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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 6,586,476 people in Serbia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 6,494,521 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.81 times bigger than Serbia's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs -0.76% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.49M (12.4% decline).

Netherlands vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Serbia
2100 17,359,081 3,621,418
2099 17,392,412 3,649,584
2098 17,425,508 3,677,789
2097 17,459,827 3,706,279
2096 17,495,124 3,734,933
2095 17,532,593 3,763,769
2094 17,571,051 3,792,851
2093 17,610,792 3,822,147
2092 17,649,611 3,851,865
2091 17,688,532 3,881,833
2090 17,730,570 3,911,964
2089 17,770,380 3,942,571
2088 17,809,825 3,973,274
2087 17,845,820 4,004,485
2086 17,885,001 4,036,066
2085 17,921,302 4,068,021
2084 17,957,639 4,100,403
2083 17,994,232 4,133,391
2082 18,029,404 4,166,924
2081 18,063,233 4,200,811
2080 18,093,703 4,235,306
2079 18,124,294 4,270,442
2078 18,152,738 4,306,246
2077 18,181,372 4,342,382
2076 18,206,864 4,378,754
2075 18,227,791 4,415,505
2074 18,245,652 4,452,888
2073 18,263,765 4,490,589
2072 18,280,443 4,528,672
2071 18,295,700 4,567,167
2070 18,311,141 4,606,212
2069 18,326,509 4,645,524
2068 18,341,711 4,685,090
2067 18,356,770 4,724,796
2066 18,374,904 4,764,445
2065 18,396,018 4,804,405
2064 18,417,894 4,844,434
2063 18,441,434 4,884,574
2062 18,464,922 4,924,899
2061 18,492,436 4,964,985
2060 18,520,315 5,005,138
2059 18,548,786 5,045,125
2058 18,577,700 5,085,292
2057 18,608,370 5,125,901
2056 18,638,918 5,166,530
2055 18,666,514 5,207,137
2054 18,692,598 5,247,793
2053 18,718,268 5,288,369
2052 18,741,740 5,329,487
2051 18,768,309 5,371,281
2050 18,789,481 5,413,067
2049 18,809,886 5,455,402
2048 18,827,655 5,498,031
2047 18,844,635 5,541,158
2046 18,855,920 5,584,824
2045 18,867,286 5,629,108
2044 18,877,101 5,673,908
2043 18,882,735 5,719,287
2042 18,885,839 5,765,400
2041 18,885,255 5,811,936
2040 18,879,571 5,858,464
2039 18,870,248 5,905,404
2038 18,855,512 5,952,107
2037 18,837,172 5,998,763
2036 18,811,873 6,045,097
2035 18,783,312 6,091,385
2034 18,750,125 6,137,447
2033 18,708,101 6,183,536
2032 18,662,054 6,229,136
2031 18,609,452 6,274,395
2030 18,549,634 6,319,422
2029 18,481,269 6,363,799
2028 18,404,195 6,407,914
2027 18,320,644 6,451,609
2026 18,227,403 6,494,521
2025 18,118,662 6,543,364
2024 17,993,485 6,586,476
2023 17,877,117 6,623,183
2022 17,700,982 6,664,449
2021 17,533,044 6,834,326
2020 17,441,500 6,899,126
2019 17,344,874 6,945,235
2018 17,231,624 6,982,604
2017 17,131,296 7,020,858
2016 17,030,314 7,058,322
2015 16,939,923 7,095,383
2014 16,865,008 7,131,787
2013 16,804,432 7,166,553
2012 16,754,962 7,201,497
2011 16,693,074 7,236,519
2010 16,615,394 7,291,436
2009 16,530,388 7,320,807
2008 16,445,593 7,350,222
2007 16,381,696 7,381,579
2006 16,346,101 7,411,569
2005 16,319,868 7,440,769
2004 16,281,779 7,463,157
2003 16,225,302 7,480,591
2002 16,148,929 7,500,031
2001 16,046,180 7,503,433
2000 15,925,513 7,516,346
1999 15,812,088 7,540,401
1998 15,707,209 7,567,745
1997 15,610,650 7,598,538
1996 15,530,498 7,622,185
1995 15,459,006 7,628,264
1994 15,382,838 7,622,711
1993 15,290,368 7,614,328
1992 15,184,166 7,604,063
1991 15,069,798 7,595,636
1990 14,951,510 7,897,937
1989 14,848,907 7,893,787
1988 14,760,094 7,884,218
1987 14,665,037 7,868,027
1986 14,572,278 7,853,824
1985 14,491,632 7,835,902
1984 14,424,211 7,813,549
1983 14,367,070 7,788,100
1982 14,312,690 7,763,335
1981 14,247,208 7,736,787
1980 14,149,800 7,709,544
1979 14,038,270 7,541,997
1978 13,941,700 7,504,017
1977 13,856,185 7,462,783
1976 13,774,037 7,418,973
1975 13,666,335 7,368,717
1974 13,545,056 7,326,043
1973 13,439,322 7,283,902
1972 13,328,593 7,252,012
1971 13,194,497 7,211,716
1970 13,038,526 7,164,993
1969 12,877,984 7,123,249
1968 12,729,721 7,007,586
1967 12,598,201 6,966,522
1966 12,456,251 6,927,969
1965 12,294,732 6,876,624
1964 12,127,120 6,832,855
1963 11,965,966 6,787,950
1962 11,805,689 6,740,264
1961 11,638,712 6,689,077
1960 11,486,631 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Serbia's population decreased by 563,801 people (a 7.99% decline).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,413,067 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people, while Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Serbia
2100 -0.19% -0.77%
2099 -0.19% -0.77%
2098 -0.2% -0.77%
2097 -0.2% -0.77%
2096 -0.21% -0.77%
2095 -0.22% -0.77%
2094 -0.23% -0.77%
2093 -0.22% -0.77%
2092 -0.22% -0.77%
2091 -0.24% -0.77%
2090 -0.22% -0.78%
2089 -0.22% -0.77%
2088 -0.2% -0.78%
2087 -0.22% -0.78%
2086 -0.2% -0.79%
2085 -0.2% -0.79%
2084 -0.2% -0.8%
2083 -0.2% -0.8%
2082 -0.19% -0.81%
2081 -0.17% -0.81%
2080 -0.17% -0.82%
2079 -0.16% -0.83%
2078 -0.16% -0.83%
2077 -0.14% -0.83%
2076 -0.11% -0.83%
2075 -0.1% -0.84%
2074 -0.1% -0.84%
2073 -0.09% -0.84%
2072 -0.08% -0.84%
2071 -0.08% -0.85%
2070 -0.08% -0.85%
2069 -0.08% -0.84%
2068 -0.08% -0.84%
2067 -0.1% -0.83%
2066 -0.11% -0.83%
2065 -0.12% -0.83%
2064 -0.13% -0.82%
2063 -0.13% -0.82%
2062 -0.15% -0.81%
2061 -0.15% -0.8%
2060 -0.15% -0.79%
2059 -0.16% -0.79%
2058 -0.16% -0.79%
2057 -0.16% -0.79%
2056 -0.15% -0.78%
2055 -0.14% -0.77%
2054 -0.14% -0.77%
2053 -0.13% -0.77%
2052 -0.14% -0.78%
2051 -0.11% -0.77%
2050 -0.11% -0.78%
2049 -0.09% -0.78%
2048 -0.09% -0.78%
2047 -0.06% -0.78%
2046 -0.06% -0.79%
2045 -0.05% -0.79%
2044 -0.03% -0.79%
2043 -0.02% -0.8%
2042 0.003% -0.8%
2041 0.03% -0.79%
2040 0.05% -0.79%
2039 0.08% -0.78%
2038 0.1% -0.78%
2037 0.13% -0.77%
2036 0.15% -0.76%
2035 0.18% -0.75%
2034 0.22% -0.75%
2033 0.25% -0.73%
2032 0.28% -0.72%
2031 0.32% -0.71%
2030 0.37% -0.7%
2029 0.42% -0.69%
2028 0.46% -0.68%
2027 0.51% -0.66%
2026 0.6% -0.75%
2025 0.7% -0.65%
2024 0.65% -0.55%
2023 1% -0.62%
2022 0.96% -2.49%
2021 0.52% -0.94%
2020 0.56% -0.66%
2019 0.66% -0.54%
2018 0.59% -0.54%
2017 0.59% -0.53%
2016 0.53% -0.52%
2015 0.44% -0.51%
2014 0.36% -0.49%
2013 0.3% -0.49%
2012 0.37% -0.48%
2011 0.47% -0.75%
2010 0.51% -0.4%
2009 0.52% -0.4%
2008 0.39% -0.42%
2007 0.22% -0.4%
2006 0.16% -0.39%
2005 0.23% -0.3%
2004 0.35% -0.23%
2003 0.47% -0.26%
2002 0.64% -0.05%
2001 0.76% -0.17%
2000 0.72% -0.32%
1999 0.67% -0.36%
1998 0.62% -0.41%
1997 0.52% -0.31%
1996 0.46% -0.08%
1995 0.5% 0.07%
1994 0.6% 0.11%
1993 0.7% 0.13%
1992 0.76% 0.11%
1991 0.79% -3.83%
1990 0.69% 0.05%
1989 0.6% 0.12%
1988 0.65% 0.21%
1987 0.64% 0.18%
1986 0.56% 0.23%
1985 0.47% 0.29%
1984 0.4% 0.33%
1983 0.38% 0.32%
1982 0.46% 0.34%
1981 0.69% 0.35%
1980 0.79% 2.22%
1979 0.69% 0.51%
1978 0.62% 0.55%
1977 0.6% 0.59%
1976 0.79% 0.68%
1975 0.9% 0.58%
1974 0.79% 0.58%
1973 0.83% 0.44%
1972 1.02% 0.56%
1971 1.2% 0.65%
1970 1.25% 0.59%
1969 1.16% 1.65%
1968 1.04% 0.59%
1967 1.14% 0.56%
1966 1.31% 0.75%
1965 1.38% 0.64%
1964 1.35% 0.66%
1963 1.36% 0.71%
1962 1.43% 0.77%
1961 1.32% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Serbia
Current population
18252623
6494521
Population rank 72/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.08%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
14.3 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
8.63 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
5.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 -101
Annual growth/decline +116,368 -36,707
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 189/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 -13,086
Net migration rank 16/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -13,086
2024 - 121,628 - -8,132
2023 -5,363 144,558 -36,427 4,348
2022 -1,770 224,472 -46,651 40,118
2021 7,014 106,416 -74,494 -8,974
2020 0 67,598 -55,193 -10,220
2019 17,345 109,003 -36,810 -18,891
2018 15,508 87,197 -37,707 -18,883
2017 18,844 86,332 -39,317 -18,651
2016 23,843 88,743 -35,998 -18,322
2015 23,716 55,585 -37,605 -18,789
2014 35,417 36,591 -34,946 -18,846
2013 30,248 19,973 -34,399 -17,866
2012 35,186 14,861 -35,288 -18,513
2011 45,072 31,224 -36,906 611
2010 48,184 33,703 -34,999 3,632
2009 51,244 39,832 -33,676 6,043
2008 49,337 32,406 -33,590 7,070
2007 49,145 -304 -34,693 7,045
2006 49,038 -25,401 -31,870 8,018
2005 50,592 -22,496 -34,227 7,945
2004 56,987 -9,230 -26,121 7,300
2003 58,411 7,937 -24,686 6,854
2002 59,751 28,824 -24,750 1,562
2001 62,580 56,096 -20,259 -12,007
2000 66,887 59,308 -30,065 -14,368
1999 60,086 47,179 -29,408 -4,073
1998 61,258 52,058 -23,006 -5,665
1997 56,198 31,302 -18,389 -5,817
1996 51,251 21,792 -16,007 -5,598
1995 54,106 15,056 -7,628 -6,019
1994 61,532 20,193 -7,157 -5,934
1993 58,103 44,514 -5,703 -5,972
1992 66,811 50,148 -3,779 -4,415
1991 69,321 51,670 2,210 -8,483
1990 68,777 53,564 7,416 -16,260
1989 59,396 31,165 11,872 -16,360
1988 61,993 31,026 13,852 -15,715
1987 64,526 39,559 16,711 -16,686
1986 59,746 30,380 19,407 -17,990
1985 55,069 27,356 22,090 -17,646
1984 54,812 12,902 23,815 -15,567
1983 51,722 11,007 27,515 -15,301
1982 54,388 7,644 30,603 -13,550
1981 62,688 17,643 34,304 -8,531
1980 66,504 54,010 36,273 287
1979 63,172 42,772 39,022 -960
1978 61,344 26,639 43,636 -1,481
1977 63,739 19,809 48,105 -1,953
1976 63,361 18,774 51,399 -2,744
1975 64,232 68,569 52,502 -3,490
1974 75,853 31,645 51,583 -3,525
1973 84,668 18,705 49,596 -2,396
1972 101,297 17,470 48,248 -348
1971 116,112 32,756 47,424 1,655
1970 129,082 32,438 48,343 1,861
1969 139,082 21,850 50,304 4,112
1968 132,389 7,243 51,653 5,430
1967 138,580 -10,673 53,120 6,114
1966 138,265 20,740 53,338 7,037
1965 146,308 19,444 53,383 7,957
1964 157,653 15,014 54,185 8,045
1963 154,361 -21 55,580 8,276
1962 153,474 18,024 59,307 6,064
1961 159,450 8,258 61,065 6,422
1960 151,623 -13,235 63,642 4,377

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/serbia | 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 Serbia 83.3% is from natural causes (a loss of 435,148 people) and 16.7% is from migration (a loss of 87,110 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

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
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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