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Compare Finland (2003) - Netherlands (2006)

Compare Finland (2003) z Netherlands (2006)

 Finland (2003)Netherlands (2006)
 FinlandNetherlands
Administrative divisions 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Age structure 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 468,077; female 450,785)


15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,753,760; female 1,719,253)


65 years and over: 15.4% (male 312,883; female 486,027) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390)


15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481)


65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Airports 150 (2002) 27 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 74


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 27


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 23


under 914 m: 12 (2002)
total: 20


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 9


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 76


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 72 (2002)
total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Area total: 337,030 sq km


land: 305,470 sq km


water: 31,560 sq km
total: 41,526 sq km


land: 33,883 sq km


water: 7,643 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Montana slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Background Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It finally won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany 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.
Birth rate 10.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 10.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $36.1 billion


expenditures: $31 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $291.8 billion


expenditures: $303.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Capital Helsinki name: Amsterdam


geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E


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


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October


note: The Hague (seat of government)
Climate cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Coastline 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations) 451 km
Constitution 1 March 2000 adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Finland


conventional short form: Finland


local long form: Suomen Tasavalta


local short form: Suomi
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands


conventional short form: Netherlands


local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden


local short form: Nederland
Currency euro (EUR)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
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Death rate 9.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $30 billion (December 1993) $1.645 trillion (30 June 2005)
Dependent areas - Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Bonnie McELVEEN-HUNTER


embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki


mailing address: APO AE 09723


telephone: [358] (9) 616250


FAX: [358] (9) 174681
chief of mission: Ambassador Roland E. ARNALL


embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague


mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715


telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209


FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688


consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI


chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800


FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Christiaan Mark Johan KRONER


chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300


FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430


consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA, $379 million (2001) ODA, $4 billion (2003 est.)
Economy - overview Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling almost one-third of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 1999 - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but will pick up in 2004 provided the world economy suffers no further blows. The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-05, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average.
Electricity - consumption 76.18 billion kWh (2001) 101.6 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 1.81 billion kWh (2001) 3.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 11.77 billion kWh (2001) 20.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 71.2 billion kWh (2001) 95 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 39%


hydro: 18.7%


nuclear: 30.4%


other: 11.8% (2001)
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Elevation extremes lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Halti 1,328 m
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m


highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Ethnic groups Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02% Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999) euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)


head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Antti KALLIOMAKI (since 17 April 2003); note - former Prime Minister Anneli JAATTEENMAKI resigned


cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament


elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections


election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%


note: government coalition - KESK, SDP, and SFP
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch


head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005); note - Prime Minister BALKENENDE tendered his resignation on 30 June 2006


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch


note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy
Exports 101,000 bbl/day (2001) 1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999) machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners Germany 11.8%, UK 9.6%, US 9%, Sweden 8.5%, Russia 6.6%, Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.5% (2002) Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.1%, Italy 5.7%, US 4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century
GDP purchasing power parity - $133.8 billion (2002 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 4%


industry: 34%


services: 62% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 2.1%


industry: 24.4%


services: 73.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $25,800 (2002 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 1.6% (2002 est.) 1.5% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 64 00 N, 26 00 E 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Geography - note long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
Heliports - 1 (2006)
Highways total: 77,943 km


paved: 50,305 km (including 750 km of expressways)


unpaved: 27,688 km (2001)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 4.2%


highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
lowest 10%: 2.5%


highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)
Illicit drugs - major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering
Imports 318,300 bbl/day (2001) 2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains (1999) machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners Germany 14.5%, Sweden 10.9%, Russia 9.9%, UK 5.7%, France 4.3%, Denmark 4.2% (2002) Germany 16.6%, Belgium 9.3%, China 8.8%, US 7.6%, UK 5.8%, France 4.7%, Russia 4.4% (2005)
Independence 6 December 1917 (from Russia) 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Industrial production growth rate 5% (2002 est.) -1.4% (2005 est.)
Industries metal products, electronics, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Infant mortality rate total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.9% (2002 est.) 1.7% (2005 est.)
International organization participation AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 3 (2002) -
Irrigated land 640 sq km (1998 est.) 5,650 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president) Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
Labor force 2.6 million (2000 est.) 7.53 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%, transport and communications 8%, construction 6% agriculture: 2%


industry: 19%


services: 79% (2004 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,628 km


border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
total: 1,027 km


border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Land use arable land: 6.98%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 93.01% (1998 est.)
arable land: 21.96%


permanent crops: 0.77%


other: 77.27% (2005)
Languages Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Legal system civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4
bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)


election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 26.5, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%; seats by party - CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9, Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.92 years


male: 74.28 years


female: 81.68 years (2003 est.)
total population: 78.96 years


male: 76.39 years


female: 81.67 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 100% (1980 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden


territorial sea: 12 NM (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 NM)
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,687 GRT/1,185,653 DWT


ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 24, chemical tanker 5, container 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 32, short-sea passenger 9


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 1, Sweden 1 (2002 est.)
total: 558 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,042,775 GRT/5,016,265 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 345, chemical tanker 29, container 59, liquefied gas 12, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 3


foreign-owned: 157 (Australia 1, Belgium 2, Denmark 9, Finland 13, Germany 56, Ireland 10, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 7, Sweden 26, UK 19, US 13)


registered in other countries: 222 (Antigua and Barbuda 14, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 24, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 4, Cyprus 18, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 29, Luxembourg 2, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands Antilles 54, Norway 3, Panama 21, Philippines 19, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 2, UK 3, US 4, unknown 1) (2006)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Sea Guard) Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police, Defense Interservice Command (DICO) (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1.8 billion (FY98/99) $9.408 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2% (FY98/99) 1.6% (2004)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,230,934 (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 1,016,693 (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 31,926 (2003 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 6 December (1917) Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Nationality noun: Finn(s)


adjective: Finnish
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)


adjective: Dutch
Natural hazards NA flooding
Natural resources timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
Net migration rate 0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines gas 694 km (2003) condensate 81 km; gas 7,229 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Bjarne KALLIS]; Green League or VIHR [Osmo SOININVAARA]; Left Alliance or VAS (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Ville ITALA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Paavo LIPPONEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik ENESTAM] Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Ernst Hirsch BALLIN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Lousewies VAN DER LAAN]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Ton VAN DILLEN]; Party for Freedom [Geert WILDERS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Pieter WINSEMIUS]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders - Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV (consisting of a merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
Population 5,190,785 (July 2003 est.) 16,491,461 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 10.5% NA%
Population growth rate 0.14% (2003 est.) 0.49% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)
Railways total: 5,850 km


broad gauge: 5,850 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2002)
total: 2,808 km


standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2005)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1% Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%, other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system with excellent service


domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net provide domestic needs


international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained


domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five major network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)


international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)
Telephones - main lines in use 2,847,900 (2001) 7.6 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 3,728,600 (2001) 15.834 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999) 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Total fertility rate 1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 8.5% (2002 est.) 6.6% (2005 est.)
Waterways 6,675 km


note: includes Saimaa Canal; 3,700 km suitable for large ships
6,183 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2005)
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