Basic data and indicators

Last updated: November 2011

Basic Data

Population (1 000): 16 655.0 inhabitants (2011)*
GDP at market prices: 588 414.0 million Euros (2010)
GDP per inhabitant in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards, EU-27 = 100): 133.0 (2010)
GDP growth rate: 1.7 % (2010)
Inflation rate: 0.9 % (2010)
Unemployment rate: 4.5 % (2010)
Government debt/GDP: 62.9 % (2010)
Public balance (government deficit or surplus/GDP): -5.1 % (2010)
Provisional value*
Source: Eurostat

Area: 41 526 Km²
Capital city: Amsterdam
Official EU language: Dutch
Currency: Euro
Source: Europa website

Political Structure

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. Legislative power is held by a bicameral Parliament. The First House (Eerste Kamer or Senate) consists of 75 members, who are appointed for a four-year term by the 12 Provincial Councils. The Second House (Tweede Kamer or House of Representatives) has greater legislative power and consists of 150 members elected every four years on the basis of a proportional system.

The Head of State is the Monarch (currently the Queen), whose function is largely ceremonial, though also influential. Executive power is exercised by the Government. Based on parliamentary election results, the Monarch appoints the Prime Minister, who then chooses the members of the Council of Ministers or the Cabinet. The Council of Ministers plans and implements the Government policy. The Ministers, collectively and individually, are responsible to the Parliament.

The local Government in the Netherlands consists of 12 provinces and 418 municipalities (as of 1 January 2011). Each province is formally headed by a Queen's Commissioner appointed by the Crown, but is governed by a locally elected provincial council and a provincial executive appointed by the members of the provincial council. The municipal council is the highest authority in the municipality. Its members are elected every four years. The day-to-day administration of the municipality is in the hands of the municipal executive (college van burgemeester en wethouders), made up of the mayor and aldermen.

The Constitution of the Netherlands was adopted in 1815 and has been amended several times since then (the last time was in 2002).

Head of State: Queen Beatrix (since 30 April 1980).

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mark Rutte (since 14 October 2010).

Information Society Indicators

Percentage of households with Internet access: 91 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises with Internet access: 98 % (2010)
Percentage of individuals using the Internet at least once a week: 88 % (2010)
Percentage of households with a broadband connection: 80 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises with a broadband connection: 91 % (2010)
Percentage of individuals having purchased/ordered online in the last three months: 52 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises having received orders online within the previous year: 22 % (2009)
Percentage of individuals using the Internet for interaction with public authorities: obtaining information 55 %, downloading forms 35.6 %, returning filled forms 34.6 %. (2010)
Percentage of enterprises using the Internet for interaction with public authorities: obtaining information 75 %, downloading forms 77 %, returning filled forms 74 % (2009)
Source: Eurostat

Editorial notice: Statistical indicators referenced in this section reflect those of Eurostat at the time the Edition is being prepared.