SP <br>Together or BIJ1 <br>Volt Netherlands or Volt 

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

milk, sugar beets, potatoes, onions, pork, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$455.334 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$451.11 billion (2023 est.)

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

$110.92 billion

Current account balance 2022

$69.676 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$113.676 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$121.825 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

<p>high-income, core EU- and eurozone-member economy; strong services, logistics, and tech sectors; strongly trade-oriented with heightened risks from global tensions; declining inflation aided by easing energy prices and wage growth; rising but manageable deficits and public debt; strong ratings for innovation, competitiveness, and business climate</p>

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

$1 trillion

Exports 2022

$1.007 trillion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$1.022 trillion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$1.032 trillion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 16%, Belgium 15%, France 11%, Italy 6%, USA 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$-17,058,018,837

Exports of goods and services

88.5% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

24.5% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

42.1% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-77.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

20.1% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

-0.1% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

1.7% (2024 est.)

Industry

17.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

70.3% (2024 est.)

$1.228 trillion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$67,520

28.1 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

25.7 (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$1.2 trillion

$62,520

20 % of GDP

Highest 10%

21.4% (2021 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.6% (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$867.46 billion

Imports 2022

$915.294 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$893.132 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$884.154 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 10%, USA 10%, UK 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-1.5% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

3.35%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

10.315 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

10.35 million persons

agriculture

1.7%

industry

13.76%

services

84.54%

14.5% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Public debt 2017

56.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

$1.55 trillion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.263 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.263 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.276 trillion (2024 est.)

1.08%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1% (2024 est.)

$86,174

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$71,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$70,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$70,900 (2024 est.)

$4.72 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

$79.13 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$63.353 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$69.83 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$79.129 billion (2024 est.)

39 % of GDP

25 % of GDP

24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

3.87%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Female

7.9% (2024 est.)

Male

8.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

8.2% (2024 est.)

Consumption

12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

6,189 kWh

Exports

25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

59.982 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0.06%

Hydroelectricity

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear

3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

renewable

33.13%

Solar

17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

3,418 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

0.48GW (2025 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

1 (2025)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

1 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

3.2% (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

137.747 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

12.2%

per 100 inhabitants

43 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43 (2023 est.)

Total

7.83 million (2023 est.)

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&nbsp;

.nl

Percent of population

97% (2023 est.)

#### @@

+31

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

4.262 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

117 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

129 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

23.4 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

41.44 million passengers

registered carrier departures

307,432 departures

44 (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> Includes 3 airports in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

PH

Right

194 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 11, container ship 36, general cargo 521, oil tanker 27, other 592

Total

1,187 (2023)

Key ports

Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Europoort, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Large

2

Medium

4

Ports with oil terminals

12

Small

5

Total ports

18 (2024)

Very small

7

Total

3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified

NL

armored vehicles

tanks

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<br><br>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)

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)

active duty personnel

41,000

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the Netherlands Coast Guard and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard are civilian in nature but managed by the Royal Netherlands Navy<br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>the core missions of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee are border security, security and surveillance, and international and military police tasks<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> the Netherlands (or National) Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Justice and Security, which oversees law enforcement organizations, as do the justice ministries in Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten

percent of total labor force

0.42 %

approximately 43,000 active-duty professional military personnel (2025)

350 Lithuania (NATO); 150 Romania (NATO); approximately 800 deployed to Dutch territories in the Caribbean (2025)

note

<strong>note: </strong> the Netherlands contributes naval assets to support freedom of the sea missions in such places as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz; it also assists with monitoring the airspace of the eastern flank of NATO territory by means of fighter aircraft and provides some ground personnel to a variety of other NATO, UN, and EU security missions

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)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$23,179,211,260

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2.5% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.34 %

percent of GDP

1.92 % of GDP

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)

PowerIndex score

0.6142

USG identification

<br>major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees

310,239 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

4,428 (2024 est.)

1960s - established space program<br><br>1974-1983 - developed advanced astronomical observatory satellites jointly with US, including the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite <br><br>1985 - first Dutch citizen in space on the US Space Shuttle<br><br>2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration<br><br>2025 - launched the first of four planned synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellites

Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009) (2025)

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&nbsp; (2025)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

From coal and metallurgical coke

23.701 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

52.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

112.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

188.191 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities

Global geoparks and regional networks

De Hondsrug; Schelde Delta (includes Belgium) (2024)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

2 (2024)

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

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Agriculture

449 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

63.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

17.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

123.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

30 % of total land area

33 % of total

91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

75 % of internal resources

Agricultural

265.086 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

5.784 billion cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

2.185 billion cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

8.805 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

28.3% (2022 est.)