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Population in the Netherlands compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 2.01 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2100 17,359,081 74,230,118
2099 17,392,412 73,760,045
2098 17,425,508 73,287,526
2097 17,459,827 72,813,125
2096 17,495,124 72,336,039
2095 17,532,593 71,858,206
2094 17,571,051 71,379,928
2093 17,610,792 70,900,460
2092 17,649,611 70,420,464
2091 17,688,532 69,940,749
2090 17,730,570 69,462,214
2089 17,770,380 68,985,976
2088 17,809,825 68,510,277
2087 17,845,820 68,035,545
2086 17,885,001 67,562,521
2085 17,921,302 67,091,615
2084 17,957,639 66,621,667
2083 17,994,232 66,152,653
2082 18,029,404 65,684,321
2081 18,063,233 65,216,102
2080 18,093,703 64,749,128
2079 18,124,294 64,282,393
2078 18,152,738 63,815,918
2077 18,181,372 63,348,712
2076 18,206,864 62,880,120
2075 18,227,791 62,409,793
2074 18,245,652 61,937,628
2073 18,263,765 61,462,662
2072 18,280,443 60,984,202
2071 18,295,700 60,502,791
2070 18,311,141 60,018,216
2069 18,326,509 59,529,456
2068 18,341,711 59,036,086
2067 18,356,770 58,539,487
2066 18,374,904 58,039,687
2065 18,396,018 57,537,106
2064 18,417,894 57,032,172
2063 18,441,434 56,524,331
2062 18,464,922 56,014,549
2061 18,492,436 55,501,467
2060 18,520,315 54,986,901
2059 18,548,786 54,469,809
2058 18,577,700 53,950,469
2057 18,608,370 53,430,639
2056 18,638,918 52,909,061
2055 18,666,514 52,386,571
2054 18,692,598 51,862,312
2053 18,718,268 51,336,335
2052 18,741,740 50,809,100
2051 18,768,309 50,280,719
2050 18,789,481 49,751,739
2049 18,809,886 49,221,828
2048 18,827,655 48,690,143
2047 18,844,635 48,157,605
2046 18,855,920 47,623,246
2045 18,867,286 47,087,215
2044 18,877,101 46,550,306
2043 18,882,735 46,013,232
2042 18,885,839 45,475,200
2041 18,885,255 44,936,131
2040 18,879,571 44,396,093
2039 18,870,248 43,856,006
2038 18,855,512 43,314,707
2037 18,837,172 42,773,375
2036 18,811,873 42,231,639
2035 18,783,312 41,690,245
2034 18,750,125 41,150,029
2033 18,708,101 40,611,021
2032 18,662,054 40,073,144
2031 18,609,452 39,535,357
2030 18,549,634 38,998,581
2029 18,481,269 38,417,447
2028 18,404,195 37,810,902
2027 18,320,644 37,189,969
2026 18,227,403 36,566,201
2025 18,118,662 35,932,673
2024 17,993,485 35,300,280
2023 17,877,117 33,702,731
2022 17,700,982 32,175,224
2021 17,533,044 30,784,383
2020 17,441,500 31,552,510
2019 17,344,874 30,063,799
2018 17,231,624 30,196,281
2017 17,131,296 30,977,355
2016 17,030,314 30,954,198
2015 16,939,923 29,816,382
2014 16,865,008 28,309,273
2013 16,804,432 27,624,004
2012 16,754,962 26,168,861
2011 16,693,074 25,091,867
2010 16,615,394 23,978,487
2009 16,530,388 24,217,654
2008 16,445,593 23,287,877
2007 16,381,696 22,368,313
2006 16,346,101 21,459,144
2005 16,319,868 20,559,890
2004 16,281,779 19,669,480
2003 16,225,302 18,786,767
2002 16,148,929 17,910,910
2001 16,046,180 17,041,397
2000 15,925,513 16,177,722
1999 15,812,088 15,472,075
1998 15,707,209 14,922,185
1997 15,610,650 14,374,943
1996 15,530,498 13,831,009
1995 15,459,006 13,289,245
1994 15,382,838 12,750,040
1993 15,290,368 12,215,862
1992 15,184,166 11,686,676
1991 15,069,798 11,160,744
1990 14,951,510 10,640,691
1989 14,848,907 10,128,394
1988 14,760,094 9,629,165
1987 14,665,037 9,130,194
1986 14,572,278 8,628,639
1985 14,491,632 8,151,779
1984 14,424,211 7,697,307
1983 14,367,070 7,252,941
1982 14,312,690 6,824,486
1981 14,247,208 6,420,551
1980 14,149,800 6,047,997
1979 14,038,270 5,703,698
1978 13,941,700 5,381,902
1977 13,856,185 5,083,048
1976 13,774,037 4,807,933
1975 13,666,335 4,556,287
1974 13,545,056 4,323,632
1973 13,439,322 4,106,344
1972 13,328,593 3,905,722
1971 13,194,497 3,724,031
1970 13,038,526 3,562,470
1969 12,877,984 3,417,114
1968 12,729,721 3,282,711
1967 12,598,201 3,157,242
1966 12,456,251 3,039,887
1965 12,294,732 2,928,771
1964 12,127,120 2,821,968
1963 11,965,966 2,719,341
1962 11,805,689 2,620,910
1961 11,638,712 2,526,347
1960 11,486,631 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.19% 0.64%
2099 -0.19% 0.64%
2098 -0.2% 0.65%
2097 -0.2% 0.66%
2096 -0.21% 0.66%
2095 -0.22% 0.67%
2094 -0.23% 0.68%
2093 -0.22% 0.68%
2092 -0.22% 0.69%
2091 -0.24% 0.69%
2090 -0.22% 0.69%
2089 -0.22% 0.69%
2088 -0.2% 0.7%
2087 -0.22% 0.7%
2086 -0.2% 0.7%
2085 -0.2% 0.71%
2084 -0.2% 0.71%
2083 -0.2% 0.71%
2082 -0.19% 0.72%
2081 -0.17% 0.72%
2080 -0.17% 0.73%
2079 -0.16% 0.73%
2078 -0.16% 0.74%
2077 -0.14% 0.75%
2076 -0.11% 0.75%
2075 -0.1% 0.76%
2074 -0.1% 0.77%
2073 -0.09% 0.78%
2072 -0.08% 0.8%
2071 -0.08% 0.81%
2070 -0.08% 0.82%
2069 -0.08% 0.84%
2068 -0.08% 0.85%
2067 -0.1% 0.86%
2066 -0.11% 0.87%
2065 -0.12% 0.89%
2064 -0.13% 0.9%
2063 -0.13% 0.91%
2062 -0.15% 0.92%
2061 -0.15% 0.94%
2060 -0.15% 0.95%
2059 -0.16% 0.96%
2058 -0.16% 0.97%
2057 -0.16% 0.99%
2056 -0.15% 1%
2055 -0.14% 1.01%
2054 -0.14% 1.02%
2053 -0.13% 1.04%
2052 -0.14% 1.05%
2051 -0.11% 1.06%
2050 -0.11% 1.08%
2049 -0.09% 1.09%
2048 -0.09% 1.11%
2047 -0.06% 1.12%
2046 -0.06% 1.14%
2045 -0.05% 1.15%
2044 -0.03% 1.17%
2043 -0.02% 1.18%
2042 0.003% 1.2%
2041 0.03% 1.22%
2040 0.05% 1.23%
2039 0.08% 1.25%
2038 0.1% 1.27%
2037 0.13% 1.28%
2036 0.15% 1.3%
2035 0.18% 1.31%
2034 0.22% 1.33%
2033 0.25% 1.34%
2032 0.28% 1.36%
2031 0.32% 1.38%
2030 0.37% 1.51%
2029 0.42% 1.6%
2028 0.46% 1.67%
2027 0.51% 1.71%
2026 0.6% 1.76%
2025 0.7% 1.79%
2024 0.65% 4.74%
2023 1% 4.75%
2022 0.96% 4.52%
2021 0.52% -2.43%
2020 0.56% 4.95%
2019 0.66% -0.44%
2018 0.59% -2.52%
2017 0.59% 0.07%
2016 0.53% 3.82%
2015 0.44% 5.32%
2014 0.36% 2.48%
2013 0.3% 5.56%
2012 0.37% 4.29%
2011 0.47% 4.64%
2010 0.51% -0.99%
2009 0.52% 3.99%
2008 0.39% 4.11%
2007 0.22% 4.24%
2006 0.16% 4.37%
2005 0.23% 4.53%
2004 0.35% 4.7%
2003 0.47% 4.89%
2002 0.64% 5.1%
2001 0.76% 5.34%
2000 0.72% 4.56%
1999 0.67% 3.69%
1998 0.62% 3.81%
1997 0.52% 3.93%
1996 0.46% 4.08%
1995 0.5% 4.23%
1994 0.6% 4.37%
1993 0.7% 4.53%
1992 0.76% 4.71%
1991 0.79% 4.89%
1990 0.69% 5.06%
1989 0.6% 5.18%
1988 0.65% 5.47%
1987 0.64% 5.81%
1986 0.56% 5.85%
1985 0.47% 5.9%
1984 0.4% 6.13%
1983 0.38% 6.28%
1982 0.46% 6.29%
1981 0.69% 6.16%
1980 0.79% 6.04%
1979 0.69% 5.98%
1978 0.62% 5.88%
1977 0.6% 5.72%
1976 0.79% 5.52%
1975 0.9% 5.38%
1974 0.79% 5.29%
1973 0.83% 5.14%
1972 1.02% 4.88%
1971 1.2% 4.54%
1970 1.25% 4.25%
1969 1.16% 4.09%
1968 1.04% 3.97%
1967 1.14% 3.86%
1966 1.31% 3.79%
1965 1.38% 3.78%
1964 1.35% 3.77%
1963 1.36% 3.76%
1962 1.43% 3.74%
1961 1.32% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Saudi Arabia
Current population
18252623
36734925
Population rank 72/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.44%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
3.2 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
3.09 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 4/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +119,738
Net migration rank 16/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 119,738
2024 - 121,628 - 122,170
2023 -5,363 144,558 474,366 325,691
2022 -1,770 224,472 406,920 977,072
2021 7,014 106,416 409,032 -106,287
2020 0 67,598 447,036 -74,725
2019 17,345 109,003 474,407 191,582
2018 15,508 87,197 528,767 -988,751
2017 18,844 86,332 546,751 -920,812
2016 23,843 88,743 537,829 -26,997
2015 23,716 55,585 511,023 465,292
2014 35,417 36,591 493,431 469,144
2013 30,248 19,973 475,299 485,794
2012 35,186 14,861 465,649 479,206
2011 45,072 31,224 443,675 491,253
2010 48,184 33,703 418,641 504,955
2009 51,244 39,832 438,557 496,229
2008 49,337 32,406 433,457 491,337
2007 49,145 -304 425,199 489,136
2006 49,038 -25,401 399,333 504,661
2005 50,592 -22,496 375,938 518,565
2004 56,987 -9,230 362,843 523,472
2003 58,411 7,937 364,520 514,606
2002 59,751 28,824 372,099 500,508
2001 62,580 56,096 382,153 484,252
2000 66,887 59,308 392,407 468,515
1999 60,086 47,179 390,112 160,263
1998 61,258 52,058 389,499 159,898
1997 56,198 31,302 385,033 160,066
1996 51,251 21,792 382,248 160,532
1995 54,106 15,056 380,231 160,512
1994 61,532 20,193 377,351 160,306
1993 58,103 44,514 372,621 158,074
1992 66,811 50,148 366,763 160,908
1991 69,321 51,670 361,329 162,857
1990 68,777 53,564 355,495 160,416
1989 59,396 31,165 349,399 159,273
1988 61,993 31,026 342,865 146,918
1987 64,526 39,559 333,088 175,075
1986 59,746 30,380 322,340 172,606
1985 55,069 27,356 310,558 148,208
1984 54,812 12,902 296,615 153,562
1983 51,722 11,007 280,616 157,930
1982 54,388 7,644 264,831 153,528
1981 62,688 17,643 249,156 140,355
1980 66,504 54,010 234,372 121,220
1979 63,172 42,772 220,186 112,826
1978 61,344 26,639 205,331 105,263
1977 63,739 19,809 191,103 96,015
1976 63,361 18,774 178,024 85,083
1975 64,232 68,569 166,223 73,960
1974 75,853 31,645 155,478 69,653
1973 84,668 18,705 145,450 63,995
1972 101,297 17,470 136,360 55,439
1971 116,112 32,756 127,600 43,989
1970 129,082 32,438 120,440 31,097
1969 139,082 21,850 113,859 25,312
1968 132,389 7,243 108,281 21,366
1967 138,580 -10,673 103,343 17,947
1966 138,265 20,740 98,361 15,054
1965 146,308 19,444 93,820 15,000
1964 157,653 15,014 89,776 15,000
1963 154,361 -21 85,480 15,000
1962 153,474 18,024 81,393 15,000
1961 159,450 8,258 77,743 15,000
1960 151,623 -13,235 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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