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Population in the Netherlands compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 1.66 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Netherlands vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Papua New Guinea
2100 17,359,081 18,802,138
2099 17,392,412 18,790,040
2098 17,425,508 18,776,265
2097 17,459,827 18,758,897
2096 17,495,124 18,737,707
2095 17,532,593 18,714,219
2094 17,571,051 18,687,257
2093 17,610,792 18,658,233
2092 17,649,611 18,625,772
2091 17,688,532 18,590,001
2090 17,730,570 18,549,501
2089 17,770,380 18,510,463
2088 17,809,825 18,468,827
2087 17,845,820 18,424,378
2086 17,885,001 18,376,043
2085 17,921,302 18,325,641
2084 17,957,639 18,274,394
2083 17,994,232 18,218,709
2082 18,029,404 18,163,177
2081 18,063,233 18,104,285
2080 18,093,703 18,039,008
2079 18,124,294 17,975,778
2078 18,152,738 17,908,670
2077 18,181,372 17,840,781
2076 18,206,864 17,771,791
2075 18,227,791 17,699,428
2074 18,245,652 17,625,044
2073 18,263,765 17,548,128
2072 18,280,443 17,466,649
2071 18,295,700 17,381,598
2070 18,311,141 17,295,105
2069 18,326,509 17,205,503
2068 18,341,711 17,112,154
2067 18,356,770 17,015,090
2066 18,374,904 16,915,436
2065 18,396,018 16,812,946
2064 18,417,894 16,708,669
2063 18,441,434 16,604,296
2062 18,464,922 16,497,292
2061 18,492,436 16,386,905
2060 18,520,315 16,270,535
2059 18,548,786 16,152,614
2058 18,577,700 16,032,684
2057 18,608,370 15,909,649
2056 18,638,918 15,784,519
2055 18,666,514 15,656,542
2054 18,692,598 15,523,143
2053 18,718,268 15,389,244
2052 18,741,740 15,250,715
2051 18,768,309 15,110,389
2050 18,789,481 14,968,530
2049 18,809,886 14,821,865
2048 18,827,655 14,673,459
2047 18,844,635 14,522,926
2046 18,855,920 14,370,120
2045 18,867,286 14,213,585
2044 18,877,101 14,056,036
2043 18,882,735 13,897,765
2042 18,885,839 13,738,690
2041 18,885,255 13,577,382
2040 18,879,571 13,413,396
2039 18,870,248 13,247,486
2038 18,855,512 13,079,352
2037 18,837,172 12,909,735
2036 18,811,873 12,738,223
2035 18,783,312 12,566,543
2034 18,750,125 12,392,476
2033 18,708,101 12,218,246
2032 18,662,054 12,042,345
2031 18,609,452 11,865,316
2030 18,549,634 11,685,599
2029 18,481,269 11,504,890
2028 18,404,195 11,322,573
2027 18,320,644 11,138,409
2026 18,227,403 10,952,454
2025 18,118,662 10,765,048
2024 17,993,485 10,576,502
2023 17,877,117 10,389,635
2022 17,700,982 10,203,169
2021 17,533,044 10,012,896
2020 17,441,500 9,815,746
2019 17,344,874 9,609,010
2018 17,231,624 9,394,513
2017 17,131,296 9,178,714
2016 17,030,314 8,961,718
2015 16,939,923 8,743,246
2014 16,865,008 8,523,441
2013 16,804,432 8,302,698
2012 16,754,962 8,081,390
2011 16,693,074 7,859,346
2010 16,615,394 7,633,523
2009 16,530,388 7,406,438
2008 16,445,593 7,183,002
2007 16,381,696 6,963,345
2006 16,346,101 6,747,720
2005 16,319,868 6,535,905
2004 16,281,779 6,328,041
2003 16,225,302 6,123,997
2002 16,148,929 5,924,003
2001 16,046,180 5,728,435
2000 15,925,513 5,537,064
1999 15,812,088 5,349,333
1998 15,707,209 5,166,390
1997 15,610,650 4,987,883
1996 15,530,498 4,813,361
1995 15,459,006 4,644,278
1994 15,382,838 4,480,208
1993 15,290,368 4,320,872
1992 15,184,166 4,166,699
1991 15,069,798 4,021,837
1990 14,951,510 3,896,481
1989 14,848,907 3,796,078
1988 14,760,094 3,711,880
1987 14,665,037 3,632,543
1986 14,572,278 3,554,793
1985 14,491,632 3,478,936
1984 14,424,211 3,405,198
1983 14,367,070 3,333,633
1982 14,312,690 3,264,291
1981 14,247,208 3,197,019
1980 14,149,800 3,131,512
1979 14,038,270 3,067,341
1978 13,941,700 3,003,714
1977 13,856,185 2,940,327
1976 13,774,037 2,877,327
1975 13,666,335 2,814,820
1974 13,545,056 2,752,671
1973 13,439,322 2,690,629
1972 13,328,593 2,628,432
1971 13,194,497 2,566,421
1970 13,038,526 2,505,628
1969 12,877,984 2,446,927
1968 12,729,721 2,390,803
1967 12,598,201 2,337,532
1966 12,456,251 2,285,774
1965 12,294,732 2,235,820
1964 12,127,120 2,188,325
1963 11,965,966 2,141,376
1962 11,805,689 2,093,919
1961 11,638,712 2,046,127
1960 11,486,631 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.19% 0.06%
2099 -0.19% 0.07%
2098 -0.2% 0.09%
2097 -0.2% 0.11%
2096 -0.21% 0.13%
2095 -0.22% 0.14%
2094 -0.23% 0.16%
2093 -0.22% 0.17%
2092 -0.22% 0.19%
2091 -0.24% 0.22%
2090 -0.22% 0.21%
2089 -0.22% 0.23%
2088 -0.2% 0.24%
2087 -0.22% 0.26%
2086 -0.2% 0.28%
2085 -0.2% 0.28%
2084 -0.2% 0.31%
2083 -0.2% 0.31%
2082 -0.19% 0.33%
2081 -0.17% 0.36%
2080 -0.17% 0.35%
2079 -0.16% 0.37%
2078 -0.16% 0.38%
2077 -0.14% 0.39%
2076 -0.11% 0.41%
2075 -0.1% 0.42%
2074 -0.1% 0.44%
2073 -0.09% 0.47%
2072 -0.08% 0.49%
2071 -0.08% 0.5%
2070 -0.08% 0.52%
2069 -0.08% 0.55%
2068 -0.08% 0.57%
2067 -0.1% 0.59%
2066 -0.11% 0.61%
2065 -0.12% 0.62%
2064 -0.13% 0.63%
2063 -0.13% 0.65%
2062 -0.15% 0.67%
2061 -0.15% 0.72%
2060 -0.15% 0.73%
2059 -0.16% 0.75%
2058 -0.16% 0.77%
2057 -0.16% 0.79%
2056 -0.15% 0.82%
2055 -0.14% 0.86%
2054 -0.14% 0.87%
2053 -0.13% 0.91%
2052 -0.14% 0.93%
2051 -0.11% 0.95%
2050 -0.11% 0.99%
2049 -0.09% 1.01%
2048 -0.09% 1.04%
2047 -0.06% 1.06%
2046 -0.06% 1.1%
2045 -0.05% 1.12%
2044 -0.03% 1.14%
2043 -0.02% 1.16%
2042 0.003% 1.19%
2041 0.03% 1.22%
2040 0.05% 1.25%
2039 0.08% 1.29%
2038 0.1% 1.31%
2037 0.13% 1.35%
2036 0.15% 1.37%
2035 0.18% 1.4%
2034 0.22% 1.43%
2033 0.25% 1.46%
2032 0.28% 1.49%
2031 0.32% 1.54%
2030 0.37% 1.57%
2029 0.42% 1.61%
2028 0.46% 1.65%
2027 0.51% 1.7%
2026 0.6% 1.74%
2025 0.7% 1.78%
2024 0.65% 1.8%
2023 1% 1.83%
2022 0.96% 1.9%
2021 0.52% 2.01%
2020 0.56% 2.15%
2019 0.66% 2.28%
2018 0.59% 2.35%
2017 0.59% 2.42%
2016 0.53% 2.5%
2015 0.44% 2.58%
2014 0.36% 2.66%
2013 0.3% 2.74%
2012 0.37% 2.83%
2011 0.47% 2.96%
2010 0.51% 3.07%
2009 0.52% 3.11%
2008 0.39% 3.15%
2007 0.22% 3.2%
2006 0.16% 3.24%
2005 0.23% 3.28%
2004 0.35% 3.33%
2003 0.47% 3.38%
2002 0.64% 3.41%
2001 0.76% 3.46%
2000 0.72% 3.51%
1999 0.67% 3.54%
1998 0.62% 3.58%
1997 0.52% 3.63%
1996 0.46% 3.64%
1995 0.5% 3.66%
1994 0.6% 3.69%
1993 0.7% 3.7%
1992 0.76% 3.6%
1991 0.79% 3.22%
1990 0.69% 2.64%
1989 0.6% 2.27%
1988 0.65% 2.18%
1987 0.64% 2.19%
1986 0.56% 2.18%
1985 0.47% 2.17%
1984 0.4% 2.15%
1983 0.38% 2.12%
1982 0.46% 2.1%
1981 0.69% 2.09%
1980 0.79% 2.09%
1979 0.69% 2.12%
1978 0.62% 2.16%
1977 0.6% 2.19%
1976 0.79% 2.22%
1975 0.9% 2.26%
1974 0.79% 2.31%
1973 0.83% 2.37%
1972 1.02% 2.42%
1971 1.2% 2.43%
1970 1.25% 2.4%
1969 1.16% 2.35%
1968 1.04% 2.28%
1967 1.14% 2.26%
1966 1.31% 2.23%
1965 1.38% 2.17%
1964 1.35% 2.19%
1963 1.36% 2.27%
1962 1.43% 2.34%
1961 1.32% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Papua New Guinea
Current population
18252623
11002753
Population rank 72/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.13%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +512
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 59/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change +104,681 -284
Net migration rank 16/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -284
2024 - 121,628 - -707
2023 -5,363 144,558 187,637 -787
2022 -1,770 224,472 186,861 -787
2021 7,014 106,416 183,766 10,703
2020 0 67,598 189,130 10,703
2019 17,345 109,003 190,662 22,978
2018 15,508 87,197 190,662 24,684
2017 18,844 86,332 189,715 26,513
2016 23,843 88,743 189,281 28,473
2015 23,716 55,585 188,600 30,580
2014 35,417 36,591 187,592 32,840
2013 30,248 19,973 185,790 35,280
2012 35,186 14,861 183,658 37,893
2011 45,072 31,224 181,842 40,690
2010 48,184 33,703 178,998 50,106
2009 51,244 39,832 175,421 49,647
2008 49,337 32,406 172,823 48,985
2007 49,145 -304 169,306 48,203
2006 49,038 -25,401 166,540 47,191
2005 50,592 -22,496 163,888 46,014
2004 56,987 -9,230 161,023 44,811
2003 58,411 7,937 158,611 43,639
2002 59,751 28,824 155,091 42,657
2001 62,580 56,096 151,431 41,962
2000 66,887 59,308 147,496 41,855
1999 60,086 47,179 143,592 42,519
1998 61,258 52,058 136,677 43,091
1997 56,198 31,302 134,458 42,787
1996 51,251 21,792 129,802 41,994
1995 54,106 15,056 125,410 40,962
1994 61,532 20,193 122,113 39,669
1993 58,103 44,514 118,668 38,220
1992 66,811 50,148 114,818 36,622
1991 69,321 51,670 111,453 26,830
1990 68,777 53,564 110,033 2,398
1989 59,396 31,165 108,199 -19,824
1988 61,993 31,026 106,256 -26,232
1987 64,526 39,559 104,367 -25,720
1986 59,746 30,380 102,346 -25,495
1985 55,069 27,356 100,333 -25,470
1984 54,812 12,902 98,103 -25,487
1983 51,722 11,007 95,982 -25,465
1982 54,388 7,644 93,522 -25,355
1981 62,688 17,643 91,767 -25,383
1980 66,504 54,010 90,266 -25,638
1979 63,172 42,772 89,330 -25,618
1978 61,344 26,639 88,747 -25,208
1977 63,739 19,809 87,954 -24,722
1976 63,361 18,774 86,965 -24,198
1975 64,232 68,569 85,809 -23,562
1974 75,853 31,645 84,829 -22,771
1973 84,668 18,705 83,821 -21,803
1972 101,297 17,470 82,672 -20,303
1971 116,112 32,756 80,599 -18,945
1970 129,082 32,438 78,712 -18,773
1969 139,082 21,850 76,454 -18,994
1968 132,389 7,243 73,983 -19,188
1967 138,580 -10,673 71,519 -19,767
1966 138,265 20,740 69,206 -17,454
1965 146,308 19,444 66,693 -18,532
1964 157,653 15,014 64,558 -17,730
1963 154,361 -21 62,260 -15,189
1962 153,474 18,024 59,974 -12,141
1961 159,450 8,258 58,151 -10,409
1960 151,623 -13,235 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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