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Population in the Netherlands compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 1.46 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Netherlands vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands North Korea
2100 17,359,081 19,604,631
2099 17,392,412 19,733,548
2098 17,425,508 19,862,949
2097 17,459,827 19,993,288
2096 17,495,124 20,124,518
2095 17,532,593 20,256,401
2094 17,571,051 20,388,156
2093 17,610,792 20,520,253
2092 17,649,611 20,652,961
2091 17,688,532 20,785,785
2090 17,730,570 20,918,305
2089 17,770,380 21,050,580
2088 17,809,825 21,182,325
2087 17,845,820 21,314,047
2086 17,885,001 21,445,329
2085 17,921,302 21,575,835
2084 17,957,639 21,705,777
2083 17,994,232 21,835,029
2082 18,029,404 21,964,199
2081 18,063,233 22,092,862
2080 18,093,703 22,220,948
2079 18,124,294 22,348,577
2078 18,152,738 22,475,755
2077 18,181,372 22,602,817
2076 18,206,864 22,729,499
2075 18,227,791 22,856,369
2074 18,245,652 22,983,784
2073 18,263,765 23,111,441
2072 18,280,443 23,239,261
2071 18,295,700 23,367,583
2070 18,311,141 23,496,136
2069 18,326,509 23,625,538
2068 18,341,711 23,755,136
2067 18,356,770 23,884,879
2066 18,374,904 24,015,027
2065 18,396,018 24,144,985
2064 18,417,894 24,274,257
2063 18,441,434 24,402,439
2062 18,464,922 24,529,941
2061 18,492,436 24,656,350
2060 18,520,315 24,780,911
2059 18,548,786 24,903,037
2058 18,577,700 25,023,260
2057 18,608,370 25,140,523
2056 18,638,918 25,255,342
2055 18,666,514 25,366,397
2054 18,692,598 25,474,292
2053 18,718,268 25,578,870
2052 18,741,740 25,679,963
2051 18,768,309 25,777,639
2050 18,789,481 25,871,673
2049 18,809,886 25,962,167
2048 18,827,655 26,048,593
2047 18,844,635 26,131,429
2046 18,855,920 26,210,487
2045 18,867,286 26,286,208
2044 18,877,101 26,358,331
2043 18,882,735 26,427,062
2042 18,885,839 26,491,482
2041 18,885,255 26,552,564
2040 18,879,571 26,609,557
2039 18,870,248 26,661,815
2038 18,855,512 26,708,400
2037 18,837,172 26,749,134
2036 18,811,873 26,783,304
2035 18,783,312 26,810,026
2034 18,750,125 26,828,912
2033 18,708,101 26,839,229
2032 18,662,054 26,840,944
2031 18,609,452 26,832,957
2030 18,549,634 26,814,812
2029 18,481,269 26,787,117
2028 18,404,195 26,749,227
2027 18,320,644 26,701,444
2026 18,227,403 26,643,460
2025 18,118,662 26,575,953
2024 17,993,485 26,498,823
2023 17,877,117 26,418,204
2022 17,700,982 26,328,845
2021 17,533,044 26,232,534
2020 17,441,500 26,136,312
2019 17,344,874 26,037,632
2018 17,231,624 25,931,147
2017 17,131,296 25,817,709
2016 17,030,314 25,698,326
2015 16,939,923 25,575,350
2014 16,865,008 25,451,262
2013 16,804,432 25,329,451
2012 16,754,962 25,211,728
2011 16,693,074 25,097,874
2010 16,615,394 24,987,258
2009 16,530,388 24,878,332
2008 16,445,593 24,764,618
2007 16,381,696 24,646,383
2006 16,346,101 24,524,507
2005 16,319,868 24,396,433
2004 16,281,779 24,254,943
2003 16,225,302 24,090,380
2002 16,148,929 23,943,973
2001 16,046,180 23,815,358
2000 15,925,513 23,665,910
1999 15,812,088 23,497,599
1998 15,707,209 23,311,564
1997 15,610,650 23,110,830
1996 15,530,498 22,895,746
1995 15,459,006 22,669,304
1994 15,382,838 22,393,975
1993 15,290,368 22,073,352
1992 15,184,166 21,750,911
1991 15,069,798 21,428,638
1990 14,951,510 21,112,137
1989 14,848,907 20,804,367
1988 14,760,094 20,503,161
1987 14,665,037 20,205,483
1986 14,572,278 19,910,855
1985 14,491,632 19,620,388
1984 14,424,211 19,335,043
1983 14,367,070 19,054,034
1982 14,312,690 18,776,357
1981 14,247,208 18,501,295
1980 14,149,800 18,236,786
1979 14,038,270 17,983,470
1978 13,941,700 17,735,995
1977 13,856,185 17,492,798
1976 13,774,037 17,243,450
1975 13,666,335 16,971,055
1974 13,545,056 16,673,121
1973 13,439,322 16,350,367
1972 13,328,593 15,975,069
1971 13,194,497 15,572,457
1970 13,038,526 15,172,775
1969 12,877,984 14,767,615
1968 12,729,721 14,365,596
1967 12,598,201 13,958,350
1966 12,456,251 13,569,094
1965 12,294,732 13,219,369
1964 12,127,120 12,889,770
1963 11,965,966 12,567,057
1962 11,805,689 12,262,882
1961 11,638,712 11,990,713
1960 11,486,631 11,722,953

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/netherlands/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Netherlands' population will grow by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people with a rank change from 72nd to 77th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands North Korea
2100 -0.19% -0.65%
2099 -0.19% -0.65%
2098 -0.2% -0.65%
2097 -0.2% -0.65%
2096 -0.21% -0.65%
2095 -0.22% -0.65%
2094 -0.23% -0.64%
2093 -0.22% -0.64%
2092 -0.22% -0.64%
2091 -0.24% -0.63%
2090 -0.22% -0.63%
2089 -0.22% -0.62%
2088 -0.2% -0.62%
2087 -0.22% -0.61%
2086 -0.2% -0.6%
2085 -0.2% -0.6%
2084 -0.2% -0.59%
2083 -0.2% -0.59%
2082 -0.19% -0.58%
2081 -0.17% -0.58%
2080 -0.17% -0.57%
2079 -0.16% -0.57%
2078 -0.16% -0.56%
2077 -0.14% -0.56%
2076 -0.11% -0.56%
2075 -0.1% -0.55%
2074 -0.1% -0.55%
2073 -0.09% -0.55%
2072 -0.08% -0.55%
2071 -0.08% -0.55%
2070 -0.08% -0.55%
2069 -0.08% -0.55%
2068 -0.08% -0.54%
2067 -0.1% -0.54%
2066 -0.11% -0.54%
2065 -0.12% -0.53%
2064 -0.13% -0.53%
2063 -0.13% -0.52%
2062 -0.15% -0.51%
2061 -0.15% -0.5%
2060 -0.15% -0.49%
2059 -0.16% -0.48%
2058 -0.16% -0.47%
2057 -0.16% -0.45%
2056 -0.15% -0.44%
2055 -0.14% -0.42%
2054 -0.14% -0.41%
2053 -0.13% -0.39%
2052 -0.14% -0.38%
2051 -0.11% -0.36%
2050 -0.11% -0.35%
2049 -0.09% -0.33%
2048 -0.09% -0.32%
2047 -0.06% -0.3%
2046 -0.06% -0.29%
2045 -0.05% -0.27%
2044 -0.03% -0.26%
2043 -0.02% -0.24%
2042 0.003% -0.23%
2041 0.03% -0.21%
2040 0.05% -0.2%
2039 0.08% -0.17%
2038 0.1% -0.15%
2037 0.13% -0.13%
2036 0.15% -0.1%
2035 0.18% -0.07%
2034 0.22% -0.04%
2033 0.25% -0.006%
2032 0.28% 0.03%
2031 0.32% 0.07%
2030 0.37% 0.1%
2029 0.42% 0.14%
2028 0.46% 0.18%
2027 0.51% 0.22%
2026 0.6% 0.25%
2025 0.7% 0.29%
2024 0.65% 0.31%
2023 1% 0.34%
2022 0.96% 0.37%
2021 0.52% 0.37%
2020 0.56% 0.38%
2019 0.66% 0.41%
2018 0.59% 0.44%
2017 0.59% 0.46%
2016 0.53% 0.48%
2015 0.44% 0.49%
2014 0.36% 0.48%
2013 0.3% 0.47%
2012 0.37% 0.45%
2011 0.47% 0.44%
2010 0.51% 0.44%
2009 0.52% 0.46%
2008 0.39% 0.48%
2007 0.22% 0.5%
2006 0.16% 0.52%
2005 0.23% 0.58%
2004 0.35% 0.68%
2003 0.47% 0.61%
2002 0.64% 0.54%
2001 0.76% 0.63%
2000 0.72% 0.72%
1999 0.67% 0.8%
1998 0.62% 0.87%
1997 0.52% 0.94%
1996 0.46% 1%
1995 0.5% 1.23%
1994 0.6% 1.45%
1993 0.7% 1.48%
1992 0.76% 1.5%
1991 0.79% 1.5%
1990 0.69% 1.48%
1989 0.6% 1.47%
1988 0.65% 1.47%
1987 0.64% 1.48%
1986 0.56% 1.48%
1985 0.47% 1.48%
1984 0.4% 1.47%
1983 0.38% 1.48%
1982 0.46% 1.49%
1981 0.69% 1.45%
1980 0.79% 1.41%
1979 0.69% 1.4%
1978 0.62% 1.39%
1977 0.6% 1.45%
1976 0.79% 1.61%
1975 0.9% 1.79%
1974 0.79% 1.97%
1973 0.83% 2.35%
1972 1.02% 2.59%
1971 1.2% 2.63%
1970 1.25% 2.74%
1969 1.16% 2.8%
1968 1.04% 2.92%
1967 1.14% 2.87%
1966 1.31% 2.65%
1965 1.38% 2.56%
1964 1.35% 2.57%
1963 1.36% 2.48%
1962 1.43% 2.27%
1961 1.32% 2.28%

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/netherlands/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Netherlands North Korea
Current population
18252623
26659144
Population rank 72/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.32%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +221
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 150/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +104,681 -2,787
Net migration rank 16/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -2,787
2024 - 121,628 - -2,473
2023 -5,363 144,558 86,203 -1,997
2022 -1,770 224,472 96,495 -1,997
2021 7,014 106,416 99,710 -1,585
2020 0 67,598 95,920 -1,585
2019 17,345 109,003 106,208 -3,142
2018 15,508 87,197 113,164 -3,225
2017 18,844 86,332 120,181 -3,224
2016 23,843 88,743 125,048 -3,222
2015 23,716 55,585 127,365 -3,208
2014 35,417 36,591 127,078 -3,042
2013 30,248 19,973 122,519 -2,933
2012 35,186 14,861 118,773 -2,919
2011 45,072 31,224 114,798 -2,957
2010 48,184 33,703 112,443 -3,053
2009 51,244 39,832 111,530 -3,058
2008 49,337 32,406 122,015 -3,051
2007 49,145 -304 120,521 -3,021
2006 49,038 -25,401 129,171 -2,948
2005 50,592 -22,496 132,765 -2,861
2004 56,987 -9,230 155,838 -2,758
2003 58,411 7,937 178,775 -2,717
2002 59,751 28,824 119,504 -2,763
2001 62,580 56,096 143,321 -2,884
2000 66,887 59,308 161,591 -3,142
1999 60,086 47,179 181,613 -3,443
1998 61,258 52,058 197,589 -3,706
1997 56,198 31,302 211,325 -3,745
1996 51,251 21,792 226,095 -3,512
1995 54,106 15,056 233,381 -3,094
1994 61,532 20,193 320,861 -517
1993 58,103 44,514 320,880 0
1992 66,811 50,148 324,002 0
1991 69,321 51,670 320,551 0
1990 68,777 53,564 312,460 0
1989 59,396 31,165 303,078 0
1988 61,993 31,026 299,305 0
1987 64,526 39,559 296,030 0
1986 59,746 30,380 293,227 0
1985 55,069 27,356 287,714 0
1984 54,812 12,902 282,987 0
1983 51,722 11,007 279,046 0
1982 54,388 7,644 276,332 0
1981 62,688 17,643 273,800 0
1980 66,504 54,010 255,206 0
1979 63,172 42,772 251,409 0
1978 61,344 26,639 243,533 0
1977 63,739 19,809 242,870 0
1976 63,361 18,774 255,841 0
1975 64,232 68,569 288,966 0
1974 75,853 31,645 306,902 0
1973 84,668 18,705 338,600 0
1972 101,297 17,470 411,997 0
1971 116,112 32,756 393,220 0
1970 129,082 32,438 406,129 0
1969 139,082 21,850 404,189 0
1968 132,389 7,243 399,837 0
1967 138,580 -10,673 414,632 0
1966 138,265 20,740 363,882 0
1965 146,308 19,444 335,587 0
1964 157,653 15,014 323,623 0
1963 154,361 -21 321,805 0
1962 153,474 18,024 286,534 0
1961 159,450 8,258 257,788 0
1960 151,623 -13,235 277,717 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/north-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 11.8% of the population change in the Netherlands is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people). In North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/netherlands/north-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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