ling address:
PSC 71, Box 1000, the Hague; APO AE 09715
telephone:
[31] (70) 310-9209
FAX:
[31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to
the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

@Netherlands, Economy

Overview:
This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private
enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through
many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting
most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services
sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about
25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and
metalworking industries. The highly mechanized agricultural sector
employs only 5% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for
export and the domestic food-processing industry. Rising unemployment
and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic
problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the
course of European economic integration.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $262.8 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
-0.2% (1993)
National product per capita:
$17,200 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (March 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
$109.9 billion
expenditures:
$122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
$139 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco, agricultural
products
partners:
EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), US 4% (1991)
Imports:
$130.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods,
transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
partners:
EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991)
External debt:
$0
Industrial production:
growth rate -1.5% (1993 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
22,216,000 kW
production:
63.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,200 kWh (1992)
Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery
and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction,
microelectronics
Agriculture:
accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominate