Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 1.22 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Netherlands vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Rwanda
2100 17,359,081 33,092,520
2099 17,392,412 32,987,847
2098 17,425,508 32,907,335
2097 17,459,827 32,832,706
2096 17,495,124 32,747,490
2095 17,532,593 32,615,044
2094 17,571,051 32,529,590
2093 17,610,792 32,396,544
2092 17,649,611 32,274,083
2091 17,688,532 32,171,077
2090 17,730,570 32,068,626
2089 17,770,380 31,872,593
2088 17,809,825 31,726,882
2087 17,845,820 31,533,364
2086 17,885,001 31,379,315
2085 17,921,302 31,235,000
2084 17,957,639 31,092,940
2083 17,994,232 30,917,707
2082 18,029,404 30,733,578
2081 18,063,233 30,557,819
2080 18,093,703 30,367,298
2079 18,124,294 30,176,627
2078 18,152,738 29,997,866
2077 18,181,372 29,800,561
2076 18,206,864 29,627,021
2075 18,227,791 29,423,503
2074 18,245,652 29,225,643
2073 18,263,765 29,007,777
2072 18,280,443 28,780,763
2071 18,295,700 28,560,382
2070 18,311,141 28,316,533
2069 18,326,509 28,103,541
2068 18,341,711 27,854,906
2067 18,356,770 27,591,747
2066 18,374,904 27,355,659
2065 18,396,018 27,084,704
2064 18,417,894 26,821,315
2063 18,441,434 26,543,184
2062 18,464,922 26,296,132
2061 18,492,436 25,985,356
2060 18,520,315 25,712,904
2059 18,548,786 25,437,446
2058 18,577,700 25,106,242
2057 18,608,370 24,837,928
2056 18,638,918 24,566,784
2055 18,666,514 24,266,669
2054 18,692,598 23,976,914
2053 18,718,268 23,690,426
2052 18,741,740 23,406,346
2051 18,768,309 23,099,207
2050 18,789,481 22,800,250
2049 18,809,886 22,484,698
2048 18,827,655 22,157,938
2047 18,844,635 21,834,786
2046 18,855,920 21,540,566
2045 18,867,286 21,215,262
2044 18,877,101 20,902,695
2043 18,882,735 20,535,605
2042 18,885,839 20,201,608
2041 18,885,255 19,832,577
2040 18,879,571 19,463,015
2039 18,870,248 19,096,860
2038 18,855,512 18,761,626
2037 18,837,172 18,421,864
2036 18,811,873 18,116,691
2035 18,783,312 17,753,910
2034 18,750,125 17,421,234
2033 18,708,101 17,089,349
2032 18,662,054 16,811,505
2031 18,609,452 16,485,559
2030 18,549,634 16,167,916
2029 18,481,269 15,858,862
2028 18,404,195 15,544,959
2027 18,320,644 15,207,733
2026 18,227,403 14,888,776
2025 18,118,662 14,560,205
2024 17,993,485 14,256,567
2023 17,877,117 13,954,471
2022 17,700,982 13,651,030
2021 17,533,044 13,355,260
2020 17,441,500 13,065,837
2019 17,344,874 12,776,103
2018 17,231,624 12,487,996
2017 17,131,296 12,202,060
2016 17,030,314 11,919,183
2015 16,939,923 11,640,022
2014 16,865,008 11,364,757
2013 16,804,432 11,093,340
2012 16,754,962 10,829,901
2011 16,693,074 10,573,733
2010 16,615,394 10,317,553
2009 16,530,388 10,060,432
2008 16,445,593 9,804,269
2007 16,381,696 9,549,933
2006 16,346,101 9,299,246
2005 16,319,868 9,054,528
2004 16,281,779 8,816,844
2003 16,225,302 8,586,875
2002 16,148,929 8,400,180
2001 16,046,180 8,287,094
2000 15,925,513 8,213,931
1999 15,812,088 8,147,912
1998 15,707,209 8,081,681
1997 15,610,650 7,755,238
1996 15,530,498 6,708,764
1995 15,459,006 5,674,118
1994 15,382,838 6,792,352
1993 15,290,368 7,981,132
1992 15,184,166 7,683,266
1991 15,069,798 7,526,966
1990 14,951,510 7,375,307
1989 14,848,907 7,184,706
1988 14,760,094 6,968,071
1987 14,665,037 6,749,493
1986 14,572,278 6,531,881
1985 14,491,632 6,317,228
1984 14,424,211 6,107,627
1983 14,367,070 5,905,311
1982 14,312,690 5,711,549
1981 14,247,208 5,527,230
1980 14,149,800 5,353,259
1979 14,038,270 5,189,541
1978 13,941,700 5,035,171
1977 13,856,185 4,888,240
1976 13,774,037 4,745,954
1975 13,666,335 4,607,728
1974 13,545,056 4,474,228
1973 13,439,322 4,345,047
1972 13,328,593 4,220,335
1971 13,194,497 4,100,044
1970 13,038,526 3,980,669
1969 12,877,984 3,861,271
1968 12,729,721 3,744,010
1967 12,598,201 3,629,577
1966 12,456,251 3,521,626
1965 12,294,732 3,423,210
1964 12,127,120 3,334,834
1963 11,965,966 3,258,890
1962 11,805,689 3,186,025
1961 11,638,712 3,106,779
1960 11,486,631 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Rwanda
2100 -0.19% 0.32%
2099 -0.19% 0.24%
2098 -0.2% 0.23%
2097 -0.2% 0.26%
2096 -0.21% 0.41%
2095 -0.22% 0.26%
2094 -0.23% 0.41%
2093 -0.22% 0.38%
2092 -0.22% 0.32%
2091 -0.24% 0.32%
2090 -0.22% 0.62%
2089 -0.22% 0.46%
2088 -0.2% 0.61%
2087 -0.22% 0.49%
2086 -0.2% 0.46%
2085 -0.2% 0.46%
2084 -0.2% 0.57%
2083 -0.2% 0.6%
2082 -0.19% 0.58%
2081 -0.17% 0.63%
2080 -0.17% 0.63%
2079 -0.16% 0.6%
2078 -0.16% 0.66%
2077 -0.14% 0.59%
2076 -0.11% 0.69%
2075 -0.1% 0.68%
2074 -0.1% 0.75%
2073 -0.09% 0.79%
2072 -0.08% 0.77%
2071 -0.08% 0.86%
2070 -0.08% 0.76%
2069 -0.08% 0.89%
2068 -0.08% 0.95%
2067 -0.1% 0.86%
2066 -0.11% 1%
2065 -0.12% 0.98%
2064 -0.13% 1.05%
2063 -0.13% 0.94%
2062 -0.15% 1.2%
2061 -0.15% 1.06%
2060 -0.15% 1.08%
2059 -0.16% 1.32%
2058 -0.16% 1.08%
2057 -0.16% 1.1%
2056 -0.15% 1.24%
2055 -0.14% 1.21%
2054 -0.14% 1.21%
2053 -0.13% 1.21%
2052 -0.14% 1.33%
2051 -0.11% 1.31%
2050 -0.11% 1.4%
2049 -0.09% 1.47%
2048 -0.09% 1.48%
2047 -0.06% 1.37%
2046 -0.06% 1.53%
2045 -0.05% 1.5%
2044 -0.03% 1.79%
2043 -0.02% 1.65%
2042 0.003% 1.86%
2041 0.03% 1.9%
2040 0.05% 1.92%
2039 0.08% 1.79%
2038 0.1% 1.84%
2037 0.13% 1.68%
2036 0.15% 2.04%
2035 0.18% 1.91%
2034 0.22% 1.94%
2033 0.25% 1.65%
2032 0.28% 1.98%
2031 0.32% 1.96%
2030 0.37% 1.95%
2029 0.42% 2.02%
2028 0.46% 2.22%
2027 0.51% 2.14%
2026 0.6% 2.26%
2025 0.7% 2.13%
2024 0.65% 2.16%
2023 1% 2.22%
2022 0.96% 2.21%
2021 0.52% 2.22%
2020 0.56% 2.27%
2019 0.66% 2.31%
2018 0.59% 2.34%
2017 0.59% 2.37%
2016 0.53% 2.4%
2015 0.44% 2.42%
2014 0.36% 2.45%
2013 0.3% 2.43%
2012 0.37% 2.42%
2011 0.47% 2.48%
2010 0.51% 2.56%
2009 0.52% 2.61%
2008 0.39% 2.66%
2007 0.22% 2.7%
2006 0.16% 2.7%
2005 0.23% 2.7%
2004 0.35% 2.68%
2003 0.47% 2.22%
2002 0.64% 1.36%
2001 0.76% 0.89%
2000 0.72% 0.81%
1999 0.67% 0.82%
1998 0.62% 4.21%
1997 0.52% 15.6%
1996 0.46% 18.2%
1995 0.5% -16.5%
1994 0.6% -14.9%
1993 0.7% 3.88%
1992 0.76% 2.08%
1991 0.79% 2.06%
1990 0.69% 2.65%
1989 0.6% 3.11%
1988 0.65% 3.24%
1987 0.64% 3.33%
1986 0.56% 3.4%
1985 0.47% 3.43%
1984 0.4% 3.43%
1983 0.38% 3.39%
1982 0.46% 3.33%
1981 0.69% 3.25%
1980 0.79% 3.15%
1979 0.69% 3.07%
1978 0.62% 3.01%
1977 0.6% 3%
1976 0.79% 3%
1975 0.9% 2.98%
1974 0.79% 2.97%
1973 0.83% 2.96%
1972 1.02% 2.93%
1971 1.2% 3%
1970 1.25% 3.09%
1969 1.16% 3.13%
1968 1.04% 3.15%
1967 1.14% 3.07%
1966 1.31% 2.87%
1965 1.38% 2.65%
1964 1.35% 2.33%
1963 1.36% 2.29%
1962 1.43% 2.55%
1961 1.32% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Rwanda
Current population
18252623
14975051
Population rank 72/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.18%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +828
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 45/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +104,681 +6,282
Net migration rank 16/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 6,282
2024 - 121,628 - -15,582
2023 -5,363 144,558 312,762 -9,001
2022 -1,770 224,472 312,145 -9,001
2021 7,014 106,416 309,895 -21,492
2020 0 67,598 312,692 -22,251
2019 17,345 109,003 313,525 -24,492
2018 15,508 87,197 312,512 -25,323
2017 18,844 86,332 310,323 -25,634
2016 23,843 88,743 305,549 -24,474
2015 23,716 55,585 299,114 -21,862
2014 35,417 36,591 292,779 -19,505
2013 30,248 19,973 286,331 -16,779
2012 35,186 14,861 282,584 -25,260
2011 45,072 31,224 282,922 -27,915
2010 48,184 33,703 286,848 -29,501
2009 51,244 39,832 287,034 -30,128
2008 49,337 32,406 287,334 -31,913
2007 49,145 -304 285,791 -32,537
2006 49,038 -25,401 282,149 -34,008
2005 50,592 -22,496 275,121 -33,830
2004 56,987 -9,230 265,273 -31,214
2003 58,411 7,937 251,243 -25,355
2002 59,751 28,824 239,036 -91,518
2001 62,580 56,096 230,845 -152,197
2000 66,887 59,308 221,276 -153,588
1999 60,086 47,179 210,518 -146,162
1998 61,258 52,058 197,185 -129,089
1997 56,198 31,302 174,687 410,106
1996 51,251 21,792 140,455 1,367,700
1995 54,106 15,056 121,137 439,995
1994 61,532 20,193 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 58,103 44,514 183,926 236,110
1992 66,811 50,148 188,025 -12,334
1991 69,321 51,670 196,431 -59,519
1990 68,777 53,564 207,895 -41,483
1989 59,396 31,165 217,632 -2,826
1988 61,993 31,026 223,759 -5,285
1987 64,526 39,559 225,744 -7,062
1986 59,746 30,380 225,526 -8,982
1985 55,069 27,356 223,794 -11,031
1984 54,812 12,902 219,337 -12,899
1983 51,722 11,007 212,750 -14,560
1982 54,388 7,644 205,147 -15,818
1981 62,688 17,643 195,769 -16,453
1980 66,504 54,010 184,988 -16,359
1979 63,172 42,772 174,477 -15,669
1978 61,344 26,639 163,779 -13,838
1977 63,739 19,809 155,011 -11,084
1976 63,361 18,774 147,665 -7,027
1975 64,232 68,569 140,596 -4,791
1974 75,853 31,645 135,743 -4,535
1973 84,668 18,705 131,021 -3,862
1972 101,297 17,470 126,403 -4,156
1971 116,112 32,756 122,567 -4,230
1970 129,082 32,438 119,273 1,149
1969 139,082 21,850 115,394 2,983
1968 132,389 7,243 111,422 4,728
1967 138,580 -10,673 108,053 4,655
1966 138,265 20,740 105,128 -1,930
1965 146,308 19,444 103,422 -9,774
1964 157,653 15,014 102,562 -19,458
1963 154,361 -21 94,296 -25,524
1962 153,474 18,024 102,548 -25,594
1961 159,450 8,258 102,051 -20,508
1960 151,623 -13,235 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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

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.