How much of the Netherlands lies below sea level?

More than one-fourth of the total land area of the Netherlands lies below sea level.1234

This low-lying geography is a defining characteristic of the country, whose name literally means "low-lying country". In addition to the land below sea level, more than half of the country's total area sits at an elevation no higher than about 3 feet (1 meter) above sea level. To protect these vulnerable regions—many of which are polders—the Netherlands relies on an extensive and sophisticated system of dikes, dunes, and water management infrastructure. Without these human interventions, much of this densely populated territory would be uninhabitable due to the constant threat of inundation from the sea and rivers.1423