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Population in the Netherlands compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 18,087,633 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,243,998 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 2.83 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.84% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.64% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.2M (11.6% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Netherlands vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands South Korea
2100 17,329,352 22,001,649
2099 17,362,626 22,324,514
2098 17,395,665 22,657,541
2097 17,429,925 22,998,315
2096 17,465,162 23,348,632
2095 17,502,567 23,711,049
2094 17,540,959 24,081,510
2093 17,580,632 24,460,970
2092 17,619,384 24,848,715
2091 17,658,238 25,242,926
2090 17,700,204 25,642,926
2089 17,739,947 26,048,094
2088 17,779,324 26,457,020
2087 17,815,257 26,871,556
2086 17,854,371 27,288,450
2085 17,890,610 27,710,065
2084 17,926,885 28,133,600
2083 17,963,416 28,564,090
2082 17,998,527 28,998,646
2081 18,032,297 29,441,497
2080 18,062,716 29,887,135
2079 18,093,254 30,337,095
2078 18,121,649 30,793,984
2077 18,150,234 31,258,278
2076 18,175,683 31,728,826
2075 18,196,574 32,205,338
2074 18,214,405 32,689,892
2073 18,232,486 33,180,187
2072 18,249,136 33,679,874
2071 18,264,367 34,187,068
2070 18,279,781 34,702,204
2069 18,295,123 35,224,472
2068 18,310,300 35,745,164
2067 18,325,333 36,274,411
2066 18,343,435 36,808,495
2065 18,364,513 37,349,660
2064 18,386,352 37,897,742
2063 18,409,851 38,450,082
2062 18,433,299 39,009,227
2061 18,460,766 39,565,102
2060 18,488,598 40,130,032
2059 18,517,020 40,692,438
2058 18,545,884 41,256,780
2057 18,576,502 41,813,259
2056 18,606,997 42,356,530
2055 18,634,546 42,888,143
2054 18,660,585 43,405,840
2053 18,686,212 43,917,075
2052 18,709,643 44,419,192
2051 18,736,166 44,901,452
2050 18,757,302 45,362,931
2049 18,777,673 45,809,553
2048 18,795,411 46,235,718
2047 18,812,362 46,645,885
2046 18,823,628 47,033,200
2045 18,834,974 47,409,815
2044 18,844,772 47,773,842
2043 18,850,396 48,120,989
2042 18,853,495 48,455,085
2041 18,852,912 48,782,206
2040 18,847,238 49,091,438
2039 18,837,931 49,388,464
2038 18,823,220 49,669,835
2037 18,804,912 49,932,869
2036 18,779,656 50,175,947
2035 18,751,144 50,401,135
2034 18,718,013 50,607,994
2033 18,676,061 50,796,030
2032 18,630,094 50,961,878
2031 18,577,582 51,109,725
2030 18,517,866 51,242,628
2029 18,449,618 51,360,529
2028 18,372,676 51,461,403
2027 18,289,268 51,551,313
2026 18,196,186 51,624,449
2025 18,087,633 51,684,564
2024 17,993,485 51,751,065
2023 17,877,117 51,712,619
2022 17,700,982 51,672,569
2021 17,533,044 51,769,539
2020 17,441,500 51,836,239
2019 17,344,874 51,764,822
2018 17,231,624 51,585,058
2017 17,131,296 51,361,911
2016 17,030,314 51,217,803
2015 16,939,923 51,014,947
2014 16,865,008 50,746,659
2013 16,804,432 50,428,893
2012 16,754,962 50,199,853
2011 16,693,074 49,936,638
2010 16,615,394 49,554,112
2009 16,530,388 49,307,835
2008 16,445,593 49,054,708
2007 16,381,696 48,683,638
2006 16,346,101 48,438,292
2005 16,319,868 48,184,561
2004 16,281,779 48,082,519
2003 16,225,302 47,892,330
2002 16,148,929 47,644,736
2001 16,046,180 47,370,164
2000 15,925,513 47,008,111
1999 15,812,088 46,616,677
1998 15,707,209 46,286,503
1997 15,610,650 45,953,580
1996 15,530,498 45,524,681
1995 15,459,006 45,092,991
1994 15,382,838 44,641,540
1993 15,290,368 44,194,628
1992 15,184,166 43,747,962
1991 15,069,798 43,295,704
1990 14,951,510 42,869,283
1989 14,848,907 42,449,038
1988 14,760,094 42,031,247
1987 14,665,037 41,621,690
1986 14,572,278 41,213,674
1985 14,491,632 40,805,744
1984 14,424,211 40,405,956
1983 14,367,070 39,910,403
1982 14,312,690 39,326,352
1981 14,247,208 38,723,248
1980 14,149,800 38,123,775
1979 14,038,270 37,534,236
1978 13,941,700 36,969,185
1977 13,856,185 36,411,795
1976 13,774,037 35,848,523
1975 13,666,335 35,280,725
1974 13,545,056 34,692,266
1973 13,439,322 34,103,149
1972 13,328,593 33,505,406
1971 13,194,497 32,882,704
1970 13,038,526 32,240,827
1969 12,877,984 31,544,266
1968 12,729,721 30,838,302
1967 12,598,201 30,130,983
1966 12,456,251 29,435,571
1965 12,294,732 28,704,674
1964 12,127,120 27,984,155
1963 11,965,966 27,261,747
1962 11,805,689 26,513,030
1961 11,638,712 25,765,673
1960 11,486,631 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands South Korea
2100 -0.19% -1.45%
2099 -0.19% -1.47%
2098 -0.2% -1.48%
2097 -0.2% -1.5%
2096 -0.21% -1.53%
2095 -0.22% -1.54%
2094 -0.23% -1.55%
2093 -0.22% -1.56%
2092 -0.22% -1.56%
2091 -0.24% -1.56%
2090 -0.22% -1.56%
2089 -0.22% -1.55%
2088 -0.2% -1.54%
2087 -0.22% -1.53%
2086 -0.2% -1.52%
2085 -0.2% -1.51%
2084 -0.2% -1.51%
2083 -0.2% -1.5%
2082 -0.19% -1.5%
2081 -0.17% -1.49%
2080 -0.17% -1.48%
2079 -0.16% -1.48%
2078 -0.16% -1.49%
2077 -0.14% -1.48%
2076 -0.11% -1.48%
2075 -0.1% -1.48%
2074 -0.1% -1.48%
2073 -0.09% -1.48%
2072 -0.08% -1.48%
2071 -0.08% -1.48%
2070 -0.08% -1.48%
2069 -0.08% -1.46%
2068 -0.08% -1.46%
2067 -0.1% -1.45%
2066 -0.11% -1.45%
2065 -0.12% -1.45%
2064 -0.13% -1.44%
2063 -0.13% -1.43%
2062 -0.15% -1.4%
2061 -0.15% -1.41%
2060 -0.15% -1.38%
2059 -0.16% -1.37%
2058 -0.16% -1.33%
2057 -0.16% -1.28%
2056 -0.15% -1.24%
2055 -0.14% -1.19%
2054 -0.14% -1.16%
2053 -0.13% -1.13%
2052 -0.14% -1.07%
2051 -0.11% -1.02%
2050 -0.11% -0.97%
2049 -0.09% -0.92%
2048 -0.09% -0.88%
2047 -0.06% -0.82%
2046 -0.06% -0.79%
2045 -0.05% -0.76%
2044 -0.03% -0.72%
2043 -0.02% -0.69%
2042 0.003% -0.67%
2041 0.03% -0.63%
2040 0.05% -0.6%
2039 0.08% -0.57%
2038 0.1% -0.53%
2037 0.13% -0.48%
2036 0.15% -0.45%
2035 0.18% -0.41%
2034 0.22% -0.37%
2033 0.25% -0.33%
2032 0.28% -0.29%
2031 0.32% -0.26%
2030 0.37% -0.23%
2029 0.42% -0.2%
2028 0.46% -0.17%
2027 0.51% -0.14%
2026 0.6% -0.12%
2025 0.52% -0.13%
2024 0.65% 0.07%
2023 1% 0.08%
2022 0.96% -0.19%
2021 0.52% -0.13%
2020 0.56% 0.14%
2019 0.66% 0.35%
2018 0.59% 0.43%
2017 0.59% 0.28%
2016 0.53% 0.4%
2015 0.44% 0.53%
2014 0.36% 0.63%
2013 0.3% 0.46%
2012 0.37% 0.53%
2011 0.47% 0.77%
2010 0.51% 0.5%
2009 0.52% 0.52%
2008 0.39% 0.76%
2007 0.22% 0.51%
2006 0.16% 0.53%
2005 0.23% 0.21%
2004 0.35% 0.4%
2003 0.47% 0.52%
2002 0.64% 0.58%
2001 0.76% 0.77%
2000 0.72% 0.84%
1999 0.67% 0.71%
1998 0.62% 0.72%
1997 0.52% 0.94%
1996 0.46% 0.96%
1995 0.5% 1.01%
1994 0.6% 1.01%
1993 0.7% 1.02%
1992 0.76% 1.04%
1991 0.79% 0.99%
1990 0.69% 0.99%
1989 0.6% 0.99%
1988 0.65% 0.98%
1987 0.64% 0.99%
1986 0.56% 1%
1985 0.47% 0.99%
1984 0.4% 1.24%
1983 0.38% 1.49%
1982 0.46% 1.56%
1981 0.69% 1.57%
1980 0.79% 1.57%
1979 0.69% 1.53%
1978 0.62% 1.53%
1977 0.6% 1.57%
1976 0.79% 1.61%
1975 0.9% 1.7%
1974 0.79% 1.73%
1973 0.83% 1.78%
1972 1.02% 1.89%
1971 1.2% 1.99%
1970 1.25% 2.21%
1969 1.16% 2.29%
1968 1.04% 2.35%
1967 1.14% 2.36%
1966 1.31% 2.55%
1965 1.38% 2.57%
1964 1.35% 2.65%
1963 1.36% 2.82%
1962 1.43% 2.9%
1961 1.32% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.52%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Netherlands South Korea
Current population
18243998
51624449
Population rank 72/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.62%
One net population change
5.6 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
3.18 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
3.04 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +258 -182
Annual growth/decline +94,148 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +0.52% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 127/197 169/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +65,731
Net migration rank 16/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 65,731
2024 -7,197 121,628 -119,027 75,963
2023 -5,363 144,558 -124,111 87,800
2022 -1,770 224,472 -124,014 87,800
2021 7,014 106,416 -56,947 -16,778
2020 0 67,598 -31,101 112,631
2019 17,345 109,003 10,353 128,622
2018 15,508 87,197 30,951 118,220
2017 18,844 86,332 71,907 104,029
2016 23,843 88,743 122,923 91,568
2015 23,716 55,585 163,248 276,427
2014 35,417 36,591 167,464 308,037
2013 30,248 19,973 166,415 301,926
2012 35,186 14,861 215,859 281,866
2011 45,072 31,224 214,728 269,958
2010 48,184 33,703 213,083 52,042
2009 51,244 39,832 197,231 5,308
2008 49,337 32,406 215,841 -19,630
2007 49,145 -304 248,286 -42,293
2006 49,038 -25,401 203,441 -28,434
2005 50,592 -22,496 187,920 -47,821
2004 56,987 -9,230 225,988 -42,549
2003 58,411 7,937 244,251 -31,994
2002 59,751 28,824 247,752 -18,105
2001 62,580 56,096 312,643 -28,006
2000 66,887 59,308 390,167 -84,960
1999 60,086 47,179 368,272 -107,448
1998 61,258 52,058 393,436 -98,044
1997 56,198 31,302 422,773 -109,130
1996 51,251 21,792 446,142 -115,705
1995 54,106 15,056 468,967 -208,491
1994 61,532 20,193 473,200 -208,309
1993 58,103 44,514 477,302 -222,802
1992 66,811 50,148 494,352 -265,849
1991 69,321 51,670 467,594 -270,754
1990 68,777 53,564 411,546 79,294
1989 59,396 31,165 403,266 186,120
1988 61,993 31,026 399,297 192,534
1987 64,526 39,559 378,758 198,057
1986 59,746 30,380 395,651 189,782
1985 55,069 27,356 416,219 97,949
1984 54,812 12,902 436,384 101,394
1983 51,722 11,007 514,844 102,167
1982 54,388 7,644 605,626 48,638
1981 62,688 17,643 631,189 18,442
1980 66,504 54,010 583,294 -148,341
1979 63,172 42,772 623,068 -139,566
1978 61,344 26,639 499,084 -85,721
1977 63,739 19,809 578,947 -90,737
1976 63,361 18,774 530,558 -92,314
1975 64,232 68,569 603,300 -52,332
1974 75,853 31,645 673,030 27,005
1973 84,668 18,705 699,115 35,779
1972 101,297 17,470 740,469 25,382
1971 116,112 32,756 789,185 -6,326
1970 129,082 32,438 747,987 -27,999
1969 139,082 21,850 694,227 -21,175
1968 132,389 7,243 684,487 -16,868
1967 138,580 -10,673 692,169 -16,484
1966 138,265 20,740 623,534 -16,688
1965 146,308 19,444 641,090 -146,386
1964 157,653 15,014 655,501 -102,284
1963 154,361 -21 685,824 -80,226
1962 153,474 18,024 712,590 -94,606
1961 159,450 8,258 730,173 -93,179
1960 151,623 -13,235 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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