The Human Truth Foundation

Netherlands (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

https://www.humantruth.info/netherlands.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#netherlands

Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index5th best
CapitalAmsterdam (administrative) and The Hague (legislative/judicial)
Land Area 33 730km21
LocationEurope
Population17.1m2
Life Expectancy81.69yrs (2017)3
GNI$55 979 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesNL, NLD, 5285
Internet Domain.nl6
CurrencyEuro (EUR)7
Telephone+318

1. Overview

#belgium #luxembourg #netherlands

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg share a long cultural history, so much so, that they are identified collectively by the well-known contraction, 'Benelux'9.

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a 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 EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)10

Book CoverDiscover the many secrets of this gently beautiful country and its masterpieces, canal towns and windmills. Revel in the welcoming yet wry culture at a cafe, then bike past fields of tulips. Great Dutch artists Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh have spanned the centuries, and touring the Netherlands you´ll see why. Discover clichés such as tulips and windmills, or stroll canals in the midst of 17th-century splendour in beautiful small towns such as Leiden and Delft. Of course, enticing Amsterdam´s phenomenal and diverse nightlife is world-famous, from its throbbing clubs to quaint brown cafes.

The locals live on bicycles and you can too. Almost every train station has a shop to rent a bike - you´ll soon be off on the ubiquitous bike paths, wherever your mood takes you.

Finally there´s the Dutch themselves. Warm, friendly and funny, you´ll have a hard time being alone in a cafe as someone will soon strike up a conversation, and usually in English. Revel in Amsterdam, don´t miss exquisite Maastricht or pulsing Rotterdam, and pick a passel of small towns to add contrast. It´s a very big small country.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)11

Unfortunately, The Netherlands is quietly becoming infamous as a Tax Haven, wherein rich individuals, corporations, and criminals hide money from authorities12.

2. Netherlands National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)13
Pos.Higher is better
Value13
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
7Sweden0.947
8Ireland0.945
9Germany0.942
10Netherlands0.941
11Finland0.940
12Singapore0.939
13=Belgium0.937
13=New Zealand0.937
Europe Avg0.87
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)13
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $13
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
10Hong Kong$62 607
11UAE$62 574
12Denmark$60 365
13Netherlands$55 979
14Iceland$55 782
15Germany$54 534
16Sweden$54 489
17Austria$53 619
Europe Avg$40 512
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
14
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank14
1Denmark29.1
2Norway32.3
3Sweden34.1
4Switzerland34.4
5Netherlands35.2
6Finland37.1
7Austria38.4
8Japan41.8
9Germany41.9
10Ireland42.1
11New Zealand42.1
12Belgium42.5
Europe Avg55.7
World Avg88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Netherlands's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

The Netherlands's population is predicted to rise to 17.31 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.49. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.15

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
64Zambia17.4m
65Guatemala17.2m
66Ecuador17.1m
67Netherlands17.1m
68Syria16.9m
69Cambodia16.2m
70Senegal15.9m
71Chad15.5m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
13
Pos.2021
Years13
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
22Belgium81.9
23Netherlands81.7
24Austria81.6
25Denmark81.4
26Cyprus81.2
27Portugal81.0
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
16
Pos.202216
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
87St Kitts & Nevis1.51
88Kosovo1.51
89Belarus1.50
90Netherlands1.49
91Uruguay1.48
92=Latvia1.47
92=Liechtenstein1.47
94Channel Islands1.47
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
17
Pos.2016
Per 10017
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
175Austria40.5
176Greece41.3
177Spain41.4
178Netherlands41.9
179Slovenia42.7
180Finland43.3
181Hong Kong43.7
182Portugal44.7
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants18
Pos.2017
%18
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
47France12.2%
48Barbados12.1%
49Djibouti12.1%
50Netherlands12.1%
51Slovenia11.8%
52Denmark11.5%
53Belarus11.4%
54Montenegro11.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants19
Pos.2010
%19
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
95Singapore6.1%
96Guatemala6.1%
97Brunei6.0%
98Netherlands6.0%
99Italy5.8%
100Benin5.8%
101Laos5.7%
102Turkey5.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#christianity #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #islam #morals #Netherlands #netherlands_freedom #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
4Netherlands9.8
5Iceland12.9
6New Zealand13.3
7Canada14.7
8Austria14.9
9Australia16.0
10Luxembourg16.2
Europe Avg47.37
World Avg86.55
q=199.
When it comes to ensuring human rights and freedom, The Netherlands leads the world, setting excellent examples. The Netherlands does the best for its average Freedom in the World rating, freethought21 and in LGBT equality22. It comes in the best 20 when it comes to supporting press freedom23 (amongst the best in Europe), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports24, opposing gender inequality25, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice26 (amongst the lowest in Europe), the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)27 and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms28. And finally, it does better than average for eliminating modern slavery29 and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights30 (but low for Europe). The Netherlands became the first country in the world to remove restrictions on homosexual marriage, divorce and adoption rights, in the face of opposition from Christian and Muslim organisations31. Human Rights Watch's 2017 report states that the Netherlands's support of women's rights at home and internationally has been notable32.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Netherlands's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #netherlands #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
8Sweden50.8
9Denmark52.5
10Switzerland53.1
11Netherlands55.2
12Iceland55.9
13Channel Islands58.4
14Finland59.8
15Belgium61.5
16Luxembourg63.9
Europe Avg86.87
q=51.
Health (2025)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
17US Virgin Islands51.9
18Denmark52.5
19Switzerland53.1
20Netherlands55.2
21Iceland55.9
22New Caledonia57.9
23Channel Islands58.4
24China58.6
World Avg97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man34. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue34.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans34, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia34.

For more, see:

Health:

The Netherlands does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. The Netherlands comes in the best 20 in its adolescent birth rate35 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance36. It does better than average when it comes to its average life expectancy13 and in its fertility rate16. But, things still need to improve in The Netherlands. The Netherlands does worse than average in terms of its suicide rate37 (still good for Europe), the prevalence of overweight adults38 (still low for Europe), its immunizations take-up39, its alcohol consumption rate40 (still low for Europe) and in its smoking rate41 (still low for Europe). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in the Netherlands improved by +5yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. The Netherlands's peak fertility rate was 3.22 in 1961.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
13
Pos.2021
Years13
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
22Belgium81.9
23Netherlands81.7
24Austria81.6
25Denmark81.4
26Cyprus81.2
27Portugal81.0
Europe Avg78.36
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
40
Pos.2016
Per Capita40
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
128=Trinidad & Tobago8.4
128=Vietnam8.4
130Ukraine8.6
131Netherlands8.7
132=Croatia8.9
132=Cameroon8.9
132=Canada8.9
135Rwanda9.0
Europe Avg10.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
16
Pos.202216
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
87St Kitts & Nevis1.51
88Kosovo1.51
89Belarus1.50
90Netherlands1.49
91Uruguay1.48
92=Latvia1.47
92=Liechtenstein1.47
94Channel Islands1.47
Europe Avg1.53
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
41
Pos.201441
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
144Georgia1 378
145Cuba1 392
146Saudi Arabia1 395
147Netherlands1 396
148Poland1 396
149Italy1 443
150Germany1 480
151Bulgaria1 505
Europe Avg1 648
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate37
Pos.2013
Per 100k37
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
44Australia16.4
45El Salvador16.5
46Kyrgyzstan17.7
47Netherlands18.6
48Luxembourg19.3
49Portugal19.6
50Singapore20.6
51India20.8
Europe Avg26.99
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
6Switzerland6
7Germany7
8Canada8
9Netherlands9
10USA10
11Luxembourg11
12Finland12
Europe Avg47.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
38
Pos.1976
%38
1Bangladesh4.7
2Vietnam5.1
3Nepal5.4
...
119Cyprus33.0
120Moldova33.4
121Peru33.5
122Netherlands33.7
123Albania33.8
124Syria34.3
125Ireland34.5
126Armenia34.6
Europe Avg38.2
World Avg27.1
q=191.
Adult Obesity
Lower is better
42
Pos.2022
%42
1Vietnam2.1%
2Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.2%
3Ethiopia2.4%
...
62Comoros15.5%
63Liberia16.2%
64Sweden16.4%
65Netherlands16.9%
66Austria17.0%
67Equatorial Guinea17.2%
68Botswana17.5%
69Maldives17.6%
Europe Avg25.9%
World Avg24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
35
Pos.2022
Per 100035
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
4Norway2.2
5Switzerland2.2
6N. Korea2.4
7Singapore2.5
8Netherlands2.7
9Japan2.8
10UAE2.8
11Liechtenstein3.0
12Sweden3.3
Europe Avg11.4
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
39
Pos.2015
Avg %39
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
128Costa Rica88.5
129Colombia88.4
130Kiribati88.4
131Netherlands88.1
132Paraguay88.1
133Bosnia & Herzegovina88.0
134Sierra Leone87.7
135Suriname87.2
Europe Avg92.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

Throughout the 1990s to the 2010s, the Netherlands was amongst the 10 countries with the lowest adolescent birth rate.

6. Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #energy #Netherlands #netherlands_and_the_environment #Netherlands_environment #sustainability #the_environment

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)43
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank43
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
57Ivory Coast70.8
58Colombia70.9
59Togo71.1
60Netherlands71.1
61Luxembourg71.4
62Sweden71.8
Europe Avg86.45
World Avg84.93
q=199.
The Netherlands ranks 60th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is computed using 21 data sets. The Netherlands comes in the best 20 in its score on the Green Future Index44 and in its environmental performance45. It does better than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-202046. The Netherlands does not succeed in everything, however. The Netherlands does worse than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency47, reducing annual meat consumption per person48 (still low for Europe) and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population49.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

7. Netherlands's Modernity and Learning

#australia #education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #netherlands #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Despite the huge success of Dutch education, evidenced by the statistics compared to the rest of the world, there are issues with the education system that causes problems for overall societal cohesion.

Under the Dutch system of "pillarization"... children are educated in separate Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and secular systems. Receiving an education in a state-sponsored school without ever having to deal with people outside one´s own religion is not likely to foster rapid assimilation.

"Against Identity Politics" by Francis Fukuyama (2018)50

A modern "depilliarisation" movement is in progress, although not moving very quickly.

Compared to Europe (2020)51
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank51
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
8Estonia17.9
9Norway18.3
10UK19.4
11Netherlands19.5
12Ireland19.8
13Austria19.9
14=Czechia21.8
15Slovenia22.5
16France26.8
Europe Avg39.81
q=45.
Modernity & Learning (2020)51
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank51
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
10Estonia17.9
11Norway18.3
12UK19.4
13Netherlands19.5
14Ireland19.8
15Austria19.9
16=Czechia21.8
16=Canada21.8
World Avg86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark52. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone52. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots53.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)54

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe52, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia52.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

In 1994, education in the Netherlands was the 2nd-longest in the world at 17.3 years, beaten only by Australia. 55

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2956
2Israel4.1156
3Japan3.5856
...
15Australia2.2557
16=Singapore2.0058
16=Czechia2.0056
18Netherlands1.9756
19Iceland1.8956
20=Norway1.7056
20=UK1.7056
22Canada1.6156
Europe Avg1.32
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
59
Pos.201859
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
46Mongolia88.8%
47Bahamas88.4%
48Ireland88.3%
49Netherlands88.3%
50Cuba87.4%
51Poland85.3%
52Belgium84.8%
53UK84.5%
Europe Avg88.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
60
Pos.2021
Years60
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
7Finland19.1
8Ireland18.9
9Denmark18.7
10Netherlands18.7
11Grenada18.7
12Turkey18.3
13Norway18.2
14Spain17.9
Europe Avg16.1
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
6Austria6
7Finland7
8Netherlands8
9Belgium9
10Slovenia10
11Switzerland11
12New Zealand12
Europe Avg31.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
61
Pos.2015
Score61
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
...
11=Ireland1528
11=Slovenia1528
13Germany1524
14=Netherlands1524
15Switzerland1519
16New Zealand1517
17=Norway1513
17=Denmark1513
Europe Avg1417
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity
Lower is better
62
Pos.2018
%62
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
21=Vietnam18
22Bulgaria19
23=Norway19
24Netherlands20
25=Italy21
25=Belarus21
27Ireland22
28=Kazakhstan22
Europe Avg25.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better63
Pos.200663
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
8=Iceland101
8=Switzerland101
8=Mongolia101
11Netherlands100
12=Norway100
12=Austria100
12=UK100
15New Zealand99
Europe Avg96.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
64
Pos.201664
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
6Denmark96%
7Liechtenstein96%
8Luxembourg95%
9Netherlands94%
10Sweden93%
11Monaco93%
12UK93%
Europe Avg76.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
65
Pos.201365
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
65Nepal1.45
66Afghanistan1.45
67Germany1.46
68Netherlands1.47
69Rwanda1.50
70Tanzania1.50
71Maldives1.57
72China1.59
Europe Avg0.80
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
66
Pos.2017
Ratio66
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
20Trinidad & Tobago14.5
21Finland14.1
22Brazil13.9
23Netherlands10.5
24Czechia10.1
25New Zealand9.7
26Romania8.7
27Austria7.5
Europe Avg8.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
67
Pos.202467
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
4Netherlands72.6%
5Denmark72.3%
6Austria70.8%
7Spain70.5%
8Luxembourg70.0%
9UK69.3%
10Estonia69.3%
11Switzerland69.0%
12Sweden68.7%
Europe Avg61.0%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. Netherlands's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #netherlands #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Europe (2020)68
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank68
1Denmark11.2
2Norway13.9
3Netherlands14.4
4Finland16.1
5Sweden19.6
6Austria20.7
7Switzerland21.2
8Iceland22.3
9Ireland22.8
10Germany24.4
11Luxembourg25.7
12Belgium31.3
13UK31.8
Europe Avg48.48
q=44.
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)68
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank68
1Denmark11.2
2Norway13.9
3Netherlands14.4
4New Zealand15.5
5Finland16.1
6Sweden19.6
7Singapore20.2
8Austria20.7
9Switzerland21.2
10Iceland22.3
11Ireland22.8
12Canada23.1
World Avg78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

National Culture:

World Giving Index
Higher is better
69
Pos.2022
%69
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
20=Argentina47.0
20=Poland47.0
22Serbia46.0
23=Netherlands46.0
23=Jamaica46.0
23=Russia46.0
23=Iceland46.0
23=Honduras46.0
Europe Avg39.0
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
70
Pos.2022
Points70
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5=Singapore83.0
5=Sweden83.0
7Switzerland82.0
8Netherlands80.0
9Germany79.0
10=Ireland77.0
10=Luxembourg77.0
12Hong Kong76.0
Europe Avg57.61
World Avg42.98
q=180.

In the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s the Netherlands had the 8th-best average result per year in each of those decades, consistently remaining one the best countries in the world at resisting corruption.

Happiness
Higher is better
71
Pos.2024
Score71
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
4Sweden7.3
5Netherlands7.3
6Costa Rica7.3
7Norway7.3
8Israel7.2
9Luxembourg7.1
10Mexico7.0
11Australia7.0
12New Zealand7.0
Europe Avg6.37
World Avg5.58
q=147.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
6Denmark6
7Austria7
8Ireland8
9Czechia9
10Luxembourg10
11UK11
12Portugal12
Europe Avg35.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
6Serbia6
7Belgium7
8Norway8
9Finland9
10Croatia10
11Georgia11
12Philippines12
Europe Avg42.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
72
Pos.2023
Score72
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
13Finland1.40
14Croatia1.45
15Germany1.46
16Netherlands1.49
17Bhutan1.50
18Hungary1.51
19Malaysia1.51
20Belgium1.52
Europe Avg1.70
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
24Ecuador24
25Madagascar25
26Sri Lanka26
27Netherlands27
28Mongolia28
29Rwanda29
30Paraguay30
31Jordan31
Europe Avg84.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
36
Pos.2017
Rank36
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
6Australia6
7Norway7
8Finland8
9Denmark9
10Switzerland10
11Canada11
12UK12
Europe Avg37.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
73
Pos.2019
Score73
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
71Haiti2.18
72Kosovo2.26
73Japan2.29
74Netherlands2.35
75Ecuador2.46
76Kuwait2.49
77Malaysia2.50
78Brazil2.53
Europe Avg1.62
World Avg2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better74
Pos.201974
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
9Norway3.00
10=S. Korea3.00
10=Spain3.00
12Netherlands3.10
13=Italy3.10
14Israel3.30
15=Luxembourg3.40
15=Ireland3.40
Europe Avg4.86
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
75
Pos.2023
%75
1Slovakia24.1%76
2Slovenia24.3%76
3Belarus24.4%77
4Ukraine25.6%77
5=Moldova25.7%76
5=Netherlands25.7%76
7Iceland26.1%78
8Czechia26.2%76
9=Kyrgyzstan26.4%79
9=UAE26.4%80
11Syria26.6%79
12=Azerbaijan26.6%81
Europe Avg30.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #netherlands #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)62
Pos.Lower is better
%62
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
21=Vietnam18
22Bulgaria19
23=Norway19
24Netherlands20
25=Italy21
25=Belarus21
27Ireland22
28=Kazakhstan22
28=Spain22
30Slovakia23
31=Ukraine23
32Canada27
33=Uzbekistan29
33=Uruguay29
35Poland30
36Serbia34
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)82
Pos.Higher is better
%82
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
6Denmark48
7France44
8Belgium43
9=Netherlands42
9=Germany42
9=UK42
12Cuba40
13Slovenia35
14Bulgaria34
15Hungary32
16Norway31
17S. Korea30
18Finland28
19Russia27
20Australia25
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below83:

Christian50.6%
Muslim6%
Hindu0.5%
Buddhist0.2%
Folk Religion0.2%
Jewish0.2%
Unaffiliated42.1%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 57.7% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 20% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 30%, Protestant 20% (Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%), Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)84.

The Netherlands has a long history of religious tolerance85, for example, it was a safe haven for Jewish refugees from Christian persecution during the Spanish Inquisition in the 16th century86. But the murder of Theo van Gogh "by a Muslim extremist in November 2004 led to a sharp reversal of public opinion, turning against immigration in general and Muslim immigration in particular"85.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)87, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for The Netherlands states:

The constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief. However, it is a crime to engage in public speech that incites religious hatred. Article 137c of the Dutch Penal Code penalizes defamation of groups "because of their race, religion or convictions, their heterosexual or homosexual orientation or physical, psychological or mental disability..."

Article 137d criminalizes inciting "hatred or discrimination against persons or violence against person or property on the grounds of their race, religion or beliefs, their gender, their heterosexual or homosexual orientation or their physical, psychological or mental disability..." Article 429bis criminalizes display of "scornful blasphemy for insulting religious feelings" along public roads. Fines are to be levied, with prison for repeat offenders.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)88

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