The latest officially reported population of Brunei was 462,721 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brunei's population is 470,884 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.
Population statistics:
- The Netherlands' population is 38.8 times bigger than Brunei's.
- Brunei is ranked the 170th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
- The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.006% for Brunei vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
- For the last 10 years, Brunei has had an average growth rate of +1.08% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
- Since 2006, the population of Brunei has increased from 365K people to 471K (29.1% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).
Brunei vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Brunei
|
Netherlands
|
|
| 2100 | 467,416 | 17,359,081 |
| 2099 | 468,955 | 17,392,412 |
| 2098 | 470,474 | 17,425,508 |
| 2097 | 471,886 | 17,459,827 |
| 2096 | 473,386 | 17,495,124 |
| 2095 | 474,822 | 17,532,593 |
| 2094 | 476,324 | 17,571,051 |
| 2093 | 477,804 | 17,610,792 |
| 2092 | 479,320 | 17,649,611 |
| 2091 | 480,794 | 17,688,532 |
| 2090 | 482,320 | 17,730,570 |
| 2089 | 483,944 | 17,770,380 |
| 2088 | 485,580 | 17,809,825 |
| 2087 | 487,128 | 17,845,820 |
| 2086 | 488,625 | 17,885,001 |
| 2085 | 490,259 | 17,921,302 |
| 2084 | 491,848 | 17,957,639 |
| 2083 | 493,523 | 17,994,232 |
| 2082 | 495,200 | 18,029,404 |
| 2081 | 496,840 | 18,063,233 |
| 2080 | 498,434 | 18,093,703 |
| 2079 | 500,007 | 18,124,294 |
| 2078 | 501,497 | 18,152,738 |
| 2077 | 503,086 | 18,181,372 |
| 2076 | 504,597 | 18,206,864 |
| 2075 | 506,394 | 18,227,791 |
| 2074 | 508,080 | 18,245,652 |
| 2073 | 509,613 | 18,263,765 |
| 2072 | 511,047 | 18,280,443 |
| 2071 | 512,261 | 18,295,700 |
| 2070 | 513,446 | 18,311,141 |
| 2069 | 514,716 | 18,326,509 |
| 2068 | 516,037 | 18,341,711 |
| 2067 | 517,358 | 18,356,770 |
| 2066 | 518,464 | 18,374,904 |
| 2065 | 519,443 | 18,396,018 |
| 2064 | 520,281 | 18,417,894 |
| 2063 | 520,990 | 18,441,434 |
| 2062 | 521,488 | 18,464,922 |
| 2061 | 522,004 | 18,492,436 |
| 2060 | 522,425 | 18,520,315 |
| 2059 | 522,802 | 18,548,786 |
| 2058 | 523,135 | 18,577,700 |
| 2057 | 523,377 | 18,608,370 |
| 2056 | 523,422 | 18,638,918 |
| 2055 | 523,432 | 18,666,514 |
| 2054 | 523,252 | 18,692,598 |
| 2053 | 523,048 | 18,718,268 |
| 2052 | 522,679 | 18,741,740 |
| 2051 | 522,034 | 18,768,309 |
| 2050 | 521,243 | 18,789,481 |
| 2049 | 520,307 | 18,809,886 |
| 2048 | 519,256 | 18,827,655 |
| 2047 | 518,107 | 18,844,635 |
| 2046 | 516,871 | 18,855,920 |
| 2045 | 515,363 | 18,867,286 |
| 2044 | 513,945 | 18,877,101 |
| 2043 | 512,420 | 18,882,735 |
| 2042 | 510,764 | 18,885,839 |
| 2041 | 508,923 | 18,885,255 |
| 2040 | 507,093 | 18,879,571 |
| 2039 | 505,089 | 18,870,248 |
| 2038 | 502,784 | 18,855,512 |
| 2037 | 500,639 | 18,837,172 |
| 2036 | 498,469 | 18,811,873 |
| 2035 | 496,091 | 18,783,312 |
| 2034 | 493,656 | 18,750,125 |
| 2033 | 491,157 | 18,708,101 |
| 2032 | 488,666 | 18,662,054 |
| 2031 | 485,865 | 18,609,452 |
| 2030 | 482,904 | 18,549,634 |
| 2029 | 479,937 | 18,481,269 |
| 2028 | 476,756 | 18,404,195 |
| 2027 | 473,357 | 18,320,644 |
| 2026 | 469,968 | 18,227,403 |
| 2025 | 466,440 | 18,118,662 |
| 2024 | 462,721 | 17,993,485 |
| 2023 | 458,949 | 17,877,117 |
| 2022 | 455,370 | 17,700,982 |
| 2021 | 451,721 | 17,533,044 |
| 2020 | 447,404 | 17,441,500 |
| 2019 | 442,680 | 17,344,874 |
| 2018 | 437,810 | 17,231,624 |
| 2017 | 432,772 | 17,131,296 |
| 2016 | 427,564 | 17,030,314 |
| 2015 | 422,212 | 16,939,923 |
| 2014 | 416,750 | 16,865,008 |
| 2013 | 411,202 | 16,804,432 |
| 2012 | 405,557 | 16,754,962 |
| 2011 | 399,389 | 16,693,074 |
| 2010 | 392,332 | 16,615,394 |
| 2009 | 384,952 | 16,530,388 |
| 2008 | 377,793 | 16,445,593 |
| 2007 | 370,873 | 16,381,696 |
| 2006 | 364,663 | 16,346,101 |
| 2005 | 358,916 | 16,319,868 |
| 2004 | 352,911 | 16,281,779 |
| 2003 | 346,637 | 16,225,302 |
| 2002 | 340,099 | 16,148,929 |
| 2001 | 333,345 | 16,046,180 |
| 2000 | 326,424 | 15,925,513 |
| 1999 | 319,411 | 15,812,088 |
| 1998 | 312,385 | 15,707,209 |
| 1997 | 305,341 | 15,610,650 |
| 1996 | 298,276 | 15,530,498 |
| 1995 | 291,195 | 15,459,006 |
| 1994 | 284,091 | 15,382,838 |
| 1993 | 276,971 | 15,290,368 |
| 1992 | 269,839 | 15,184,166 |
| 1991 | 262,596 | 15,069,798 |
| 1990 | 255,292 | 14,951,510 |
| 1989 | 248,064 | 14,848,907 |
| 1988 | 240,913 | 14,760,094 |
| 1987 | 233,860 | 14,665,037 |
| 1986 | 226,495 | 14,572,278 |
| 1985 | 218,919 | 14,491,632 |
| 1984 | 211,661 | 14,424,211 |
| 1983 | 204,741 | 14,367,070 |
| 1982 | 198,165 | 14,312,690 |
| 1981 | 191,977 | 14,247,208 |
| 1980 | 186,111 | 14,149,800 |
| 1979 | 180,422 | 14,038,270 |
| 1978 | 174,884 | 13,941,700 |
| 1977 | 169,277 | 13,856,185 |
| 1976 | 163,607 | 13,774,037 |
| 1975 | 158,070 | 13,666,335 |
| 1974 | 152,656 | 13,545,056 |
| 1973 | 147,369 | 13,439,322 |
| 1972 | 142,189 | 13,328,593 |
| 1971 | 137,921 | 13,194,497 |
| 1970 | 135,138 | 13,038,526 |
| 1969 | 131,446 | 12,877,984 |
| 1968 | 126,222 | 12,729,721 |
| 1967 | 121,017 | 12,598,201 |
| 1966 | 115,874 | 12,456,251 |
| 1965 | 110,838 | 12,294,732 |
| 1964 | 105,922 | 12,127,120 |
| 1963 | 101,159 | 11,965,966 |
| 1962 | 96,719 | 11,805,689 |
| 1961 | 92,517 | 11,638,712 |
| 1960 | 88,347 | 11,486,631 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/netherlands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brunei increased by 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brunei gained 43,320 people (a 10.1% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).
Brunei was ranked 169th most populous country in 2006 and is 170th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Brunei's population will grow by 10.7% to 521,243 people with a rank change from 170th to 171st. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.
Brunei is projected to reach its peak in 2055 at 523K people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
Netherlands
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -0.19% |
| 2099 | -0.32% | -0.19% |
| 2098 | -0.3% | -0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -0.2% |
| 2096 | -0.3% | -0.21% |
| 2095 | -0.32% | -0.22% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -0.23% |
| 2093 | -0.32% | -0.22% |
| 2092 | -0.31% | -0.22% |
| 2091 | -0.32% | -0.24% |
| 2090 | -0.34% | -0.22% |
| 2089 | -0.34% | -0.22% |
| 2088 | -0.32% | -0.2% |
| 2087 | -0.31% | -0.22% |
| 2086 | -0.33% | -0.2% |
| 2085 | -0.32% | -0.2% |
| 2084 | -0.34% | -0.2% |
| 2083 | -0.34% | -0.2% |
| 2082 | -0.33% | -0.19% |
| 2081 | -0.32% | -0.17% |
| 2080 | -0.31% | -0.17% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | -0.16% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | -0.16% |
| 2077 | -0.3% | -0.14% |
| 2076 | -0.35% | -0.11% |
| 2075 | -0.33% | -0.1% |
| 2074 | -0.3% | -0.1% |
| 2073 | -0.28% | -0.09% |
| 2072 | -0.24% | -0.08% |
| 2071 | -0.23% | -0.08% |
| 2070 | -0.25% | -0.08% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -0.08% |
| 2068 | -0.26% | -0.08% |
| 2067 | -0.21% | -0.1% |
| 2066 | -0.19% | -0.11% |
| 2065 | -0.16% | -0.12% |
| 2064 | -0.14% | -0.13% |
| 2063 | -0.1% | -0.13% |
| 2062 | -0.1% | -0.15% |
| 2061 | -0.08% | -0.15% |
| 2060 | -0.07% | -0.15% |
| 2059 | -0.06% | -0.16% |
| 2058 | -0.05% | -0.16% |
| 2057 | -0.009% | -0.16% |
| 2056 | -0.002% | -0.15% |
| 2055 | 0.03% | -0.14% |
| 2054 | 0.04% | -0.14% |
| 2053 | 0.07% | -0.13% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | -0.14% |
| 2051 | 0.15% | -0.11% |
| 2050 | 0.18% | -0.11% |
| 2049 | 0.2% | -0.09% |
| 2048 | 0.22% | -0.09% |
| 2047 | 0.24% | -0.06% |
| 2046 | 0.29% | -0.06% |
| 2045 | 0.28% | -0.05% |
| 2044 | 0.3% | -0.03% |
| 2043 | 0.32% | -0.02% |
| 2042 | 0.36% | 0.003% |
| 2041 | 0.36% | 0.03% |
| 2040 | 0.4% | 0.05% |
| 2039 | 0.46% | 0.08% |
| 2038 | 0.43% | 0.1% |
| 2037 | 0.44% | 0.13% |
| 2036 | 0.48% | 0.15% |
| 2035 | 0.49% | 0.18% |
| 2034 | 0.51% | 0.22% |
| 2033 | 0.51% | 0.25% |
| 2032 | 0.58% | 0.28% |
| 2031 | 0.61% | 0.32% |
| 2030 | 0.62% | 0.37% |
| 2029 | 0.67% | 0.42% |
| 2028 | 0.72% | 0.46% |
| 2027 | 0.72% | 0.51% |
| 2026 | 0.76% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 0.82% | 0.65% |
| 2023 | 0.79% | 1% |
| 2022 | 0.81% | 0.96% |
| 2021 | 0.96% | 0.52% |
| 2020 | 1.07% | 0.56% |
| 2019 | 1.11% | 0.66% |
| 2018 | 1.16% | 0.59% |
| 2017 | 1.22% | 0.59% |
| 2016 | 1.27% | 0.53% |
| 2015 | 1.31% | 0.44% |
| 2014 | 1.35% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 1.39% | 0.3% |
| 2012 | 1.54% | 0.37% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | 0.47% |
| 2010 | 1.92% | 0.51% |
| 2009 | 1.89% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 1.87% | 0.39% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | 0.22% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | 0.16% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | 0.23% |
| 2004 | 1.81% | 0.35% |
| 2003 | 1.92% | 0.47% |
| 2002 | 2.03% | 0.64% |
| 2001 | 2.12% | 0.76% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | 0.72% |
| 1999 | 2.25% | 0.67% |
| 1998 | 2.31% | 0.62% |
| 1997 | 2.37% | 0.52% |
| 1996 | 2.43% | 0.46% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| 1994 | 2.57% | 0.6% |
| 1993 | 2.64% | 0.7% |
| 1992 | 2.76% | 0.76% |
| 1991 | 2.86% | 0.79% |
| 1990 | 2.91% | 0.69% |
| 1989 | 2.97% | 0.6% |
| 1988 | 3.02% | 0.65% |
| 1987 | 3.25% | 0.64% |
| 1986 | 3.46% | 0.56% |
| 1985 | 3.43% | 0.47% |
| 1984 | 3.38% | 0.4% |
| 1983 | 3.32% | 0.38% |
| 1982 | 3.22% | 0.46% |
| 1981 | 3.15% | 0.69% |
| 1980 | 3.15% | 0.79% |
| 1979 | 3.17% | 0.69% |
| 1978 | 3.31% | 0.62% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 0.6% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | 0.79% |
| 1975 | 3.55% | 0.9% |
| 1974 | 3.59% | 0.79% |
| 1973 | 3.64% | 0.83% |
| 1972 | 3.09% | 1.02% |
| 1971 | 2.06% | 1.2% |
| 1970 | 2.81% | 1.25% |
| 1969 | 4.14% | 1.16% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | 1.04% |
| 1967 | 4.44% | 1.14% |
| 1966 | 4.54% | 1.31% |
| 1965 | 4.64% | 1.38% |
| 1964 | 4.71% | 1.35% |
| 1963 | 4.59% | 1.36% |
| 1962 | 4.54% | 1.43% |
| 1961 | 4.72% | 1.32% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/netherlands | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Brunei grew by 0.82%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.
Live population counters
|
Brunei
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
470884
|
18252623
|
| Population rank | 170/197 | 72/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.22% |
| One net population change |
2.32 hours
|
4.52 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.4 hours
|
3.2 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.65 hours
|
3.09 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +10 | +319 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,772 | +116,368 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.82% | +0.65% |
| Population growth rate rank | 114/197 | 121/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.08 years
|
5.03 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +0 | +104,681 |
| Net migration rank | 77/196 | 16/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 119,933 | 2,956,518 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 124/195 | 23/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.9% | 16.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 21/195 | 40/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
Netherlands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 0 | - | 104,681 |
| 2024 | - | 0 | - | 121,628 |
| 2023 | 3,837 | 0 | -5,363 | 144,558 |
| 2022 | 3,319 | 0 | -1,770 | 224,472 |
| 2021 | 3,985 | 0 | 7,014 | 106,416 |
| 2020 | 4,188 | 462 | 0 | 67,598 |
| 2019 | 4,335 | 456 | 17,345 | 109,003 |
| 2018 | 4,502 | 450 | 15,508 | 87,197 |
| 2017 | 4,685 | 440 | 18,844 | 86,332 |
| 2016 | 4,876 | 415 | 23,843 | 88,743 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 356 | 23,716 | 55,585 |
| 2014 | 5,206 | 303 | 35,417 | 36,591 |
| 2013 | 5,302 | 285 | 30,248 | 19,973 |
| 2012 | 5,349 | 346 | 35,186 | 14,861 |
| 2011 | 5,242 | 1,399 | 45,072 | 31,224 |
| 2010 | 5,003 | 2,479 | 48,184 | 33,703 |
| 2009 | 4,789 | 2,489 | 51,244 | 39,832 |
| 2008 | 4,624 | 2,409 | 49,337 | 32,406 |
| 2007 | 4,521 | 2,291 | 49,145 | -304 |
| 2006 | 4,590 | 1,030 | 49,038 | -25,401 |
| 2005 | 4,703 | 1,163 | 50,592 | -22,496 |
| 2004 | 4,874 | 1,261 | 56,987 | -9,230 |
| 2003 | 5,034 | 1,383 | 58,411 | 7,937 |
| 2002 | 5,169 | 1,499 | 59,751 | 28,824 |
| 2001 | 5,275 | 1,569 | 62,580 | 56,096 |
| 2000 | 5,331 | 1,660 | 66,887 | 59,308 |
| 1999 | 5,388 | 1,639 | 60,086 | 47,179 |
| 1998 | 5,466 | 1,566 | 61,258 | 52,058 |
| 1997 | 5,518 | 1,533 | 56,198 | 31,302 |
| 1996 | 5,606 | 1,464 | 51,251 | 21,792 |
| 1995 | 5,750 | 1,348 | 54,106 | 15,056 |
| 1994 | 5,907 | 1,206 | 61,532 | 20,193 |
| 1993 | 6,045 | 1,082 | 58,103 | 44,514 |
| 1992 | 6,169 | 969 | 66,811 | 50,148 |
| 1991 | 6,259 | 1,087 | 69,321 | 51,670 |
| 1990 | 6,265 | 992 | 68,777 | 53,564 |
| 1989 | 6,202 | 1,002 | 59,396 | 31,165 |
| 1988 | 6,135 | 962 | 61,993 | 31,026 |
| 1987 | 6,017 | 994 | 64,526 | 39,559 |
| 1986 | 5,826 | 1,897 | 59,746 | 30,380 |
| 1985 | 5,620 | 1,808 | 55,069 | 27,356 |
| 1984 | 5,373 | 1,722 | 54,812 | 12,902 |
| 1983 | 5,138 | 1,602 | 51,722 | 11,007 |
| 1982 | 4,931 | 1,475 | 54,388 | 7,644 |
| 1981 | 4,839 | 1,124 | 62,688 | 17,643 |
| 1980 | 4,775 | 995 | 66,504 | 54,010 |
| 1979 | 4,717 | 899 | 63,172 | 42,772 |
| 1978 | 4,668 | 791 | 61,344 | 26,639 |
| 1977 | 4,594 | 1,157 | 63,739 | 19,809 |
| 1976 | 4,518 | 1,080 | 63,361 | 18,774 |
| 1975 | 4,431 | 1,047 | 64,232 | 68,569 |
| 1974 | 4,334 | 1,011 | 75,853 | 31,645 |
| 1973 | 4,216 | 1,007 | 84,668 | 18,705 |
| 1972 | 4,085 | 1,053 | 101,297 | 17,470 |
| 1971 | 3,880 | -476 | 116,112 | 32,756 |
| 1970 | 3,694 | -1,538 | 129,082 | 32,438 |
| 1969 | 3,618 | 1,608 | 139,082 | 21,850 |
| 1968 | 3,551 | 1,677 | 132,389 | 7,243 |
| 1967 | 3,477 | 1,703 | 138,580 | -10,673 |
| 1966 | 3,403 | 1,697 | 138,265 | 20,740 |
| 1965 | 3,326 | 1,655 | 146,308 | 19,444 |
| 1964 | 3,264 | 1,595 | 157,653 | 15,014 |
| 1963 | 3,195 | 1,469 | 154,361 | -21 |
| 1962 | 3,128 | 1,088 | 153,474 | 18,024 |
| 1961 | 3,175 | 1,014 | 159,450 | 8,258 |
| 1960 | 3,168 | 982 | 151,623 | -13,235 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/netherlands | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Brunei is from natural causes (a gain of 43,993 people) and 6.15% is from migration (a gain of 2,882 people). In the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).
As of 2024, 119,933 residents or 25.9% of the population were not native-born in Brunei, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.
Biggest cities by population
|
Brunei
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Kuala Belait | 70K |
| Bandar Seri Begawan | 50K |
| Seria | 13.1K |
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Amsterdam | 921K |
| Rotterdam | 664K |
| The Hague | 548K |
| Utrecht | 359K |
| Eindhoven | 244K |
| Groningen | 238K |
| Tilburg | 228K |
| Almere | 215K |
| Breda | 188K |
| Nijmegen | 177K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Brunei and the Netherlands
|
Brunei
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 75.8 years | 82.6 years |
| Average age | 33.9 years | 42.5 years |
| Median age | 33.2 years | 42.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.1:46.9 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.75 births per woman | 1.43 births per woman |
| Population density | 231 ppl/mi² | 1,402 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/netherlands | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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