Country Profile: Netherlands

Located in Western Europe, the Netherlands is bordered by Belgium to the south and Germany to the east, with a coastline along the North Sea. The country has a population of approximately 17.8 million and is known for its flat landscape, characterized by canals, windmills, and tulip fields. The economy is highly developed, focusing on services, trade, and technology, while its governance is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with Amsterdam as the capital.

Geography

The Netherlands has a temperate marine climate and features diverse landscapes, including coastal lowlands, reclaimed land known as polders, and some hills in the southeast. About a quarter of the country lies below sea level, presenting unique challenges in flood management.

Total Area: 41,543 sq km
Land Area: 33,893 sq km
Coastline Length: 451 km
Highest Point: 862 m (Mount Scenery on Saba)
Lowest Point: -7 m (Zuidplaspolder)

People and Society

As of 2024, the Netherlands has an estimated population of 17.8 million people, characterized by a diverse ethnic composition and high urbanization rates. The Dutch language is the official language, with Frisian recognized in the Friesland province.

Population: 17,772,378 (2024 est.)
Urban Population: 93.2% of total population (2023)
Median Age: 42.2 years (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
Major Cities: Amsterdam (1.174 million), Rotterdam (1.018 million)

Economy

The Netherlands boasts a high-income economy, driven by strong sectors in services, logistics, and technology. It is a significant player in global trade, with a strong agricultural export sector.

GDP (PPP): $1.276 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP per capita: $70,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation Rate: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Public Debt: 56.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Government

The Netherlands is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a legal system based on civil law. The monarch is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. The country is divided into 12 provinces along with three special municipalities in the Caribbean.

Capital: Amsterdam
Government Type: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Chief of State: King Willem-Alexander (since 2013)
Executive Branch: Appointed by the monarch
Legislature: Bicameral States General

Military and Security

The Dutch Armed Forces include the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Military Constabulary. The Netherlands is committed to international security operations, particularly within NATO.

Active Military Personnel: 51,000 (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Deployments: 350 in Lithuania, 150 in Romania (2025 est.)
Conscription Status: Voluntary since 1997; conscription remains theoretically in place.

Energy

The Netherlands has made significant investments in renewable energy sources, with wind and solar playing key roles in its energy portfolio. The country has achieved 100% electricity access for its population.

Installed Energy Capacity: 59.982 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity Consumption: 108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural Gas Production: 11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Coal Consumption: 12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 188.191 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)

Environment

The Netherlands faces environmental challenges such as water pollution and air pollution from industrial activities. However, it actively participates in various international environmental agreements.

Urban Population: 93.2% (2023)
Forest Cover: 11% of total land (2022 est.)
Municipal Waste Recycled: 24.6% (2015 est.)
Total Renewables Water Resources: 91 billion cubic meters (2020)

Transportation

The Netherlands has a well-developed transportation infrastructure, including extensive rail and air networks. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest in Europe.

Railways: 3,055 km total length (2020)
Airports: 44 (2025)
Ports: 18 major ports (2024)
Civil Aircraft Registration: PH

Communications

The country has a high rate of connectivity, with nearly all households having access to fixed line and mobile telecommunication services.

Internet Users: 97% of the population (2023 est.)
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 21.2 million (2023 est.)
Fixed Line Subscriptions: 4.262 million (2023 est.)
Broadband Subscriptions: 7.83 million (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	17,772,378	2024 est.
Area	41,543 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$1.276 trillion	2024 est.
Energy Consumption	108.141 billion kWh	2023 est.
Unemployment Rate	3.6%	2024 est.
Birth Rate	10.6 births/1,000 population	2024 est.
Life Expectancy	81.9 years	2024 est.
Military Expenditures	2.1% of GDP	2024 est.
Total Renewable Water Resources	91 billion cubic meters	2020
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	188.191 million metric tonnes	2023 est.