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

Economy Netherlands

Economy - overview:
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
2001-06, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four
years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the
EU average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$512 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$612.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 23.9%
services: 73.9% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
7.6 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
10.5% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.9 (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $304.3 billion
expenditures: $306.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
50.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical
machiner