Identity
Formal name: Kingdom of the Netherlands.
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Netherlands
EuropeGlobal Leader
Netherlands claims the 9th spot worldwide for human development index. How well do you really know Netherlands?
Netherlands claims the 9th spot worldwide for human development index. That 0.955 figure is hard to beat. How well do you really know Netherlands?
52.5, 5.8 - Europe
Area
42K km²
Pop.
17.83M
Stats
197
Reality brief
Netherlands is a country in Europe with a population of 17.83M and an area of 41,865 km². Life expectancy is 81.9 years.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Human Development Index
0.95#9globally
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Life Satisfaction
7.6 pts#9globally
Average self-reported life satisfaction on a 0-10 scale, from OECD How's Life / Well-Being.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
$84,221.98#12globally
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita
$70,901.84#14globally
GDP per person adjusted for purchasing power in constant 2017 international dollars, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Internet Users (%)
97%#23globally
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
University Enrollment Rate
86.59%#15globally
Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Netherlands
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Curated stat
OECD data puts the Netherlands among the countries with the shortest average annual work hours.
Geography
Size snapshot: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey.
CIA 2026
Cities
Cities in Netherlands
Browse this country's cities before City Detective asks you to guess.
Amsterdam
North Holland, Netherlands
Famous100/100
Open city guide
Rotterdam
South Holland, Netherlands
Famous62/100
Open city guide
The Hague
South Holland, Netherlands
Famous62/100
Open city guide
Utrecht
Netherlands
Notable59/100
Open city guide
Groningen
Netherlands
Notable57/100
Open city guide
Haarlem
North Holland, Netherlands
Notable57/100
Open city guide
's-Hertogenbosch
North Brabant, Netherlands
Notable55/100
Open city guide
Arnhem
Gelderland, Netherlands
Notable55/100
Open city guide
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Urban Population (%)
95.64%#18globallyTop stat
The percentage of people living in cities and urban areas.
GDP (Nominal)
$1,214,927,698,572.66#19globallyTop stat
The country's total economic output in current US dollars.
Population Density
530.95 /km²#22globallyTop stat
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Merchant Fleet Size
1.2K#21globallyTop stat
Number of merchant marine ships from the frozen public-domain CIA World Factbook snapshot.
Health Spending (% GDP)
10.1% of GDP#23globallyTop stat
Current health expenditure as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Keeps inequality (gini) unusually low
#10325.7Inequality (Gini)
A measure of income inequality where 0 means everyone earns the same and 100 means one person has everything.
Only ranks #186 in fdi inflows (% gdp)
#186-1.4% of GDPFDI Inflows (% GDP)
Foreign direct investment net inflows as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Only ranks #202 in teen birth rate
#2021.9 per 1kTeen Birth Rate
The number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
Only ranks #216 in lowest elevation
#216-7 mLowest Elevation
Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #25 globally in electric generating capacity
#2559.98M kWElectric Generating Capacity
Installed electricity generating capacity in kilowatts from the frozen public-domain CIA World Factbook snapshot.
Compared with the region
How Netherlands Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Netherlands
Europe avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $84,221.98
- Region avg
- $57,483.02
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Netherland…$84,221.98
Europe$57,483.02
World$31,844.55
+164% above worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 81.9 years
- Region avg
- 80.0 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Netherland…81.9 years
Europe80.0 years
World73.7 years
+11% above worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.95
- Region avg
- 0.89
- World avg
- 0.74
Netherland…0.95
Europe0.89
World0.74
+29% above worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 97%
- Region avg
- 90.13%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Netherland…97%
Europe90.13%
World70.29%
+38% above worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Netherlands
Country briefing
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world.
Read the full Factbook note
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, the Netherlands regained its independence in 1813. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation 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. In 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba -- became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."
Geography & Climate6 facts
- Location
- Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
- Climate
- temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
- Terrain
- mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
- Natural Resources
- natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
- Natural Hazards
- flooding volcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as "The Quill," is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada
- Size Comparison
- slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
People & Culture4 facts
- Languages
- Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.)
- Major Cities
- 1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (2023)
Government & History10 facts
- Government Type
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Capital Coordinates
- 52 21 N, 4 55 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Name Origin
- the English name is derived from the country's Dutch name, which means "the lowlands" and describes the geographic area; only about half the Netherlands is more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) above sea level
- Independence
- 26 July 1581
- National Symbols
- lion, daisy
- National Anthem
- "Het Wilhelmus" (The William)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- Overview
- high-income, core EU- and eurozone-member economy; strong services, logistics, and tech sectors; strongly trade-oriented with heightened risks from global tensions; declining inflation aided by easing energy prices and wage growth; rising but manageable deficits and public debt; strong ratings for innovation, competitiveness, and business climate
- Industries
- agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
- Agricultural Products
- milk, sugar beets, potatoes, onions, pork, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef (2023)
- Export Partners
- Germany 16%, Belgium 15%, France 11%, Italy 6%, USA 6% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)
- Import Partners
- Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 10%, USA 10%, UK 5% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023)
Infrastructure & Defense5 facts
- Military Forces
- Netherlands (Dutch) Armed Forces (Nederlandse Krijgsmacht): Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Military Constabulary) (2025)
- Military Service
- 17 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; the military is an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997 (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems with a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder in regional and local markets; 2 nationwide commercial TV companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations
- Space Program
- has a national space program focused on developing advanced space technologies and services based on satellite data; builds and operates a range of satellites, including communications and remote sensing (RS); researches and develops technologies related to astrophysics, atmospheric measuring instruments, planetary/exoplanetary research, propulsion systems, RS, robotics, and telecommunications; founding member of the ESA and active in the EU space community; hosts the ESA's main research and technology center; participates in building European satellite launch vehicles and a range of other European space programs, such as Copernicus Earth observation and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; participates in international programs, including the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array project; works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Japan and the US; has a robust commercial space sector (2025)
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Wealth & Economy13 statsBest: #8
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
GDP Per Capita
GDP (Nominal)
High-Tech Exports (%)
Employment Rate (%)
Government Debt (% GDP)
Inflation Rate
Unemployment Rate
Youth Unemployment Rate
GDP Growth Rate
Gender Pay Gap (%)
Long-Term Unemployment
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
Education & Future8 statsBest: #8
Human Development Index
University Enrollment Rate
R&D Spending (% GDP)
Domestic Patents
Foreign Patents
Education Spending (% GDP)
Leisure Time
Life Expectancy
Society & Equality6 statsBest: #9
Lifestyle5 statsBest: #17
Demographics12 statsBest: #18
Urban Population (%)
Population Density
Elderly Population (%)
Death Rate
Median Age
Population
Dependency Ratio
Land Area
Fertility Rate
Birth Rate
Youth Population (%)
Teen Birth Rate
Infrastructure3 statsBest: #21
Health & Survival9 statsBest: #23
Health Spending (% GDP)
Life Expectancy
Doctors (per 1,000)
Suicide Rate
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
Smoking Rate
Obesity Rate
Child Mortality
Infant Mortality
Technology3 statsBest: #23
Energy2 statsBest: #25
Electric Generating Capacity
59.98M kW#25
Nuclear Electricity Share
3.2%#29
Environment9 statsBest: #31
Total CO2 Emissions
CO2 Per Capita
Protected Land (%)
Irrigated Land
3.0K km²#66
Renewable Energy (%)
Electricity Access (%)
Forest Area
Forest Coverage (%)
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #69
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #111
Coastline Length
451 km#111
Land Border Length
1.1K km#124
Highest Elevation
862 m#175
Lowest Elevation
-7 m#216
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Netherlands
#9 in Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Top 5% globally
0.95
Frequently Asked Questions about Netherlands
What is the population of Netherlands?
Netherlands has a population of 17.83M, ranking #72 globally by population.
What continent is Netherlands in?
Netherlands is located in Europe. It has an area of 41,865 km².
What is the life expectancy in Netherlands?
Life expectancy in Netherlands is 81.9 years, ranking #33 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Netherlands?
Netherlands's GDP per capita (PPP) is $84,221.98, ranking #12 globally.
What is Netherlands known for in global statistics?
Netherlands ranks particularly high in Human Development Index (#9), Life Satisfaction (#9), GDP Per Capita (PPP) (#12).
What is Netherlands's Human Development Index?
Netherlands has an HDI of 0.955, ranking #9 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Netherlands?
Netherlands has a population density of 531.0 people per km², ranking #22 globally.