Spain vs Netherlands development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Spain's demographic indicators show a crude birth rate of 6.7 per 1,000 people and a crude death rate of 9, leading to a natural increase in population being quite low. In contrast, the Netherlands has a higher birth rate of 9.2 and a slightly higher death rate of 9.5. Both countries exhibit similar undernourishment rates at 2.5% of the population. In terms of health, Spain enjoys a higher life expectancy at birth (83.9 years) compared to the Netherlands (81.9 years). The under-5 mortality rate is also lower in Spain (3.1 per 1,000 live births) than in the Netherlands (4 per 1,000). Spain has a slightly higher number of physicians per 1,000 people at 4.5 versus the Netherlands at 3.9, reflecting the availability of healthcare professionals.

Economy

Spain's GDP per capita stands at $35,297 compared to the Netherlands’ $68,219, indicating a stronger economic position for the latter. Moreover, Spain’s GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) is $56,926 whereas the Netherlands averages $84,218, displaying that the Netherlands maintains higher living standards. Spain has a significantly higher unemployment rate of 12.2% compared to the Netherlands’ 3.5%, revealing a more challenging job market in Spain. The inflation rate in Spain is lower at 2.8% than the Netherlands, which has a 3.3% inflation rate, offering a slight edge in economic stability for Spain.

Trade and Investment

Spain's exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP are 37.3%, which showcases a moderate level in comparison to the Netherlands, which stands at 84.1%. This indicates the Netherlands' economy is highly integrated into global trade. Import levels in Spain are also lower at 33% of GDP than in the Netherlands with 72%. The Netherlands exhibits a higher degree of net foreign direct investment inflows (-1.1% of GDP compared to Spain's 1.9%), suggesting that Spain is more attractive for foreign investments despite overall lower export levels. High-technology exports further illustrate the technological gap, with Spain exporting $25.8 billion versus the Netherlands’ $111 billion.

Governance and Institutions

The governance structures reveal notable differences in effectiveness and control of corruption. Spain’s Control of Corruption score stands at 0.6 while the Netherlands leads at 1.9, reflecting a higher integrity in governance. Similarly, Government Effectiveness in Spain is rated at 0.8 compared to 1.6 for the Netherlands. Additionally, Spain's Political Stability score is lower at 0.3 compared to the Netherlands at 0.7, indicating a more stable political environment in the Netherlands. Regulatory Quality and Rule of Law indices further show better ratings for the Netherlands, with Spain lagging significantly.

Infrastructure and Technology

In terms of infrastructure, Spain's logistics performance index stands at 3.8, demonstrating good trade and transport-related infrastructure, although the Netherlands excels with a score of 4.2. Both countries display high internet usage, with Spain showing that 95.4% of the population has access, compared to 97% in the Netherlands. The difference in patent applications shows that Spain applied for 1,308 patents, while the Netherlands secured 2,080, indicating a more innovative capacity in Dutch society.

Environment and Sustainability

Regarding environmental metrics, both countries have similar renewable energy consumption rates; Spain at 19% and the Netherlands at 12.2%. However, Spain has a significantly higher level of water stress (43.3%), indicating that the country faces greater challenges in freshwater availability compared to the Netherlands at 16.1%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Spain emits lower per capita at 5.9 tons of CO2e, while the Netherlands has higher emissions at 8.4 tons, suggesting that Spain has a relatively better performance in terms of environmental impact per individual. Overall, both countries show varying strengths and challenges, with Spain excelling in health indicators and the Netherlands leading in economic and governance metrics.