Netherlands Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Amsterdam

Population

17,833,885 (2025 est.)

Area

41,543 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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."

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

52 31 N, 5 46 E

Map references

Europe

Area — total

41,543 sq km

Area — land

33,893 sq km

Area — water

7,650 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries — total

1,053 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km

Coastline

451 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Climate

Temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain

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

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

Elevation — lowest point

Zuidplaspolder -7 m

Elevation — mean elevation

30 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

53.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 30% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

10.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

35.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

2,969 sq km (2019)

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

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

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

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 - 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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

17,833,885 (2025 est.)

Population — male

8,874,366

Population — female

8,959,519

Nationality — noun

Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

Nationality — adjective

Dutch

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.)

Languages — Languages

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

Languages — major-language sample(s)

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

Religions

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.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

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

Age structure — 15-64 years

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

Age structure — 65 years and over

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

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

56.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

23.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

33 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

42.2 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

40.9 years

Median age — female

43.5 years

Population growth rate

0.3% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

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

Urbanization — urban population

93.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio — at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.2 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate — total

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

Infant mortality rate — male

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

81.9 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

80.3 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

83.5 years

Total fertility rate

1.62 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.79 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

11.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

18.7% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

21% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

16.4% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.5% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

12% national budget (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

19 years (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

18 years (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

19 years (2021 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

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

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Land use — agricultural land

53.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 30% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

10.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

35.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

93.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

188.191 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

23.701 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

112.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

52.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

63.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

449 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

123.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

17.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

8.805 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

28.3% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

2.185 billion cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

5.784 billion cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

265.086 million cubic meters (2022)

Total renewable water resources

91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks — total global geoparks and regional networks

2 (2024)

Geoparks — global geoparks and regional networks

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

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Country name — conventional short form

Netherlands

Country name — local long form

Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Country name — local short form

Nederland

Country name — abbreviation

NL

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 type

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Capital — name

Amsterdam

Capital — geographic coordinates

52 21 N, 4 55 E

Capital — time difference

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

Capital — daylight saving time

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

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

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)

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)

Legal system

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

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

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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)

Executive branch — head of government

Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

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

Legislative branch — legislature name

States General (Staten-Generaal)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

150 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

10/29/2025

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

42.7%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

October 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

75 (all indirectly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

5/30/2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

40%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

May 2027

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

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 244-5300

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 362-3430

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph POPOLO (since 29 October 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC 20521-5780

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[31] (70) 310-2209

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[31] (70) 310-2207

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

AmsterdamUSC@state.gov https://nl.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation from the US — consulate(s) general

Amsterdam

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

Independence

26 July 1581

National holiday

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

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

National symbol(s)

Lion, daisy

National color(s)

Orange

National anthem(s) — title

"Het Wilhelmus" (The William)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)

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)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.276 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.263 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.263 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$70,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$70,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$71,300 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.228 trillion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

1.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

17.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

70.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

42.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

24.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

20.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

-0.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

88.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-77.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-1.5% (2024 est.)

Labor force

10.315 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

8.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

8.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

7.9% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.5% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

25.7 (2021 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3.6% (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

21.4% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$451.11 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$455.334 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2017

56.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$121.825 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$113.676 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$69.676 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$1.032 trillion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$1.022 trillion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$1.007 trillion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

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

Exports - commodities

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

Imports — Imports 2024

$884.154 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$893.132 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$915.294 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

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

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$79.129 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$69.83 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$63.353 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

59.982 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — nuclear

3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy — Number of operational nuclear reactors

1 (2025)

Nuclear energy — Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

0.48GW (2025 est.)

Nuclear energy — Percent of total electricity production

3.2% (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy — Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

1 (2025)

Coal — production

1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

137.747 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — imports

66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

4.262 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

23.4 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

129 (2024 est.)

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

Internet country code

.nl

Internet users — percent of population

97% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

7.83 million (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

PH

Airports

44 (2025)

Heliports

194 (2025)

Railways — total

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

Merchant marine — total

1,187 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

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

Ports — total ports

18 (2024)

Ports — large

2

Ports — medium

4

Ports — small

5

Ports — very small

7

Ports — ports with oil terminals

12

Ports — key ports

Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Europoort, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2025

2.5% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

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 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)

Military deployments

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

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)

🛰️ Space⬆️ Top

Space agency/agencies

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

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)

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

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

310,239 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

4,428 (2024 est.)

Illicit drugs — USG identification

Major precursor-chemical producer (2025)