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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 1,824,359 people in North Macedonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 1,805,954 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 10.1 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs -0.48% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.44% decline).

Netherlands vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands North Macedonia
2100 17,359,081 866,884
2099 17,392,412 877,788
2098 17,425,508 888,715
2097 17,459,827 899,716
2096 17,495,124 910,709
2095 17,532,593 921,559
2094 17,571,051 932,633
2093 17,610,792 943,984
2092 17,649,611 955,335
2091 17,688,532 966,773
2090 17,730,570 978,130
2089 17,770,380 989,666
2088 17,809,825 1,001,224
2087 17,845,820 1,012,831
2086 17,885,001 1,024,787
2085 17,921,302 1,036,668
2084 17,957,639 1,048,876
2083 17,994,232 1,061,031
2082 18,029,404 1,073,408
2081 18,063,233 1,085,823
2080 18,093,703 1,098,127
2079 18,124,294 1,110,614
2078 18,152,738 1,123,398
2077 18,181,372 1,136,448
2076 18,206,864 1,149,787
2075 18,227,791 1,163,080
2074 18,245,652 1,176,671
2073 18,263,765 1,190,351
2072 18,280,443 1,204,015
2071 18,295,700 1,217,691
2070 18,311,141 1,231,978
2069 18,326,509 1,246,408
2068 18,341,711 1,260,869
2067 18,356,770 1,275,289
2066 18,374,904 1,289,439
2065 18,396,018 1,303,917
2064 18,417,894 1,318,161
2063 18,441,434 1,332,807
2062 18,464,922 1,347,540
2061 18,492,436 1,362,299
2060 18,520,315 1,376,807
2059 18,548,786 1,390,921
2058 18,577,700 1,404,982
2057 18,608,370 1,419,185
2056 18,638,918 1,433,595
2055 18,666,514 1,447,857
2054 18,692,598 1,462,210
2053 18,718,268 1,476,351
2052 18,741,740 1,489,905
2051 18,768,309 1,503,526
2050 18,789,481 1,516,629
2049 18,809,886 1,529,608
2048 18,827,655 1,542,390
2047 18,844,635 1,555,085
2046 18,855,920 1,568,151
2045 18,867,286 1,581,115
2044 18,877,101 1,593,878
2043 18,882,735 1,606,930
2042 18,885,839 1,619,941
2041 18,885,255 1,632,704
2040 18,879,571 1,645,446
2039 18,870,248 1,658,034
2038 18,855,512 1,670,347
2037 18,837,172 1,682,850
2036 18,811,873 1,695,204
2035 18,783,312 1,707,302
2034 18,750,125 1,719,193
2033 18,708,101 1,730,723
2032 18,662,054 1,742,288
2031 18,609,452 1,753,729
2030 18,549,634 1,765,162
2029 18,481,269 1,775,815
2028 18,404,195 1,786,051
2027 18,320,644 1,795,945
2026 18,227,403 1,805,954
2025 18,118,662 1,815,368
2024 17,993,485 1,824,359
2023 17,877,117 1,827,816
2022 17,700,982 1,831,712
2021 17,533,044 1,837,114
2020 17,441,500 1,856,124
2019 17,344,874 1,876,262
2018 17,231,624 1,889,051
2017 17,131,296 1,898,657
2016 17,030,314 1,906,313
2015 16,939,923 1,912,430
2014 16,865,008 1,917,557
2013 16,804,432 1,922,716
2012 16,754,962 1,929,821
2011 16,693,074 1,937,398
2010 16,615,394 1,946,298
2009 16,530,388 1,958,782
2008 16,445,593 1,971,493
2007 16,381,696 1,982,933
2006 16,346,101 1,994,287
2005 16,319,868 2,005,330
2004 16,281,779 2,016,186
2003 16,225,302 2,022,725
2002 16,148,929 2,020,157
2001 16,046,180 2,034,882
2000 15,925,513 2,026,350
1999 15,812,088 2,017,142
1998 15,707,209 2,007,523
1997 15,610,650 1,996,869
1996 15,530,498 2,012,553
1995 15,459,006 1,998,534
1994 15,382,838 1,992,666
1993 15,290,368 2,006,854
1992 15,184,166 2,032,523
1991 15,069,798 2,055,994
1990 14,951,510 2,063,689
1989 14,848,907 2,055,649
1988 14,760,094 2,045,737
1987 14,665,037 2,035,157
1986 14,572,278 2,024,732
1985 14,491,632 2,014,331
1984 14,424,211 2,003,399
1983 14,367,070 1,991,901
1982 14,312,690 1,978,956
1981 14,247,208 1,959,065
1980 14,149,800 1,933,038
1979 14,038,270 1,906,523
1978 13,941,700 1,879,847
1977 13,856,185 1,853,138
1976 13,774,037 1,825,830
1975 13,666,335 1,797,972
1974 13,545,056 1,770,545
1973 13,439,322 1,743,816
1972 13,328,593 1,717,395
1971 13,194,497 1,691,216
1970 13,038,526 1,664,208
1969 12,877,984 1,636,345
1968 12,729,721 1,608,930
1967 12,598,201 1,582,492
1966 12,456,251 1,557,349
1965 12,294,732 1,533,466
1964 12,127,120 1,510,900
1963 11,965,966 1,488,737
1962 11,805,689 1,471,745
1961 11,638,712 1,455,171
1960 11,486,631 1,435,059

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-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th 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 Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,516,629 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands North Macedonia
2100 -0.19% -1.24%
2099 -0.19% -1.23%
2098 -0.2% -1.22%
2097 -0.2% -1.21%
2096 -0.21% -1.18%
2095 -0.22% -1.19%
2094 -0.23% -1.2%
2093 -0.22% -1.19%
2092 -0.22% -1.18%
2091 -0.24% -1.16%
2090 -0.22% -1.17%
2089 -0.22% -1.15%
2088 -0.2% -1.15%
2087 -0.22% -1.17%
2086 -0.2% -1.15%
2085 -0.2% -1.16%
2084 -0.2% -1.15%
2083 -0.2% -1.15%
2082 -0.19% -1.14%
2081 -0.17% -1.12%
2080 -0.17% -1.12%
2079 -0.16% -1.14%
2078 -0.16% -1.15%
2077 -0.14% -1.16%
2076 -0.11% -1.14%
2075 -0.1% -1.15%
2074 -0.1% -1.15%
2073 -0.09% -1.13%
2072 -0.08% -1.12%
2071 -0.08% -1.16%
2070 -0.08% -1.16%
2069 -0.08% -1.15%
2068 -0.08% -1.13%
2067 -0.1% -1.1%
2066 -0.11% -1.11%
2065 -0.12% -1.08%
2064 -0.13% -1.1%
2063 -0.13% -1.09%
2062 -0.15% -1.08%
2061 -0.15% -1.05%
2060 -0.15% -1.01%
2059 -0.16% -1%
2058 -0.16% -1%
2057 -0.16% -1.01%
2056 -0.15% -0.99%
2055 -0.14% -0.98%
2054 -0.14% -0.96%
2053 -0.13% -0.91%
2052 -0.14% -0.91%
2051 -0.11% -0.86%
2050 -0.11% -0.85%
2049 -0.09% -0.83%
2048 -0.09% -0.82%
2047 -0.06% -0.83%
2046 -0.06% -0.82%
2045 -0.05% -0.8%
2044 -0.03% -0.81%
2043 -0.02% -0.8%
2042 0.003% -0.78%
2041 0.03% -0.77%
2040 0.05% -0.76%
2039 0.08% -0.74%
2038 0.1% -0.74%
2037 0.13% -0.73%
2036 0.15% -0.71%
2035 0.18% -0.69%
2034 0.22% -0.67%
2033 0.25% -0.66%
2032 0.28% -0.65%
2031 0.32% -0.65%
2030 0.37% -0.6%
2029 0.42% -0.57%
2028 0.46% -0.55%
2027 0.51% -0.55%
2026 0.6% -0.52%
2025 0.7% -0.49%
2024 0.65% -0.19%
2023 1% -0.21%
2022 0.96% -0.29%
2021 0.52% -1.02%
2020 0.56% -1.07%
2019 0.66% -0.68%
2018 0.59% -0.51%
2017 0.59% -0.4%
2016 0.53% -0.32%
2015 0.44% -0.27%
2014 0.36% -0.27%
2013 0.3% -0.37%
2012 0.37% -0.39%
2011 0.47% -0.46%
2010 0.51% -0.64%
2009 0.52% -0.64%
2008 0.39% -0.58%
2007 0.22% -0.57%
2006 0.16% -0.55%
2005 0.23% -0.54%
2004 0.35% -0.32%
2003 0.47% 0.13%
2002 0.64% -0.72%
2001 0.76% 0.42%
2000 0.72% 0.46%
1999 0.67% 0.48%
1998 0.62% 0.53%
1997 0.52% -0.78%
1996 0.46% 0.7%
1995 0.5% 0.29%
1994 0.6% -0.71%
1993 0.7% -1.26%
1992 0.76% -1.14%
1991 0.79% -0.37%
1990 0.69% 0.39%
1989 0.6% 0.48%
1988 0.65% 0.52%
1987 0.64% 0.51%
1986 0.56% 0.52%
1985 0.47% 0.55%
1984 0.4% 0.58%
1983 0.38% 0.65%
1982 0.46% 1.02%
1981 0.69% 1.35%
1980 0.79% 1.39%
1979 0.69% 1.42%
1978 0.62% 1.44%
1977 0.6% 1.5%
1976 0.79% 1.55%
1975 0.9% 1.55%
1974 0.79% 1.53%
1973 0.83% 1.54%
1972 1.02% 1.55%
1971 1.2% 1.62%
1970 1.25% 1.7%
1969 1.16% 1.7%
1968 1.04% 1.67%
1967 1.14% 1.61%
1966 1.31% 1.56%
1965 1.38% 1.49%
1964 1.35% 1.49%
1963 1.36% 1.15%
1962 1.43% 1.14%
1961 1.32% 1.4%

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-macedonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Netherlands North Macedonia
Current population
18252623
1805954
Population rank 72/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.02%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
2.53 hours
One birth every
3.2 minutes
31.3 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
26.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 -9
Annual growth/decline +116,368 -3,457
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 176/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +104,681 -5,645
Net migration rank 16/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -5,645
2024 - 121,628 - -5,728
2023 -5,363 144,558 -3,290 -5,597
2022 -1,770 224,472 -4,397 -5,296
2021 7,014 106,416 -9,737 -5,483
2020 0 67,598 -5,939 -23,458
2019 17,345 109,003 -375 -24,204
2018 15,508 87,197 1,512 -24,878
2017 18,844 86,332 1,329 -24,227
2016 23,843 88,743 2,374 -24,144
2015 23,716 55,585 2,294 -23,010
2014 35,417 36,591 3,644 -22,132
2013 30,248 19,973 3,653 -20,297
2012 35,186 14,861 3,087 -19,083
2011 45,072 31,224 3,100 -17,871
2010 48,184 33,703 4,866 -16,668
2009 51,244 39,832 4,309 -15,455
2008 49,337 32,406 3,746 -17,645
2007 49,145 -304 2,974 -15,705
2006 49,038 -25,401 3,988 -9,632
2005 50,592 -22,496 4,011 -2,244
2004 56,987 -9,230 5,444 -2,640
2003 58,411 7,937 8,900 -2,880
2002 59,751 28,824 9,697 -2,858
2001 62,580 56,096 10,174 -922
2000 66,887 59,308 12,159 -2,824
1999 60,086 47,179 10,489 -1,261
1998 61,258 52,058 12,446 -589
1997 56,198 31,302 12,979 -477
1996 51,251 21,792 14,806 -397
1995 54,106 15,056 17,239 -3,603
1994 61,532 20,193 19,103 -21,006
1993 58,103 44,514 20,797 -47,273
1992 66,811 50,148 21,659 -46,509
1991 69,321 51,670 23,387 -45,484
1990 68,777 53,564 22,868 -16,174
1989 59,396 31,165 22,912 -13,528
1988 61,993 31,026 24,064 -13,621
1987 64,526 39,559 24,359 -13,635
1986 59,746 30,380 23,720 -13,589
1985 55,069 27,356 24,167 -13,492
1984 54,812 12,902 24,436 -13,251
1983 51,722 11,007 24,690 -12,884
1982 54,388 7,644 25,810 -11,716
1981 62,688 17,643 25,689 0
1980 66,504 54,010 26,547 -189
1979 63,172 42,772 27,096 -426
1978 61,344 26,639 27,150 -462
1977 63,739 19,809 27,410 -683
1976 63,361 18,774 28,799 -911
1975 64,232 68,569 28,983 -1,147
1974 75,853 31,645 28,400 -1,376
1973 84,668 18,705 28,032 -1,600
1972 101,297 17,470 28,236 -1,834
1971 116,112 32,756 28,010 -2,064
1970 129,082 32,438 28,022 60
1969 139,082 21,850 27,464 181
1968 132,389 7,243 28,378 -1,201
1967 138,580 -10,673 28,401 -2,696
1966 138,265 20,740 28,766 -4,176
1965 146,308 19,444 28,564 -5,385
1964 157,653 15,014 27,889 -5,938
1963 154,361 -21 28,124 -5,759
1962 153,474 18,024 25,317 -13,702
1961 159,450 8,258 27,846 -6,309
1960 151,623 -13,235 28,816 -10,126

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/north-macedonia | 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 Macedonia 6.45% is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

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 Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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-macedonia | 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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