Skip to content

Population in the Netherlands compared to Portugal: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 1.71 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Netherlands vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Portugal
2100 17,359,081 8,977,781
2099 17,392,412 8,983,042
2098 17,425,508 8,987,129
2097 17,459,827 8,992,549
2096 17,495,124 8,998,689
2095 17,532,593 9,006,394
2094 17,571,051 9,011,158
2093 17,610,792 9,016,023
2092 17,649,611 9,021,257
2091 17,688,532 9,025,345
2090 17,730,570 9,029,722
2089 17,770,380 9,034,399
2088 17,809,825 9,039,122
2087 17,845,820 9,045,400
2086 17,885,001 9,050,153
2085 17,921,302 9,055,552
2084 17,957,639 9,062,369
2083 17,994,232 9,068,714
2082 18,029,404 9,077,003
2081 18,063,233 9,087,394
2080 18,093,703 9,098,423
2079 18,124,294 9,111,057
2078 18,152,738 9,125,056
2077 18,181,372 9,140,039
2076 18,206,864 9,158,661
2075 18,227,791 9,178,289
2074 18,245,652 9,201,245
2073 18,263,765 9,225,478
2072 18,280,443 9,248,867
2071 18,295,700 9,275,782
2070 18,311,141 9,304,137
2069 18,326,509 9,334,425
2068 18,341,711 9,367,211
2067 18,356,770 9,399,389
2066 18,374,904 9,432,609
2065 18,396,018 9,466,860
2064 18,417,894 9,503,941
2063 18,441,434 9,540,829
2062 18,464,922 9,578,098
2061 18,492,436 9,614,549
2060 18,520,315 9,652,893
2059 18,548,786 9,691,151
2058 18,577,700 9,731,557
2057 18,608,370 9,769,285
2056 18,638,918 9,807,403
2055 18,666,514 9,847,280
2054 18,692,598 9,885,446
2053 18,718,268 9,924,814
2052 18,741,740 9,963,090
2051 18,768,309 9,999,372
2050 18,789,481 10,035,796
2049 18,809,886 10,072,922
2048 18,827,655 10,106,403
2047 18,844,635 10,140,325
2046 18,855,920 10,173,871
2045 18,867,286 10,206,046
2044 18,877,101 10,237,224
2043 18,882,735 10,268,090
2042 18,885,839 10,296,167
2041 18,885,255 10,322,968
2040 18,879,571 10,351,965
2039 18,870,248 10,379,824
2038 18,855,512 10,405,843
2037 18,837,172 10,430,143
2036 18,811,873 10,454,779
2035 18,783,312 10,478,501
2034 18,750,125 10,502,828
2033 18,708,101 10,525,638
2032 18,662,054 10,548,736
2031 18,609,452 10,569,489
2030 18,549,634 10,588,717
2029 18,481,269 10,609,556
2028 18,404,195 10,631,437
2027 18,320,644 10,649,916
2026 18,227,403 10,667,081
2025 18,118,662 10,683,692
2024 17,993,485 10,694,681
2023 17,877,117 10,578,174
2022 17,700,982 10,434,332
2021 17,533,044 10,361,831
2020 17,441,500 10,297,081
2019 17,344,874 10,286,263
2018 17,231,624 10,283,822
2017 17,131,296 10,300,300
2016 17,030,314 10,325,452
2015 16,939,923 10,358,076
2014 16,865,008 10,401,062
2013 16,804,432 10,457,295
2012 16,754,962 10,514,844
2011 16,693,074 10,557,560
2010 16,615,394 10,573,100
2009 16,530,388 10,568,247
2008 16,445,593 10,558,177
2007 16,381,696 10,542,964
2006 16,346,101 10,522,288
2005 16,319,868 10,503,330
2004 16,281,779 10,483,861
2003 16,225,302 10,458,821
2002 16,148,929 10,419,631
2001 16,046,180 10,362,722
2000 15,925,513 10,289,898
1999 15,812,088 10,217,828
1998 15,707,209 10,160,196
1997 15,610,650 10,108,977
1996 15,530,498 10,063,945
1995 15,459,006 10,026,176
1994 15,382,838 9,991,525
1993 15,290,368 9,964,675
1992 15,184,166 9,952,494
1991 15,069,798 9,960,235
1990 14,951,510 9,983,218
1989 14,848,907 10,005,000
1988 14,760,094 10,019,610
1987 14,665,037 10,030,031
1986 14,572,278 10,032,734
1985 14,491,632 10,023,613
1984 14,424,211 9,996,232
1983 14,367,070 9,957,865
1982 14,312,690 9,911,771
1981 14,247,208 9,851,362
1980 14,149,800 9,766,312
1979 14,038,270 9,661,265
1978 13,941,700 9,558,250
1977 13,856,185 9,455,675
1976 13,774,037 9,355,810
1975 13,666,335 9,093,470
1974 13,545,056 8,754,365
1973 13,439,322 8,633,100
1972 13,328,593 8,630,430
1971 13,194,497 8,643,756
1970 13,038,526 8,680,431
1969 12,877,984 8,757,705
1968 12,729,721 8,836,650
1967 12,598,201 8,874,520
1966 12,456,251 8,930,990
1965 12,294,732 8,998,595
1964 12,127,120 9,035,365
1963 11,965,966 9,030,355
1962 11,805,689 8,993,985
1961 11,638,712 8,929,316
1960 11,486,631 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Portugal
2100 -0.19% -0.06%
2099 -0.19% -0.05%
2098 -0.2% -0.06%
2097 -0.2% -0.07%
2096 -0.21% -0.09%
2095 -0.22% -0.05%
2094 -0.23% -0.05%
2093 -0.22% -0.06%
2092 -0.22% -0.05%
2091 -0.24% -0.05%
2090 -0.22% -0.05%
2089 -0.22% -0.05%
2088 -0.2% -0.07%
2087 -0.22% -0.05%
2086 -0.2% -0.06%
2085 -0.2% -0.08%
2084 -0.2% -0.07%
2083 -0.2% -0.09%
2082 -0.19% -0.11%
2081 -0.17% -0.12%
2080 -0.17% -0.14%
2079 -0.16% -0.15%
2078 -0.16% -0.16%
2077 -0.14% -0.2%
2076 -0.11% -0.21%
2075 -0.1% -0.25%
2074 -0.1% -0.26%
2073 -0.09% -0.25%
2072 -0.08% -0.29%
2071 -0.08% -0.3%
2070 -0.08% -0.32%
2069 -0.08% -0.35%
2068 -0.08% -0.34%
2067 -0.1% -0.35%
2066 -0.11% -0.36%
2065 -0.12% -0.39%
2064 -0.13% -0.39%
2063 -0.13% -0.39%
2062 -0.15% -0.38%
2061 -0.15% -0.4%
2060 -0.15% -0.39%
2059 -0.16% -0.42%
2058 -0.16% -0.39%
2057 -0.16% -0.39%
2056 -0.15% -0.4%
2055 -0.14% -0.39%
2054 -0.14% -0.4%
2053 -0.13% -0.38%
2052 -0.14% -0.36%
2051 -0.11% -0.36%
2050 -0.11% -0.37%
2049 -0.09% -0.33%
2048 -0.09% -0.33%
2047 -0.06% -0.33%
2046 -0.06% -0.32%
2045 -0.05% -0.3%
2044 -0.03% -0.3%
2043 -0.02% -0.27%
2042 0.003% -0.26%
2041 0.03% -0.28%
2040 0.05% -0.27%
2039 0.08% -0.25%
2038 0.1% -0.23%
2037 0.13% -0.24%
2036 0.15% -0.23%
2035 0.18% -0.23%
2034 0.22% -0.22%
2033 0.25% -0.22%
2032 0.28% -0.2%
2031 0.32% -0.18%
2030 0.37% -0.2%
2029 0.42% -0.21%
2028 0.46% -0.17%
2027 0.51% -0.16%
2026 0.6% -0.16%
2025 0.7% -0.1%
2024 0.65% 1.1%
2023 1% 1.38%
2022 0.96% 0.7%
2021 0.52% 0.63%
2020 0.56% 0.11%
2019 0.66% 0.02%
2018 0.59% -0.16%
2017 0.59% -0.24%
2016 0.53% -0.31%
2015 0.44% -0.41%
2014 0.36% -0.54%
2013 0.3% -0.55%
2012 0.37% -0.4%
2011 0.47% -0.15%
2010 0.51% 0.05%
2009 0.52% 0.1%
2008 0.39% 0.14%
2007 0.22% 0.2%
2006 0.16% 0.18%
2005 0.23% 0.19%
2004 0.35% 0.24%
2003 0.47% 0.38%
2002 0.64% 0.55%
2001 0.76% 0.71%
2000 0.72% 0.71%
1999 0.67% 0.57%
1998 0.62% 0.51%
1997 0.52% 0.45%
1996 0.46% 0.38%
1995 0.5% 0.35%
1994 0.6% 0.27%
1993 0.7% 0.12%
1992 0.76% -0.08%
1991 0.79% -0.23%
1990 0.69% -0.22%
1989 0.6% -0.15%
1988 0.65% -0.1%
1987 0.64% -0.03%
1986 0.56% 0.09%
1985 0.47% 0.27%
1984 0.4% 0.39%
1983 0.38% 0.47%
1982 0.46% 0.61%
1981 0.69% 0.87%
1980 0.79% 1.09%
1979 0.69% 1.08%
1978 0.62% 1.08%
1977 0.6% 1.07%
1976 0.79% 2.88%
1975 0.9% 3.87%
1974 0.79% 1.4%
1973 0.83% 0.03%
1972 1.02% -0.15%
1971 1.2% -0.42%
1970 1.25% -0.88%
1969 1.16% -0.89%
1968 1.04% -0.43%
1967 1.14% -0.63%
1966 1.31% -0.75%
1965 1.38% -0.41%
1964 1.35% 0.06%
1963 1.36% 0.4%
1962 1.43% 0.72%
1961 1.32% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Portugal
Current population
18252623
10667081
Population rank 72/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.13%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +319
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 94/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +16,472
Net migration rank 16/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 16,472
2024 - 121,628 - 20,648
2023 -5,363 144,558 -32,792 29,102
2022 -1,770 224,472 -40,694 68,696
2021 7,014 106,416 -45,592 69,606
2020 0 67,598 -39,129 54,076
2019 17,345 109,003 -24,687 63,031
2018 15,508 87,197 -25,709 22,495
2017 18,844 86,332 -23,691 13,979
2016 23,843 88,743 -23,749 -775
2015 23,716 55,585 -23,823 -3,209
2014 35,417 36,591 -22,882 -26,447
2013 30,248 19,973 -24,052 -36,342
2012 35,186 14,861 -17,875 -37,083
2011 45,072 31,224 -5,279 -31,513
2010 48,184 33,703 -4,230 -5,627
2009 51,244 39,832 -5,284 14,532
2008 49,337 32,406 0 9,478
2007 49,145 -304 -1,055 21,064
2006 49,038 -25,401 3,156 16,754
2005 50,592 -22,496 2,101 15,537
2004 56,987 -9,230 7,339 13,928
2003 58,411 7,937 4,184 24,740
2002 59,751 28,824 8,335 42,169
2001 62,580 56,096 8,290 55,565
2000 66,887 59,308 15,435 60,586
1999 60,086 47,179 8,175 49,572
1998 61,258 52,058 7,112 40,931
1997 56,198 31,302 8,087 36,922
1996 51,251 21,792 4,026 32,640
1995 54,106 15,056 4,011 26,971
1994 61,532 20,193 9,991 20,761
1993 58,103 44,514 7,972 8,561
1992 66,811 50,148 13,933 -11,847
1991 69,321 51,670 12,948 -37,914
1990 68,777 53,564 13,976 -34,855
1989 59,396 31,165 22,011 -30,615
1988 61,993 31,026 24,047 -26,595
1987 64,526 39,559 28,084 -23,142
1986 59,746 30,380 31,102 -20,000
1985 55,069 27,356 33,077 -19,183
1984 54,812 12,902 45,983 -16,658
1983 51,722 11,007 47,798 -16,568
1982 54,388 7,644 58,479 -15,006
1981 62,688 17,643 56,152 -7,938
1980 66,504 54,010 63,481 29,881
1979 63,172 42,772 67,628 32,434
1978 61,344 26,639 70,731 34,345
1977 63,739 19,809 84,156 37,779
1976 63,361 18,774 85,138 40,490
1975 64,232 68,569 81,841 42,262
1974 75,853 31,645 74,412 41,254
1973 84,668 18,705 76,835 39,748
1972 101,297 17,470 83,715 39,058
1971 116,112 32,756 82,980 48,944
1970 129,082 32,438 87,672 -191,862
1969 139,082 21,850 89,329 -161,114
1968 132,389 7,243 100,737 -145,200
1967 138,580 -10,673 106,495 -136,232
1966 138,265 20,740 107,171 -129,233
1965 146,308 19,444 115,182 -123,855
1964 157,653 15,014 120,170 -118,763
1963 154,361 -21 113,783 -116,874
1962 153,474 18,024 123,217 -113,947
1961 159,450 8,258 117,867 -112,768
1960 151,623 -13,235 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.