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Population in the Netherlands compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 18,087,633 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,243,998 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.01 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.64% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.2M (11.6% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Netherlands vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Sierra Leone
2100 17,329,352 16,107,087
2099 17,362,626 16,121,940
2098 17,395,665 16,135,035
2097 17,429,925 16,149,905
2096 17,465,162 16,160,672
2095 17,502,567 16,169,304
2094 17,540,959 16,168,902
2093 17,580,632 16,173,609
2092 17,619,384 16,170,778
2091 17,658,238 16,163,901
2090 17,700,204 16,154,165
2089 17,739,947 16,142,526
2088 17,779,324 16,128,775
2087 17,815,257 16,112,585
2086 17,854,371 16,085,549
2085 17,890,610 16,064,212
2084 17,926,885 16,040,563
2083 17,963,416 16,006,923
2082 17,998,527 15,970,872
2081 18,032,297 15,930,880
2080 18,062,716 15,892,665
2079 18,093,254 15,850,728
2078 18,121,649 15,801,450
2077 18,150,234 15,750,408
2076 18,175,683 15,695,310
2075 18,196,574 15,635,345
2074 18,214,405 15,580,279
2073 18,232,486 15,512,655
2072 18,249,136 15,442,481
2071 18,264,367 15,370,747
2070 18,279,781 15,293,426
2069 18,295,123 15,212,664
2068 18,310,300 15,124,069
2067 18,325,333 15,028,190
2066 18,343,435 14,931,295
2065 18,364,513 14,833,794
2064 18,386,352 14,736,872
2063 18,409,851 14,638,180
2062 18,433,299 14,525,736
2061 18,460,766 14,420,068
2060 18,488,598 14,307,451
2059 18,517,020 14,194,972
2058 18,545,884 14,077,124
2057 18,576,502 13,957,197
2056 18,606,997 13,832,494
2055 18,634,546 13,702,508
2054 18,660,585 13,576,231
2053 18,686,212 13,440,929
2052 18,709,643 13,299,910
2051 18,736,166 13,152,910
2050 18,757,302 13,006,688
2049 18,777,673 12,863,637
2048 18,795,411 12,712,671
2047 18,812,362 12,566,944
2046 18,823,628 12,411,042
2045 18,834,974 12,254,651
2044 18,844,772 12,088,895
2043 18,850,396 11,928,393
2042 18,853,495 11,767,372
2041 18,852,912 11,599,942
2040 18,847,238 11,428,331
2039 18,837,931 11,259,845
2038 18,823,220 11,097,180
2037 18,804,912 10,928,754
2036 18,779,656 10,757,928
2035 18,751,144 10,582,918
2034 18,718,013 10,411,088
2033 18,676,061 10,238,503
2032 18,630,094 10,059,929
2031 18,577,582 9,881,109
2030 18,517,866 9,705,485
2029 18,449,618 9,529,493
2028 18,372,676 9,358,412
2027 18,289,268 9,177,288
2026 18,196,186 8,998,902
2025 18,087,633 8,819,794
2024 17,993,485 8,642,022
2023 17,877,117 8,460,512
2022 17,700,982 8,276,807
2021 17,533,044 8,094,602
2020 17,441,500 7,912,558
2019 17,344,874 7,731,991
2018 17,231,624 7,554,563
2017 17,131,296 7,379,299
2016 17,030,314 7,205,328
2015 16,939,923 7,037,655
2014 16,865,008 6,876,385
2013 16,804,432 6,714,051
2012 16,754,962 6,551,080
2011 16,693,074 6,387,251
2010 16,615,394 6,222,714
2009 16,530,388 6,055,646
2008 16,445,593 5,894,722
2007 16,381,696 5,749,352
2006 16,346,101 5,624,466
2005 16,319,868 5,501,712
2004 16,281,779 5,355,717
2003 16,225,302 5,177,687
2002 16,148,929 4,971,435
2001 16,046,180 4,692,716
2000 15,925,513 4,423,611
1999 15,812,088 4,318,043
1998 15,707,209 4,295,785
1997 15,610,650 4,253,716
1996 15,530,498 4,199,210
1995 15,459,006 4,179,179
1994 15,382,838 4,173,105
1993 15,290,368 4,157,130
1992 15,184,166 4,166,366
1991 15,069,798 4,246,267
1990 14,951,510 4,196,828
1989 14,848,907 4,034,037
1988 14,760,094 3,934,517
1987 14,665,037 3,829,718
1986 14,572,278 3,728,380
1985 14,491,632 3,638,438
1984 14,424,211 3,558,758
1983 14,367,070 3,481,646
1982 14,312,690 3,408,183
1981 14,247,208 3,338,940
1980 14,149,800 3,272,089
1979 14,038,270 3,207,499
1978 13,941,700 3,145,517
1977 13,856,185 3,085,354
1976 13,774,037 3,028,820
1975 13,666,335 2,974,657
1974 13,545,056 2,920,459
1973 13,439,322 2,866,955
1972 13,328,593 2,814,388
1971 13,194,497 2,763,222
1970 13,038,526 2,712,286
1969 12,877,984 2,661,365
1968 12,729,721 2,611,532
1967 12,598,201 2,562,384
1966 12,456,251 2,514,638
1965 12,294,732 2,468,666
1964 12,127,120 2,424,390
1963 11,965,966 2,382,258
1962 11,805,689 2,342,242
1961 11,638,712 2,304,227
1960 11,486,631 2,268,356

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Netherlands' population will grow by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people with a rank change from 72nd to 77th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Sierra Leone
2100 -0.19% -0.09%
2099 -0.19% -0.08%
2098 -0.2% -0.09%
2097 -0.2% -0.07%
2096 -0.21% -0.05%
2095 -0.22% 0.002%
2094 -0.23% -0.03%
2093 -0.22% 0.02%
2092 -0.22% 0.04%
2091 -0.24% 0.06%
2090 -0.22% 0.07%
2089 -0.22% 0.09%
2088 -0.2% 0.1%
2087 -0.22% 0.17%
2086 -0.2% 0.13%
2085 -0.2% 0.15%
2084 -0.2% 0.21%
2083 -0.2% 0.23%
2082 -0.19% 0.25%
2081 -0.17% 0.24%
2080 -0.17% 0.26%
2079 -0.16% 0.31%
2078 -0.16% 0.32%
2077 -0.14% 0.35%
2076 -0.11% 0.38%
2075 -0.1% 0.35%
2074 -0.1% 0.44%
2073 -0.09% 0.45%
2072 -0.08% 0.47%
2071 -0.08% 0.51%
2070 -0.08% 0.53%
2069 -0.08% 0.59%
2068 -0.08% 0.64%
2067 -0.1% 0.65%
2066 -0.11% 0.66%
2065 -0.12% 0.66%
2064 -0.13% 0.67%
2063 -0.13% 0.77%
2062 -0.15% 0.73%
2061 -0.15% 0.79%
2060 -0.15% 0.79%
2059 -0.16% 0.84%
2058 -0.16% 0.86%
2057 -0.16% 0.9%
2056 -0.15% 0.95%
2055 -0.14% 0.93%
2054 -0.14% 1.01%
2053 -0.13% 1.06%
2052 -0.14% 1.12%
2051 -0.11% 1.12%
2050 -0.11% 1.11%
2049 -0.09% 1.19%
2048 -0.09% 1.16%
2047 -0.06% 1.26%
2046 -0.06% 1.28%
2045 -0.05% 1.37%
2044 -0.03% 1.35%
2043 -0.02% 1.37%
2042 0.003% 1.44%
2041 0.03% 1.5%
2040 0.05% 1.5%
2039 0.08% 1.47%
2038 0.1% 1.54%
2037 0.13% 1.59%
2036 0.15% 1.65%
2035 0.18% 1.65%
2034 0.22% 1.69%
2033 0.25% 1.78%
2032 0.28% 1.81%
2031 0.32% 1.81%
2030 0.37% 1.85%
2029 0.42% 1.83%
2028 0.46% 1.97%
2027 0.51% 1.98%
2026 0.6% 2.03%
2025 0.52% 2.06%
2024 0.65% 2.15%
2023 1% 2.22%
2022 0.96% 2.25%
2021 0.52% 2.3%
2020 0.56% 2.34%
2019 0.66% 2.35%
2018 0.59% 2.38%
2017 0.59% 2.41%
2016 0.53% 2.38%
2015 0.44% 2.35%
2014 0.36% 2.42%
2013 0.3% 2.49%
2012 0.37% 2.56%
2011 0.47% 2.64%
2010 0.51% 2.76%
2009 0.52% 2.73%
2008 0.39% 2.53%
2007 0.22% 2.22%
2006 0.16% 2.23%
2005 0.23% 2.73%
2004 0.35% 3.44%
2003 0.47% 4.15%
2002 0.64% 5.94%
2001 0.76% 6.08%
2000 0.72% 2.44%
1999 0.67% 0.52%
1998 0.62% 0.99%
1997 0.52% 1.3%
1996 0.46% 0.48%
1995 0.5% 0.15%
1994 0.6% 0.38%
1993 0.7% -0.22%
1992 0.76% -1.88%
1991 0.79% 1.18%
1990 0.69% 4.04%
1989 0.6% 2.53%
1988 0.65% 2.74%
1987 0.64% 2.72%
1986 0.56% 2.47%
1985 0.47% 2.24%
1984 0.4% 2.21%
1983 0.38% 2.16%
1982 0.46% 2.07%
1981 0.69% 2.04%
1980 0.79% 2.01%
1979 0.69% 1.97%
1978 0.62% 1.95%
1977 0.6% 1.87%
1976 0.79% 1.82%
1975 0.9% 1.86%
1974 0.79% 1.87%
1973 0.83% 1.87%
1972 1.02% 1.85%
1971 1.2% 1.88%
1970 1.25% 1.91%
1969 1.16% 1.91%
1968 1.04% 1.92%
1967 1.14% 1.9%
1966 1.31% 1.86%
1965 1.38% 1.83%
1964 1.35% 1.77%
1963 1.36% 1.71%
1962 1.43% 1.65%
1961 1.32% 1.58%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.52%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Sierra Leone
Current population
18243998
9090531
Population rank 72/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.11%
One net population change
5.6 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
3.18 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
3.04 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +258 +487
Annual growth/decline +94,148 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +0.52% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 127/197 47/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 -11,309
Net migration rank 16/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -11,309
2024 -7,197 121,628 189,234 -11,000
2023 -5,363 144,558 188,788 -4,000
2022 -1,770 224,472 186,625 -4,000
2021 7,014 106,416 183,326 -1,544
2020 0 67,598 181,015 1,292
2019 17,345 109,003 181,068 -2,238
2018 15,508 87,197 178,772 -2,741
2017 18,844 86,332 173,259 1,234
2016 23,843 88,743 168,784 4,657
2015 23,716 55,585 162,275 -356
2014 35,417 36,591 160,137 485
2013 30,248 19,973 161,265 2,773
2012 35,186 14,861 160,915 988
2011 45,072 31,224 158,858 6,895
2010 48,184 33,703 155,338 7,983
2009 51,244 39,832 152,669 18,145
2008 49,337 32,406 149,855 1,182
2007 49,145 -304 145,740 -6,042
2006 49,038 -25,401 144,127 -34,052
2005 50,592 -22,496 137,234 -1,805
2004 56,987 -9,230 132,661 23,897
2003 58,411 7,937 130,312 69,185
2002 59,751 28,824 126,429 86,578
2001 62,580 56,096 116,647 227,791
2000 66,887 59,308 110,754 83,013
1999 60,086 47,179 102,295 -84,926
1998 61,258 52,058 103,906 -76,766
1997 56,198 31,302 105,433 -48,437
1996 51,251 21,792 104,140 -52,110
1995 54,106 15,056 100,885 -112,857
1994 61,532 20,193 101,486 -77,371
1993 58,103 44,514 103,317 -95,476
1992 66,811 50,148 103,251 -129,565
1991 69,321 51,670 105,477 -238,965
1990 68,777 53,564 100,778 131,587
1989 59,396 31,165 98,298 -5,079
1988 61,993 31,026 96,344 9,470
1987 64,526 39,559 94,235 9,558
1986 59,746 30,380 90,902 7,992
1985 55,069 27,356 88,869 -7,873
1984 54,812 12,902 87,072 -8,708
1983 51,722 11,007 84,628 -8,783
1982 54,388 7,644 82,457 -11,379
1981 62,688 17,643 80,111 -12,699
1980 66,504 54,010 77,932 -11,641
1979 63,172 42,772 75,992 -13,095
1978 61,344 26,639 74,130 -13,073
1977 63,739 19,809 71,663 -12,399
1976 63,361 18,774 69,506 -15,686
1975 64,232 68,569 67,560 -13,058
1974 75,853 31,645 65,357 -11,473
1973 84,668 18,705 62,443 -9,322
1972 101,297 17,470 60,279 -8,267
1971 116,112 32,756 58,484 -8,162
1970 129,082 32,438 56,513 -4,957
1969 139,082 21,850 54,768 -4,485
1968 132,389 7,243 53,126 -3,743
1967 138,580 -10,673 51,734 -2,819
1966 138,265 20,740 49,486 -2,911
1965 146,308 19,444 47,223 -1,851
1964 157,653 15,014 45,487 -2,308
1963 154,361 -21 43,569 -2,480
1962 153,474 18,024 41,603 -2,658
1961 159,450 8,258 40,022 -2,947
1960 151,623 -13,235 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/sierra-leone | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 7.77% of the population change in the Netherlands is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people). In Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/sierra-leone | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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