National Identity
- Official name
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Official name (in Dutch)
- Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
- 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
Sources:- The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 2023 ↗ - The Netherlands Constitution - Website co-sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
Translated from Overheid.nl of the Netherlands The flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a flag consisting of three horizontal stripes, of which the uppermost is red, the middle one white and the lowest blue.
The flag has the shape of a rectangle, of which the length is to the height as three to two. The three stripes are of equal width.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from Overheid.nl The Dutch flag is the symbol of the unity and the independence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Ministry of General Affairs of the Netherlands The first mention of the Dutch flag dates from 1572. The colours of the flag were then orange-white-blue. Around the 17th century the orange was gradually replaced by red. The story goes that the orange was less clearly visible at sea.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Ministry of General Affairs of the Netherlands The white and blue came from the livery colours of the Principality of Orange. The orange was derived from the Principality of Orange. After the invasion by the French at the end of the 18th century the red-white-blue flag was retained, but the red stripe was embellished with the image of a Dutch maiden with a lion at her feet, in one hand a shield with the Roman fasces, in the other a lance crowned with the liberty cap. King Louis Napoleon (1806-1810) abolished the liberty maiden and restored the old tricolour.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Ministry of General Affairs of the Netherlands After the annexation by France in 1810 the national flag was replaced by the Imperial French one. In 1813 the Netherlands became independent again and the House of Orange returned. The colours of the flag were not officially established, so that the red-white-blue and the orange-white-blue could both be flown. The red-white-blue was, however, preferred and was hung out on government buildings. From that time also dates the custom of hoisting the orange pennant on high days of the Royal House.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Ministry of General Affairs of the Netherlands In 1937 the Dutch flag was established by Queen Wilhelmina by Royal Decree. In it the three colours of the flag are described: bright vermilion (red), bright white and cobalt blue.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- repository.overheid.nl ↗ - Overheid.nl of the Netherlands
- zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl ↗ - Overheid.nl
- koninklijkhuis.nl ↗ - the Ministry of General Affairs of the Netherlands
- National anthem
- Het Wilhelmus1:05
- Title (in Dutch)
- Het Wilhelmus
- Title (in English, translated)
- The William
- Alternate title (in Dutch)
- Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
- Alternate title (in English, translated)
- William of Nassau
- Lyrics
1Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Ben ik van Duitsen bloed Den vaderland getrouwe Blijf ik tot in den dood Een Prince van Oranjen Ben ik vrij onverveerd Den Koning van Hispanjen Heb ik altijd geëerd
2In Godes vrees te leven Heb ik altijd betracht Daarom ben ik verdreven Om land om luid’ gebracht Maar God zal mij regeren Als een goed instrument Dat ik zal wederkeren In mijnen regiment
3Lijdt u mijn onderzaten Die oprecht zijn van aard God zal u niet verlaten Al zijt gij nu bezwaard Die vroom begeert te leven Bidt God nacht ende dag Dat hij mij kracht wil geven Dat ik u helpen mag
4Lijf en goed al te samen Heb ik u niet verschoond Mijn broeders hoog van namen Hebben ‘t u ook vertoond Graaf Adolf is gebleven In Friesland in den slag Zijn ziel in ‘t eeuwig leven Verwacht den jongsten dag
5Edel en hoog geboren Van keizerlijken stam Een vorst des rijks verkoren Als een vroom Christenman Voor Godes woord geprezen Heb ik vrij onversaagd Als een held zonder vrezen Mijn edel bloed gewaagd
6Mijn schild ende betrouwen Zijt gij o God mijn Heer Op u zo wil ik bouwen Verlaat mij nimmermeer Dat ik doch vroom mag blijven Uw dienaar t’aller stond Die tirannie verdrijven Die mij mijn hert doorwondt
7Van al die mij bezwaren En mijn vervolgers zijn Mijn God wilt doch bewaren Den trouwen dienaar dijn Dat zal mij niet verrassen In haren bozen moed Haar handen niet en wassen In mijn onschuldig bloed
8Als David moeste vluchten Voor Saul den tiran Zo heb ik moeten zuchten Met menig edelman Maar God heeft hem verheven Verlost uit alder nood Een koninkrijk gegeven In Israël zeer groot
9Na ‘t zuur zal ik ontvangen Van God mijn Heer dat zoet Daar na zo doet verlangen Mijn vorstelijk gemoed: Dat is dat ik mag sterven Met eren in dat veld Een eeuwig rijk verwerven Als een getrouwe held
10Niet doet mij meer erbarmen In mijnen wederspoed Dan dat men ziet verarmen Des Konings landen goed Dat u de Spanjaards krenken O edel Neerland zoet Als ik daar aan gedenke Mijn edel hert dat bloedt
11Als een Prins opgezeten Met mijner heires kracht Van den tiran vermeten Heb ik den slag verwacht Die bij Maastricht begraven Bevreesde mijn geweld Mijn ruiters zag men draven Zeer moedig door dat veld
12Zo het den wille des Heren Op die tijd had geweest Had ik geern willen keren Van u dit zwaar tempeest Maar de Heer van hier boven Die alle ding regeert Die men altijd moet loven En heeft het niet begeerd
13Zeer prinselijk was gedreven Mijn prinselijk gemoed Standvastig is gebleven Mijn hert in tegenspoed Den Heer heb ik gebeden Van mijnes herten grond Dat hij mijn zaak wil reden Mijn onschuld doen bekend
14Oorlof mijn arme schapen Die zijt in groten nood Uw herder zal niet slapen Al zijt gij nu verstrooid! Tot God wilt u begeven Zijn heilzaam woord neemt aan Als vrome Christen leven ‘t Zal hier naast zijn gedaan
15Voor God wil ik belijden En zijner groter macht Dat ik tot genen tijden Den Koning heb veracht Dat dat ik God den Here Der hoogster Majesteit Heb moeten obediëren In der gerechtigheid
Source: - Citizens
- Dutchmen, Dutchwomen
- Official name:The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 2023 ↗ - The Netherlands Constitution - Website co-sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Coat of arms:Image credit
- National flag:repository.overheid.nl ↗ - Overheid.nl of the Netherlands
- National flag:zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl ↗ - Overheid.nl
- National flag:koninklijkhuis.nl ↗ - the Ministry of General Affairs of the Netherlands
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Total area
- 41,543 km²
- Land area
- 33,893 km²
- Water area
- 7,650 km²
- Land borders
- 1,053 km(2 countries)
- Coastline
- 451 km
- Terrain
Mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast - Mean elevation
- 30 m
- Highest point
- 862 mMount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles)
- Lowest point
- −7 mZuidplaspolder
- Climate
Temperate marine; cool summers and mild winters - Avg. temperature
- 10.5 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 7.3 to 13.6 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 860 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 5.5 3.5 1.5 72 February 6.1 3.8 1.4 62 March 9.3 6.2 3.2 60 April 13.4 9.6 5.5 53 May 17 13.2 9 66 June 19.6 16 11.8 74 July 21.8 18.1 14.1 87 August 21.7 17.9 13.9 88 September 18.4 14.9 11.4 76 October 14 11 8.2 74 November 9.3 7.1 4.9 71 December 6.1 4.3 2.3 79 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable30.0%Perm. crops1.1%Pasture22.5%Forest10.9%Other35.5%
- Arable land
- 1,009,000 hectares (30.0%)
- Permanent crops
- 36,000 hectares (1.1%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 758,000 hectares (22.5%)
- Forest
- 368,430 hectares (10.9%)
- Other land
- 1,195,570 hectares (35.5%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Coastal floods10.0Very high#1/191River floods8.6Very high#10/191Epidemics3.1Low#156/191Earthquakes1.8Very low#113/191Drought0.4Very low#170/191Tsunamis0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major rivers:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +0.56% per year+101,956 people/yearWorld Rank134thof 237
- Birth rate
- 9.5 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 9.3 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +4.8 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 41.5 yearsWorld Rank51stof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years14.9%15-64 years63.9%65 years +21.3%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 21.3%
- Share aged under 18
- 18.1%
- Total dependency ratio
- 57
- Youth dependency ratio
- 23
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 33
- Sex ratio
- 0.99 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 2.2% 3.2% 70-79 4.7% 5.1% 60-69 6.4% 6.5% 50-59 6.5% 6.6% 40-49 6.0% 5.9% 30-39 6.8% 6.6% 20-29 6.7% 6.5% 10-19 5.4% 5.1% 0-9 5.0% 4.8% - 2026
- 0.66 below the replacement level for the Netherlands ()1.44 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank186thof 237
- 0.70 daughters per woman0.30 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +0.3 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 0.3 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- +4.8 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 96.2% live in cities17,751,320 urban residents
- Largest urban centers2021
- Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, UtrechtRankUrban CenterPopulation (2021 estimate)1Amsterdam1,136,2102Rotterdam868,1353The Hague851,0104Utrecht396,3155Eindhoven320,3656Leiden273,7207Dordrecht224,4408Tilburg218,1309Groningen218,10510Haarlem208,270Source:
- Statistics Netherlands (2021 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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.
- Ethnic groups2021
- Dutch75.4%EU (excluding Dutch)6.4%Turkish2.4%Moroccan2.4%Surinamese2.1%Indonesian2.0%Other9.3%
- Religions2019
- Roman Catholic20.1%Protestant14.8%Muslim5.0%Other5.9%None54.1%
Protestant includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist.Other includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish.
Source:- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Languages
- Dutch (Nederlands)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Statistics Netherlands (2021 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyThe kingship is hereditary among the lawful successors of the dynasty's founding King, passing to the eldest child; the Constitution is titled "Grondwet voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden" (Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands) (Arts. 24, 25).
- System of government
- ParliamentaryMinisters are appointed and dismissed by royal decree and are responsible; by convention the government needs the confidence of the States General (parliament), though the text names no procedure. Either Chamber may be dissolved by royal decree (Arts. 42, 43, 64).
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Amsterdam931,298 people(2023)
- National holidays
- 10 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- SunApr 5Easter Sunday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- MonApr 27King's Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- SunMay 24Pentecost
- MonMay 25Pentecost Monday
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26Second Day of Christmas
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +31
- Internet TLD
- .nl
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- NL, NLD
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 41,436,802 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 194
- Aircraft departures
- 307,432 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 3,285.7 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- PH
- Note
- Includes 3 airports in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Sources:- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- KLMPartly state-owned
- Passenger rail
- NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
- 2025
- 78 / 100World Rank8thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 84 81 88 2013 83 80 86 2014 83 80 86 2015 84 81 87 2016 83 79 87 2017 82 78 86 2018 82 78 86 2019 82 78.3 85.7 2020 82 79.6 84.4 2021 82 79.8 84.2 2022 80 76.7 83.3 2023 79 75.6 82.4 2024 78 74.2 81.8 2025 78 74.1 81.9 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Grondwet voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden van 24 augustus 1815, consolidated text, as at 22 February 2023 ↗ - Ministry of Justice and Security of the Netherlands (KOOP)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +1.5% per yearWorld Rank150thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $78,535 (10th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services70.4% of GDPIndustry17.7% of GDPAgriculture1.7% of GDPManufacturing10.1%part of industry
- Households
- +43.1%
- Government
- +25.9%
- Investment
- +19.8%
- Exports
- +80.7%
- Imports
- −69.5%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 2.9%
- Labor force2024
- 10.4 million (57% of population)World Rank54thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 67.5% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 3.7%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 8.8% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $91.2 per hour worked at PPP
- Labor cost2025
- €47.90 per hour$54.13 (USD), $62.42 (PPP)
- Budget balance2026
- 2.7% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 8.3% of GDP, $118.3 billion surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt43.2% of GDPHousehold debt93.6% of GDPCompany debt170.4% of GDPInterest on debt0.7% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$693.1 billion69.2%
- Services$308 billion30.8%
- Total exports
- $1 trillion
- Change from 2023
- up 0.8 percent on the previous year0.8%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- 2024
- +0.95World Rank26thof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +1.9% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Raw milk of goats, Sugar beet, Raw milk of cattle, and 7 more
- 1Raw milk of goats7×
- 2Sugar beet6.6×
- 3Raw milk of cattle5.5×
- 4Onions and shallots (dry)5.1×
- 5Potatoes5×
- 6Carrots and turnips3.7×
- 7Meat of pig with the bone (fresh or chilled)3.4×
- 8Chillies and peppers (green)2.8×
- 9Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)2×
- 10Meat of cattle with the bone (fresh or chilled)1.9×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Gold reserves2025
- 612 tonnesWorth $86 billion, 73% of total official reserves by value
- Industries
- agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade, Gold reserves:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity, Labor cost:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2025
- €5,666 per month$6,402 (USD), $7,383 (PPP)
- Median
- €5,092 per month($5,754)
- Men
- €6,596 per month($7,453)
- Women
- €4,697 per month($5,308)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2025
- €2,246 per month, gross$2,538 (USD), $2,927 (PPP)
- Share of the average gross salary
- 40%
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.955Very highWorld Rank8thof 193NetherlandsWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Netherlands World 1990 0.855 0.608 1991 0.860 0.611 1992 0.861 0.614 1993 0.863 0.617 1994 0.889 0.620 1995 0.886 0.625 1996 0.890 0.631 1997 0.891 0.636 1998 0.893 0.641 1999 0.894 0.646 2000 0.900 0.651 2001 0.902 0.657 2002 0.898 0.662 2003 0.901 0.669 2004 0.904 0.675 2005 0.907 0.681 2006 0.914 0.688 2007 0.920 0.694 2008 0.920 0.698 2009 0.920 0.701 2010 0.925 0.707 2011 0.935 0.713 2012 0.935 0.717 2013 0.937 0.721 2014 0.939 0.726 2015 0.940 0.731 2016 0.941 0.735 2017 0.945 0.739 2018 0.947 0.741 2019 0.950 0.745 2020 0.945 0.742 2021 0.951 0.742 2022 0.953 0.752 2023 0.955 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2021
- 25.7
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 12.7 years
- Expected for a child today
- 18.6 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Education expenditure2022
- 5.2% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 12%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 97% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 97.8%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 23.4 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 3,975,000
- Fixed broadband
- 43 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2021
- 37% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 98%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 100%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 99%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 262,974 people
- Asylum seekers
- 46,900
- Stateless persons
- 3,572
- Refugees from the Netherlands abroad
- 100
Source:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Inbound tourists2022
- Official tourism site16.1 million arrivalsdown 20% against 201920% below 2019World Rank17thof 139
- Per resident
- 9 arrivals per 10 residents
- $22.6 billion(2024)
- 3.8% tourism direct GDP(2023)
- Domestic trips
- 21.5 million overnight trips by residents
- Residents' trips abroad
- 23.1 million overnight trips
- $28.8 billion(2024)
- Hotel beds
- 327,449
- Average hotel stay
- 2.2 nights
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 13 sites12 cultural1 natural
Site Type Schokland and Surroundings Cultural Dutch Water Defense Lines Cultural Van Nellefabriek Cultural Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout Cultural Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) Cultural Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) Cultural Wadden Sea Natural Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht Cultural Colonies of Benevolence Cultural Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes Cultural The Factbook names 10 of the 13 sites.includes one site in Curacao
Source:- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2024
- Very low by global standards0.7 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank101stof 115
- Crime rates
- 7 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 0.7 120 2024 Serious assault 25.3 4,575 2023 Sexual violence 27.5 4,970 2023 Kidnapping 2.5 450 2023 Burglary 208.4 37,315 2022 Theft 1,301.7 233,055 2022 Vehicle theft 149.8 26,825 2022 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 64.6 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 11,681
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 82.6 years
- Health expenditure2024
- 10% of GDP$6,845 per person
- Physicians2022
- 3.88 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2022
- 2.4 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 2.9 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 4 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 8.7 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2023
- 20.9% of adults
- Men
- 23.4%
- Women
- 18.3%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 3.0% of household spendingWorld Rank55thof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 4 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 118.8 Mt per yeardown 3.4 percent on the previous year3.4% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 6.8 t per personWorld Rank39thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.30%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 17.1 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 7.91 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 1.26 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 145 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 8.9 µg/m³ of PM2.50.4 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted143rdof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 10 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers
- air pollution from vehicles and refining activities
- International agreements
- 19 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 208 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2017 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1989 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1988 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1994 CITES in force 1984 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 1983 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol in force 2016 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1980 World Heritage Convention in force 1992 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1996 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1993 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2004 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1996 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) signed 2023, not ratified MARPOL 73/78 in force 1983 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 0% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 91 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 5,083 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 88% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 8.2 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 3%
- Water stress
- 17% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity2024
- 14.7% of adults
- Men
- 14.2%
- Women
- 15.1%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2009latest available
- 1% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 186.6 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.53%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 23% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Balanced trade, imports 20 TWh and exports 24 TWh in 2024120 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 120 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 110 TWh per year
- Imports
- 20 TWh per year
- Exports
- 24 TWh per year
- Net
- +4.2 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Deficitproduces 10% of what it consumes, 2025Oil reserves202510.7 million barrelsWorld Rank89thof 99
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 1.9% of GDP$23.2 billion, 4.3% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 43,000active-duty professional military personnel
- Military service2025
- Voluntarythe military is an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997; men and women 17+
- Space program2025
- Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009)
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
- 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
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: Netherlands - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
