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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 2.67 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.81% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Netherlands vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Spain
2100 17,359,081 33,862,981
2099 17,392,412 34,039,965
2098 17,425,508 34,215,187
2097 17,459,827 34,387,116
2096 17,495,124 34,552,002
2095 17,532,593 34,719,411
2094 17,571,051 34,882,039
2093 17,610,792 35,044,043
2092 17,649,611 35,204,657
2091 17,688,532 35,366,895
2090 17,730,570 35,535,838
2089 17,770,380 35,707,942
2088 17,809,825 35,877,681
2087 17,845,820 36,043,209
2086 17,885,001 36,210,710
2085 17,921,302 36,386,207
2084 17,957,639 36,564,622
2083 17,994,232 36,749,680
2082 18,029,404 36,936,644
2081 18,063,233 37,133,976
2080 18,093,703 37,337,517
2079 18,124,294 37,551,557
2078 18,152,738 37,771,135
2077 18,181,372 38,002,963
2076 18,206,864 38,249,247
2075 18,227,791 38,506,040
2074 18,245,652 38,777,715
2073 18,263,765 39,056,249
2072 18,280,443 39,348,447
2071 18,295,700 39,642,346
2070 18,311,141 39,949,413
2069 18,326,509 40,256,590
2068 18,341,711 40,575,543
2067 18,356,770 40,893,798
2066 18,374,904 41,218,263
2065 18,396,018 41,543,254
2064 18,417,894 41,878,338
2063 18,441,434 42,208,320
2062 18,464,922 42,542,893
2061 18,492,436 42,874,096
2060 18,520,315 43,191,452
2059 18,548,786 43,506,737
2058 18,577,700 43,809,907
2057 18,608,370 44,112,668
2056 18,638,918 44,415,689
2055 18,666,514 44,691,749
2054 18,692,598 44,958,971
2053 18,718,268 45,223,225
2052 18,741,740 45,470,541
2051 18,768,309 45,695,307
2050 18,789,481 45,911,520
2049 18,809,886 46,127,777
2048 18,827,655 46,322,244
2047 18,844,635 46,510,152
2046 18,855,920 46,687,914
2045 18,867,286 46,858,778
2044 18,877,101 47,016,278
2043 18,882,735 47,158,325
2042 18,885,839 47,301,091
2041 18,885,255 47,434,593
2040 18,879,571 47,563,236
2039 18,870,248 47,685,343
2038 18,855,512 47,798,797
2037 18,837,172 47,910,899
2036 18,811,873 48,020,350
2035 18,783,312 48,124,430
2034 18,750,125 48,220,051
2033 18,708,101 48,311,842
2032 18,662,054 48,402,470
2031 18,609,452 48,495,278
2030 18,549,634 48,579,920
2029 18,481,269 48,648,699
2028 18,404,195 48,707,969
2027 18,320,644 48,758,200
2026 18,227,403 48,806,901
2025 18,118,662 48,838,057
2024 17,993,485 48,848,840
2023 17,877,117 48,352,528
2022 17,700,982 47,786,102
2021 17,533,044 47,443,821
2020 17,441,500 47,359,424
2019 17,344,874 47,118,501
2018 17,231,624 46,782,011
2017 17,131,296 46,571,232
2016 17,030,314 46,458,139
2015 16,939,923 46,422,303
2014 16,865,008 46,460,733
2013 16,804,432 46,604,197
2012 16,754,962 46,773,055
2011 16,693,074 46,742,697
2010 16,615,394 46,576,897
2009 16,530,388 46,362,946
2008 16,445,593 45,954,106
2007 16,381,696 45,226,803
2006 16,346,101 44,397,319
2005 16,319,868 43,653,155
2004 16,281,779 42,921,895
2003 16,225,302 42,187,645
2002 16,148,929 41,431,558
2001 16,046,180 40,850,412
2000 15,925,513 40,567,864
1999 15,812,088 40,386,875
1998 15,707,209 40,223,509
1997 15,610,650 40,057,389
1996 15,530,498 39,889,852
1995 15,459,006 39,724,050
1994 15,382,838 39,549,108
1993 15,290,368 39,361,262
1992 15,184,166 39,157,685
1991 15,069,798 38,966,376
1990 14,951,510 38,867,322
1989 14,848,907 38,827,764
1988 14,760,094 38,766,939
1987 14,665,037 38,684,815
1986 14,572,278 38,584,624
1985 14,491,632 38,469,512
1984 14,424,211 38,330,364
1983 14,367,070 38,171,525
1982 14,312,690 37,986,012
1981 14,247,208 37,758,631
1980 14,149,800 37,491,165
1979 14,038,270 37,191,330
1978 13,941,700 36,864,898
1977 13,856,185 36,511,638
1976 13,774,037 36,137,812
1975 13,666,335 35,757,900
1974 13,545,056 35,373,335
1973 13,439,322 34,988,947
1972 13,328,593 34,604,469
1971 13,194,497 34,224,490
1970 13,038,526 33,814,531
1969 12,877,984 33,441,054
1968 12,729,721 33,113,134
1967 12,598,201 32,682,947
1966 12,456,251 32,283,194
1965 12,294,732 31,954,292
1964 12,127,120 31,609,195
1963 11,965,966 31,296,651
1962 11,805,689 31,023,366
1961 11,638,712 30,739,250
1960 11,486,631 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Spain
2100 -0.19% -0.52%
2099 -0.19% -0.51%
2098 -0.2% -0.5%
2097 -0.2% -0.48%
2096 -0.21% -0.48%
2095 -0.22% -0.47%
2094 -0.23% -0.46%
2093 -0.22% -0.46%
2092 -0.22% -0.46%
2091 -0.24% -0.48%
2090 -0.22% -0.48%
2089 -0.22% -0.47%
2088 -0.2% -0.46%
2087 -0.22% -0.46%
2086 -0.2% -0.48%
2085 -0.2% -0.49%
2084 -0.2% -0.5%
2083 -0.2% -0.51%
2082 -0.19% -0.53%
2081 -0.17% -0.55%
2080 -0.17% -0.57%
2079 -0.16% -0.58%
2078 -0.16% -0.61%
2077 -0.14% -0.64%
2076 -0.11% -0.67%
2075 -0.1% -0.7%
2074 -0.1% -0.71%
2073 -0.09% -0.74%
2072 -0.08% -0.74%
2071 -0.08% -0.77%
2070 -0.08% -0.76%
2069 -0.08% -0.79%
2068 -0.08% -0.78%
2067 -0.1% -0.79%
2066 -0.11% -0.78%
2065 -0.12% -0.8%
2064 -0.13% -0.78%
2063 -0.13% -0.79%
2062 -0.15% -0.77%
2061 -0.15% -0.73%
2060 -0.15% -0.72%
2059 -0.16% -0.69%
2058 -0.16% -0.69%
2057 -0.16% -0.68%
2056 -0.15% -0.62%
2055 -0.14% -0.59%
2054 -0.14% -0.58%
2053 -0.13% -0.54%
2052 -0.14% -0.49%
2051 -0.11% -0.47%
2050 -0.11% -0.47%
2049 -0.09% -0.42%
2048 -0.09% -0.4%
2047 -0.06% -0.38%
2046 -0.06% -0.36%
2045 -0.05% -0.33%
2044 -0.03% -0.3%
2043 -0.02% -0.3%
2042 0.003% -0.28%
2041 0.03% -0.27%
2040 0.05% -0.26%
2039 0.08% -0.24%
2038 0.1% -0.23%
2037 0.13% -0.23%
2036 0.15% -0.22%
2035 0.18% -0.2%
2034 0.22% -0.19%
2033 0.25% -0.19%
2032 0.28% -0.19%
2031 0.32% -0.17%
2030 0.37% -0.14%
2029 0.42% -0.12%
2028 0.46% -0.1%
2027 0.51% -0.1%
2026 0.6% -0.06%
2025 0.7% -0.02%
2024 0.65% 1.03%
2023 1% 1.19%
2022 0.96% 0.72%
2021 0.52% 0.18%
2020 0.56% 0.51%
2019 0.66% 0.72%
2018 0.59% 0.45%
2017 0.59% 0.24%
2016 0.53% 0.08%
2015 0.44% -0.08%
2014 0.36% -0.31%
2013 0.3% -0.36%
2012 0.37% 0.06%
2011 0.47% 0.36%
2010 0.51% 0.46%
2009 0.52% 0.89%
2008 0.39% 1.61%
2007 0.22% 1.87%
2006 0.16% 1.7%
2005 0.23% 1.7%
2004 0.35% 1.74%
2003 0.47% 1.82%
2002 0.64% 1.42%
2001 0.76% 0.7%
2000 0.72% 0.45%
1999 0.67% 0.41%
1998 0.62% 0.41%
1997 0.52% 0.42%
1996 0.46% 0.42%
1995 0.5% 0.44%
1994 0.6% 0.48%
1993 0.7% 0.52%
1992 0.76% 0.49%
1991 0.79% 0.25%
1990 0.69% 0.1%
1989 0.6% 0.16%
1988 0.65% 0.21%
1987 0.64% 0.26%
1986 0.56% 0.3%
1985 0.47% 0.36%
1984 0.4% 0.42%
1983 0.38% 0.49%
1982 0.46% 0.6%
1981 0.69% 0.71%
1980 0.79% 0.81%
1979 0.69% 0.89%
1978 0.62% 0.97%
1977 0.6% 1.03%
1976 0.79% 1.06%
1975 0.9% 1.09%
1974 0.79% 1.1%
1973 0.83% 1.11%
1972 1.02% 1.11%
1971 1.2% 1.21%
1970 1.25% 1.12%
1969 1.16% 0.99%
1968 1.04% 1.32%
1967 1.14% 1.24%
1966 1.31% 1.03%
1965 1.38% 1.09%
1964 1.35% 1%
1963 1.36% 0.88%
1962 1.43% 0.92%
1961 1.32% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Spain
Current population
18252623
48806901
Population rank 72/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.59%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 100/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +96,630
Net migration rank 16/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 96,630
2024 - 121,628 - 111,674
2023 -5,363 144,558 -111,211 119,099
2022 -1,770 224,472 -133,801 299,779
2021 7,014 106,416 -113,865 144,385
2020 0 67,598 -151,551 236,854
2019 17,345 109,003 -56,542 464,783
2018 15,508 87,197 -56,139 337,467
2017 18,844 86,332 -32,600 201,135
2016 23,843 88,743 0 106,474
2015 23,716 55,585 -4,642 -1,979
2014 35,417 36,591 32,522 -97,870
2013 30,248 19,973 37,284 -250,741
2012 35,186 14,861 51,450 -153,486
2011 45,072 31,224 84,137 60,761
2010 48,184 33,703 102,469 69,406
2009 51,244 39,832 106,635 129,557
2008 49,337 32,406 133,267 434,135
2007 49,145 -304 108,545 772,317
2006 49,038 -25,401 110,994 659,720
2005 50,592 -22,496 78,576 629,803
2004 56,987 -9,230 85,844 661,158
2003 58,411 7,937 54,844 658,428
2002 59,751 28,824 53,861 737,880
2001 62,580 56,096 44,936 181,307
2000 66,887 59,308 36,512 176,269
1999 60,086 47,179 8,077 178,559
1998 61,258 52,058 4,022 182,926
1997 56,198 31,302 20,028 165,345
1996 51,251 21,792 11,967 162,704
1995 54,106 15,056 15,889 162,434
1994 61,532 20,193 31,639 160,407
1993 58,103 44,514 47,234 160,907
1992 66,811 50,148 62,652 177,544
1991 69,321 51,670 58,450 122,841
1990 68,777 53,564 66,075 -30,684
1989 59,396 31,165 81,538 -25,892
1988 61,993 31,026 100,794 -17,663
1987 64,526 39,559 116,054 -12,681
1986 59,746 30,380 131,188 -13,540
1985 55,069 27,356 146,184 -589
1984 54,812 12,902 172,487 2,754
1983 51,722 11,007 183,223 1,241
1982 54,388 7,644 231,714 -7,384
1981 62,688 17,643 237,879 2,563
1980 66,504 54,010 281,184 20,166
1979 63,172 42,772 312,407 -5,929
1978 61,344 26,639 339,157 -2,504
1977 63,739 19,809 361,465 -1,332
1976 63,361 18,774 375,834 2,804
1975 64,232 68,569 371,882 -218
1974 75,853 31,645 396,182 105,838
1973 84,668 18,705 374,381 8,624
1972 101,297 17,470 391,030 7,935
1971 116,112 32,756 369,625 7,363
1970 129,082 32,438 378,723 -60,580
1969 139,082 21,850 367,851 -49,956
1968 132,389 7,243 387,423 -46,088
1967 138,580 -10,673 402,001 -42,344
1966 138,265 20,740 397,084 -41,467
1965 146,308 19,444 405,819 -42,476
1964 157,653 15,014 429,885 -41,461
1963 154,361 -21 394,338 -44,446
1962 153,474 18,024 384,690 -45,211
1961 159,450 8,258 396,537 -46,517
1960 151,623 -13,235 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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