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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 1.46 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Netherlands vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands South Sudan
2100 17,359,081 24,086,901
2099 17,392,412 24,081,477
2098 17,425,508 24,063,461
2097 17,459,827 24,065,268
2096 17,495,124 24,054,483
2095 17,532,593 24,046,345
2094 17,571,051 24,047,776
2093 17,610,792 24,039,017
2092 17,649,611 24,019,054
2091 17,688,532 24,000,308
2090 17,730,570 23,978,496
2089 17,770,380 23,937,487
2088 17,809,825 23,892,166
2087 17,845,820 23,857,250
2086 17,885,001 23,803,312
2085 17,921,302 23,759,178
2084 17,957,639 23,687,109
2083 17,994,232 23,617,646
2082 18,029,404 23,541,119
2081 18,063,233 23,466,449
2080 18,093,703 23,391,758
2079 18,124,294 23,294,252
2078 18,152,738 23,197,067
2077 18,181,372 23,086,584
2076 18,206,864 22,987,331
2075 18,227,791 22,868,587
2074 18,245,652 22,726,189
2073 18,263,765 22,583,672
2072 18,280,443 22,438,943
2071 18,295,700 22,288,026
2070 18,311,141 22,151,650
2069 18,326,509 22,003,659
2068 18,341,711 21,829,800
2067 18,356,770 21,662,211
2066 18,374,904 21,496,881
2065 18,396,018 21,317,455
2064 18,417,894 21,142,002
2063 18,441,434 20,965,122
2062 18,464,922 20,785,055
2061 18,492,436 20,608,964
2060 18,520,315 20,430,857
2059 18,548,786 20,235,022
2058 18,577,700 20,048,974
2057 18,608,370 19,853,696
2056 18,638,918 19,659,362
2055 18,666,514 19,464,297
2054 18,692,598 19,257,481
2053 18,718,268 19,060,517
2052 18,741,740 18,840,461
2051 18,768,309 18,633,198
2050 18,789,481 18,434,212
2049 18,809,886 18,230,881
2048 18,827,655 18,021,026
2047 18,844,635 17,806,282
2046 18,855,920 17,579,173
2045 18,867,286 17,355,041
2044 18,877,101 17,121,972
2043 18,882,735 16,888,278
2042 18,885,839 16,645,354
2041 18,885,255 16,396,768
2040 18,879,571 16,142,816
2039 18,870,248 15,889,952
2038 18,855,512 15,628,043
2037 18,837,172 15,363,975
2036 18,811,873 15,091,275
2035 18,783,312 14,815,307
2034 18,750,125 14,543,511
2033 18,708,101 14,278,180
2032 18,662,054 14,007,134
2031 18,609,452 13,730,637
2030 18,549,634 13,465,615
2029 18,481,269 13,206,477
2028 18,404,195 12,947,082
2027 18,320,644 12,692,769
2026 18,227,403 12,439,296
2025 18,118,662 12,193,102
2024 17,993,485 11,943,408
2023 17,877,117 11,483,374
2022 17,700,982 11,021,177
2021 17,533,044 10,865,780
2020 17,441,500 10,698,467
2019 17,344,874 10,423,384
2018 17,231,624 10,122,977
2017 17,131,296 10,259,154
2016 17,030,314 10,830,102
2015 16,939,923 11,107,561
2014 16,865,008 11,235,073
2013 16,804,432 11,166,275
2012 16,754,962 10,756,240
2011 16,693,074 10,288,109
2010 16,615,394 9,745,953
2009 16,530,388 9,243,556
2008 16,445,593 8,817,647
2007 16,381,696 8,388,788
2006 16,346,101 7,976,526
2005 16,319,868 7,590,143
2004 16,281,779 7,233,041
2003 16,225,302 6,903,127
2002 16,148,929 6,596,806
2001 16,046,180 6,308,391
2000 15,925,513 6,032,267
1999 15,812,088 5,771,628
1998 15,707,209 5,620,068
1997 15,610,650 5,509,136
1996 15,530,498 5,356,925
1995 15,459,006 5,225,836
1994 15,382,838 5,071,184
1993 15,290,368 4,956,002
1992 15,184,166 4,909,749
1991 15,069,798 4,836,677
1990 14,951,510 4,737,633
1989 14,848,907 4,713,229
1988 14,760,094 4,848,029
1987 14,665,037 4,962,395
1986 14,572,278 4,921,240
1985 14,491,632 4,834,296
1984 14,424,211 4,750,627
1983 14,367,070 4,661,574
1982 14,312,690 4,557,686
1981 14,247,208 4,447,272
1980 14,149,800 4,339,030
1979 14,038,270 4,232,605
1978 13,941,700 4,127,657
1977 13,856,185 4,024,032
1976 13,774,037 3,921,910
1975 13,666,335 3,821,494
1974 13,545,056 3,723,259
1973 13,439,322 3,627,383
1972 13,328,593 3,542,497
1971 13,194,497 3,468,646
1970 13,038,526 3,409,614
1969 12,877,984 3,365,533
1968 12,729,721 3,321,528
1967 12,598,201 3,277,648
1966 12,456,251 3,236,423
1965 12,294,732 3,189,835
1964 12,127,120 3,129,918
1963 11,965,966 3,072,669
1962 11,805,689 3,024,308
1961 11,638,712 2,976,724
1960 11,486,631 2,931,559

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands South Sudan
2100 -0.19% 0.02%
2099 -0.19% 0.07%
2098 -0.2% -0.008%
2097 -0.2% 0.04%
2096 -0.21% 0.03%
2095 -0.22% -0.006%
2094 -0.23% 0.04%
2093 -0.22% 0.08%
2092 -0.22% 0.08%
2091 -0.24% 0.09%
2090 -0.22% 0.17%
2089 -0.22% 0.19%
2088 -0.2% 0.15%
2087 -0.22% 0.23%
2086 -0.2% 0.19%
2085 -0.2% 0.3%
2084 -0.2% 0.29%
2083 -0.2% 0.33%
2082 -0.19% 0.32%
2081 -0.17% 0.32%
2080 -0.17% 0.42%
2079 -0.16% 0.42%
2078 -0.16% 0.48%
2077 -0.14% 0.43%
2076 -0.11% 0.52%
2075 -0.1% 0.63%
2074 -0.1% 0.63%
2073 -0.09% 0.64%
2072 -0.08% 0.68%
2071 -0.08% 0.62%
2070 -0.08% 0.67%
2069 -0.08% 0.8%
2068 -0.08% 0.77%
2067 -0.1% 0.77%
2066 -0.11% 0.84%
2065 -0.12% 0.83%
2064 -0.13% 0.84%
2063 -0.13% 0.87%
2062 -0.15% 0.85%
2061 -0.15% 0.87%
2060 -0.15% 0.97%
2059 -0.16% 0.93%
2058 -0.16% 0.98%
2057 -0.16% 0.99%
2056 -0.15% 1%
2055 -0.14% 1.07%
2054 -0.14% 1.03%
2053 -0.13% 1.17%
2052 -0.14% 1.11%
2051 -0.11% 1.08%
2050 -0.11% 1.12%
2049 -0.09% 1.16%
2048 -0.09% 1.21%
2047 -0.06% 1.29%
2046 -0.06% 1.29%
2045 -0.05% 1.36%
2044 -0.03% 1.38%
2043 -0.02% 1.46%
2042 0.003% 1.52%
2041 0.03% 1.57%
2040 0.05% 1.59%
2039 0.08% 1.68%
2038 0.1% 1.72%
2037 0.13% 1.81%
2036 0.15% 1.86%
2035 0.18% 1.87%
2034 0.22% 1.86%
2033 0.25% 1.94%
2032 0.28% 2.01%
2031 0.32% 1.97%
2030 0.37% 1.96%
2029 0.42% 2%
2028 0.46% 2%
2027 0.51% 2.04%
2026 0.6% 2.02%
2025 0.7% 2.09%
2024 0.65% 4.01%
2023 1% 4.19%
2022 0.96% 1.43%
2021 0.52% 1.56%
2020 0.56% 2.64%
2019 0.66% 2.97%
2018 0.59% -1.33%
2017 0.59% -5.27%
2016 0.53% -2.5%
2015 0.44% -1.13%
2014 0.36% 0.62%
2013 0.3% 3.81%
2012 0.37% 4.55%
2011 0.47% 5.56%
2010 0.51% 5.44%
2009 0.52% 4.83%
2008 0.39% 5.11%
2007 0.22% 5.17%
2006 0.16% 5.09%
2005 0.23% 4.94%
2004 0.35% 4.78%
2003 0.47% 4.64%
2002 0.64% 4.57%
2001 0.76% 4.58%
2000 0.72% 4.52%
1999 0.67% 2.7%
1998 0.62% 2.01%
1997 0.52% 2.84%
1996 0.46% 2.51%
1995 0.5% 3.05%
1994 0.6% 2.32%
1993 0.7% 0.94%
1992 0.76% 1.51%
1991 0.79% 2.09%
1990 0.69% 0.52%
1989 0.6% -2.78%
1988 0.65% -2.3%
1987 0.64% 0.84%
1986 0.56% 1.8%
1985 0.47% 1.76%
1984 0.4% 1.91%
1983 0.38% 2.28%
1982 0.46% 2.48%
1981 0.69% 2.49%
1980 0.79% 2.51%
1979 0.69% 2.54%
1978 0.62% 2.58%
1977 0.6% 2.6%
1976 0.79% 2.63%
1975 0.9% 2.64%
1974 0.79% 2.64%
1973 0.83% 2.4%
1972 1.02% 2.13%
1971 1.2% 1.73%
1970 1.25% 1.31%
1969 1.16% 1.32%
1968 1.04% 1.34%
1967 1.14% 1.27%
1966 1.31% 1.46%
1965 1.38% 1.91%
1964 1.35% 1.86%
1963 1.36% 1.6%
1962 1.43% 1.6%
1961 1.32% 1.54%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Netherlands South Sudan
Current population
18252623
12507858
Population rank 72/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.15%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 7/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +104,681 +6,145
Net migration rank 16/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 6,145
2024 - 121,628 - 15,374
2023 -5,363 144,558 217,966 455,000
2022 -1,770 224,472 211,166 40,259
2021 7,014 106,416 213,567 -154,359
2020 0 67,598 212,332 62,935
2019 17,345 109,003 209,708 65,198
2018 15,508 87,197 168,497 157,408
2017 18,844 86,332 72,193 -670,477
2016 23,843 88,743 110,553 -654,225
2015 23,716 55,585 148,542 -159,822
2014 35,417 36,591 227,611 -471,523
2013 30,248 19,973 315,983 65,337
2012 35,186 14,861 312,974 125,771
2011 45,072 31,224 303,181 194,325
2010 48,184 33,703 287,409 299,402
2009 51,244 39,832 278,859 139,129
2008 49,337 32,406 268,268 165,557
2007 49,145 -304 256,546 167,350
2006 49,038 -25,401 246,706 153,926
2005 50,592 -22,496 239,272 132,869
2004 56,987 -9,230 231,877 110,182
2003 58,411 7,937 225,822 91,951
2002 59,751 28,824 212,014 82,847
2001 62,580 56,096 204,108 77,856
2000 66,887 59,308 196,055 74,227
1999 60,086 47,179 180,721 70,271
1998 61,258 52,058 -12,157 64,285
1997 56,198 31,302 121,454 48,280
1996 51,251 21,792 116,728 17,953
1995 54,106 15,056 110,417 17,077
1994 61,532 20,193 165,407 16,407
1993 58,103 44,514 32,779 15,772
1992 66,811 50,148 28,874 15,077
1991 69,321 51,670 87,873 14,327
1990 68,777 53,564 82,900 12,988
1989 59,396 31,165 83,735 -130,821
1988 61,993 31,026 -125,447 -97,065
1987 64,526 39,559 5,756 -11,976
1986 59,746 30,380 99,502 -10,973
1985 55,069 27,356 95,342 -9,986
1984 54,812 12,902 90,970 -8,984
1983 51,722 11,007 104,107 -7,986
1982 54,388 7,644 118,641 -6,983
1981 62,688 17,643 115,163 -5,994
1980 66,504 54,010 112,307 -4,997
1979 63,172 42,772 109,540 -3,997
1978 61,344 26,639 107,352 -2,998
1977 63,739 19,809 104,886 -1,997
1976 63,361 18,774 102,346 -995
1975 64,232 68,569 99,882 -395
1974 75,853 31,645 97,181 -192
1973 84,668 18,705 94,765 0
1972 101,297 17,470 74,803 193
1971 116,112 32,756 72,308 394
1970 129,082 32,438 44,776 587
1969 139,082 21,850 42,015 786
1968 132,389 7,243 44,213 995
1967 138,580 -10,673 41,357 1,194
1966 138,265 20,740 38,523 1,386
1965 146,308 19,444 51,682 1,591
1964 157,653 15,014 64,786 1,785
1963 154,361 -21 46,333 1,591
1962 153,474 18,024 47,406 1,386
1961 159,450 8,258 45,186 1,194
1960 151,623 -13,235 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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

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