fe expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.73 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 80.68 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch

Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other
2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Languages: Dutch

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland

Data code: NL

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular -
provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen,
Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 17 February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order
rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER
(born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of Queen BEATRIX
head of government: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August
1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994)
and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994) were appointed by the
queen
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal)
First Chamber (Eerste Kamer): members indirectly elected by the
country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms; election last
held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (75 total) number of seats by party NA
Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer): members directly elected for
four-year terms; el