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Compare Netherlands (2003) - Canada (2002)

Compare Netherlands (2003) z Canada (2002)

 Netherlands (2003)Canada (2002)
 NetherlandsCanada
Administrative divisions 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland 10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Age structure 0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453)


15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764)


65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 3,059,023; female 2,910,203)


15-64 years: 68.4% (male 10,975,701; female 10,857,869)


65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,743,654; female 2,355,818) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Airports 28 (2002) 1,419 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 21


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 6


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 507


over 3,047 m: 18


2,438 to 3,047 m: 15


1,524 to 2,437 m: 149


914 to 1,523 m: 245


under 914 m: 80 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
total: 882


1,524 to 2,437 m: 73


914 to 1,523 m: 363


under 914 m: 446 (2002)
Area total: 41,526 sq km


land: 33,883 sq km


water: 7,643 sq km
total: 9,976,140 sq km


land: 9,220,970 sq km


water: 755,170 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey somewhat larger than the US
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 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 (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999. A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.
Birth rate 11.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 11.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $134 billion


expenditures: $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $178.6 billion


expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est. )
Capital Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government Ottawa
Climate temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Coastline 451 km 202,080 km
Constitution adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
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: Canada
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
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Death rate 8.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external - $1.9 billion (2000) (2000)
Dependent areas Aruba, Netherlands Antilles -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL


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
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI


embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8


mailing address: P. O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1


telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470


FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082


consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM


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, Miami, New York


consulate(s): Boston
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael F. KERGIN


chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001


telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740


FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle


consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose
Disputes - international none maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island)
Economic aid - donor ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.) ODA, $1.3 billion (1999) (1999)
Economy - overview The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending 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 4% 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 2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budget position, and is moving toward the EU 3% limit. As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. As a result of the close cross-border relationship, the economic sluggishness in the United States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in 2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors. Nevertheless, given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas, which has been raising the spectre of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure. A key strength in the economy is the substantial trade surplus.
Electricity - consumption 99.42 billion kWh (2001) 499.77 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 4.209 billion kWh (2001) 48.802 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 21.49 billion kWh (2001) 12.685 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 88.32 billion kWh (2001) 576.22 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 89.9%


hydro: 0.1%


nuclear: 4.3%


other: 5.7% (2001)
fossil fuel: 25%


hydro: 61%


nuclear: 12%


other: 2% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m


highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 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 air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
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, Kyoto Protocol, 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 party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.) British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999) Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.6003 (January 2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (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 Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003)


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 prime minister on legislative and administrative policy
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993); Deputy Prime Minister John MANLEY (since NA January 2002)


cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general
Exports 1.418 million bbl/day (2001) $260.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners Germany 25.1%, Belgium 12.7%, UK 10.7%, France 10.2%, Italy 6%, US 4.6% (2002) US 84.6%, Japan 2.2%, UK 1.6%, other EU 2.2% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
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; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $437.8 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $923 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3.1%


industry: 25.7%


services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 27%


services: 71% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $29,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.2% (2002 est.) 3.4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Geography - note located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canada border
Heliports 1 (2002) 12 (2002)
Highways total: 116,500 km


paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)


unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
total: 901,902 km


paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)


unpaved: 583,531 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2.8%


highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 24% (1994) (1994)
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; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector
Imports 2.284 million bbl/day (2001) $229 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners Germany 17.8%, Belgium 9.7%, US 9.1%, UK 6.9%, France 5.5%, China 5.1%, Japan 4% (2002) US 72.7%, UK 3.4%, other EU 3.2%, Japan 3.0% (2001)
Independence 1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence 1 July 1867 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 0% (2002 est.) 2.2% (2002 est.)
Industries agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Infant mortality rate total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.4% (2002 est.) 2.2% (2002 est.)
International organization participation AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 52 (2000) 760 (2000 est.)
Irrigated land 5,650 sq km (1998 est.) 7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch) Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)
Labor force 7.2 million (2000) 16.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.) services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000) (2000)
Land boundaries total: 1,027 km


border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
total: 8,893 km


border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Land use arable land: 26.53%


permanent crops: 1.03%


other: 72.44% (1998 est.)
arable land: 4.94%


permanent crops: 0.02%


other: 95.04% (1998 est.)
Languages Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language) English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
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 based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; 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 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held NA January 2007)


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 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Commons - last held 27 November 2000 (next to be held by 2005)


election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 41%, Canadian Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12; note - percent of vote by party as of January 2002 - Liberal Party 51%, Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 18%; seats by party - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.74 years


male: 75.85 years


female: 81.76 years (2003 est.)
total population: 79.69 years


male: 76.3 years


female: 83.25 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (2000 est.)


male: NA%


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


total population: 97% (1986 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Map references Europe North America
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 616 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,711 GRT/5,226,912 DWT


ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 51, container 70, liquefied gas 13, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 34, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 6


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 1, Canada 1, Denmark 5, Finland 5, Germany 55, Ireland 12, Norway 12, Sweden 17, UK 33, US 12 (2002 est.)
total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,797,240 GRT/2,680,223 DWT


ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 66, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16, United Kingdom 1, United States 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary Canadian Armed Forces (comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Training Command)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.) $7,860.5 million (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.5% (FY00/01 est.) 1.1% (FY01/02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 4,071,891 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 8,361,475 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 3,536,586 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 7,139,068 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and midshipmen) (2003 est.) 17 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 94,034


note: Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2003 est.)
males: 217,516 (2002 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 Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Nationality noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)


adjective: Dutch
noun: Canadian(s)


adjective: Canadian
Natural hazards flooding continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains
Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, arable land iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Net migration rate 2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716 km (2003) crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Political parties and leaders Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Mat HERBEN]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Gerrit ZALM]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; a host of minor parties Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER]; Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]; Progressive Conservative Party [Joe CLARK]
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 NA
Population 16,150,511 (July 2003 est.) 31,902,268 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.5% (2003 est.) 0.96% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998) AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios - 32.3 million (1997)
Railways total: 2,808 km


standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2002)
total: 36,114 km


standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified)


note: Canada has two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service is provided by the government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own (2000 est.)
Religions Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998) Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%


note: based on the 1991 census
Sex ratio at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
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 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: excellent service provided by modern technology


domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations


international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 9,132,400 (1999) 20,802,900 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,081,891 (April 1999) 8,751,300 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995) 80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Total fertility rate 1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.6 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 3% (2002 est.) 7.6% (2002 est.)
Waterways 5,046 km (of which 3,745 km are canals)


note: 47% of total route length is usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger
3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)
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