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Compare Netherlands (2001) - Western Sahara (2003)

Compare Netherlands (2001) z Western Sahara (2003)

 Netherlands (2001)Western Sahara (2003)
 NetherlandsWestern Sahara
Administrative divisions 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 0-14 years:
18.38% (male 1,501,925; female 1,436,017)

15-64 years:
67.9% (male 5,518,575; female 5,333,442)

65 years and over:
13.72% (male 899,052; female 1,292,461) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Airports 28 (2000 est.) 11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
19

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
7

1,524 to 2,437 m:
6

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
9

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
6 (2000 est.)
total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Area total:
41,526 sq km

land:
33,883 sq km

water:
7,643 sq km
total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey about the size of Colorado
Background The 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 a brutal 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 EC, and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate 11.85 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$134 billion

expenditures:
$134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government none
Climate temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 451 km 1,110 km
Constitution adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983 -
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form:
Netherlands

local long form:
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form:
Nederland
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
Currency Netherlands guilder (NLG); euro (EUR)

note:
on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in the Netherlands at a fixed rate of 2.20371 Netherlands guilders per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Death rate 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $0 $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER

embassy:
Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

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

telephone:
[31] (70) 310-9209

FAX:
[31] (70) 361-4688

consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam
none
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Joris M. VOS

chancery:
4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 244-5300

FAX:
[1] (202) 362-3430

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

consulate(s):
Boston
none
Disputes - international none Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties have rejected other proposals; Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds
Economic aid - donor ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.) -
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate 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 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. The Dutch economy has expanded by 3% or more in each of the last four years and real GDP growth is likely to be about 3.6% in 2001. The government in 2001 will implement its most comprehensive tax reform since World War II, designed to reduce high income tax levels and redirect the fiscal burden onto consumption. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Electricity - consumption 97.76 billion kWh (1999) 83.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 3.97 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 22.407 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 85.294 billion kWh (1999) 90 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
90.25%

hydro:
0.11%

nuclear:
4.27%

other:
5.37% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m

highest point:
Vaalserberg 321 m
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues 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 sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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:
Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 9% (1999 est.) Arab, Berber
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders per US dollar - 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996) Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)
Executive branch 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 Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998) and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch 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:
government coalition - PvdA, VVD, and D'66; there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors consulted by the executive on legislative and administrative policy
none
Exports $210.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs phosphates 62%
Exports - partners EU 78% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 12%, France 12%, UK 11%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (2000) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer -
GDP purchasing power parity - $388.4 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3.3%

industry:
26.3%

services:
70.4% (2000 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $24,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
125,575 km

paved:
113,018 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)

unpaved:
12,557 km (1998)
total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.8%

highest 10%:
25.1% (1994)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy -
Imports $201.2 billion (c.i.f., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners EU 56% (Germany 18%, Belgium-Luxembourg 10%, UK 5%, France 6%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (2000) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000)
Independence 1579 (from Spain) -
Industrial production growth rate 3.2% (2000) NA%
Industries agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.6% (2000 est.) NA%
International organization participation AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 52 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 6,000 sq km (1996 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch) -
Labor force 7.2 million (2000) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.) animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Land boundaries total:
1,027 km

border countries:
Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land:
25%

permanent crops:
3%

permanent pastures:
25%

forests and woodland:
8%

other:
39% (1996 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages Dutch Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Legal system 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 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 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May 2002)

election results:
First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D'66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%, D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party - PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66 14, other 24
-
Life expectancy at birth total population:
78.43 years

male:
75.55 years

female:
81.44 years (2001 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
99% (2000 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine total:
596 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,321,500 GRT/4,877,632 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 43, container 59, liquefied gas 21, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 9, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 29, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (2000 est.)
-
Military branches Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.5% (FY00/01 est.) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
4,083,349 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
3,555,501 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
96,082 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday 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:
Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

adjective:
Dutch
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards flooding hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, arable land phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate 2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Pipelines crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km -
Political parties and leaders Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jaap de Hoop SCHEFFER]; Democrats '66 or D'66 [Tom DE GRAAF]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wim KOK]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Hans F. DIJKSTAL]; a host of minor parties -
Political pressure groups and leaders Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises none
Population 15,981,472 (July 2001 est.) 261,794 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.55% (2001 est.) NA% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 15.3 million (1996) -
Railways total:
2,739 km

standard gauge:
2,739 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1998)
0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998) Muslim
Sex ratio at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
NA (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system general assessment:
highly developed and well maintained

domestic:
the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in the year 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

international:
5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 9,132,400 (1999) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,081,891 (April 1999) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995) NA
Terrain mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 1.65 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 2.6% (2000 est.) NA%
Waterways 5,046 km

note:
47% of total route length is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger
none
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