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Population in the Netherlands compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 18,087,633 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,243,998 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.2 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.64% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.2M (11.6% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Netherlands vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2100 17,329,352 20,009,380
2099 17,362,626 20,121,095
2098 17,395,665 20,234,513
2097 17,429,925 20,345,619
2096 17,465,162 20,456,607
2095 17,502,567 20,566,246
2094 17,540,959 20,674,019
2093 17,580,632 20,780,946
2092 17,619,384 20,886,274
2091 17,658,238 20,990,047
2090 17,700,204 21,095,968
2089 17,739,947 21,198,788
2088 17,779,324 21,299,229
2087 17,815,257 21,398,269
2086 17,854,371 21,496,892
2085 17,890,610 21,594,661
2084 17,926,885 21,687,323
2083 17,963,416 21,778,597
2082 17,998,527 21,866,395
2081 18,032,297 21,954,337
2080 18,062,716 22,038,953
2079 18,093,254 22,122,744
2078 18,121,649 22,200,069
2077 18,150,234 22,274,355
2076 18,175,683 22,345,857
2075 18,196,574 22,414,609
2074 18,214,405 22,485,066
2073 18,232,486 22,550,427
2072 18,249,136 22,610,645
2071 18,264,367 22,669,042
2070 18,279,781 22,725,948
2069 18,295,123 22,779,050
2068 18,310,300 22,831,596
2067 18,325,333 22,885,941
2066 18,343,435 22,935,123
2065 18,364,513 22,985,942
2064 18,386,352 23,030,844
2063 18,409,851 23,071,114
2062 18,433,299 23,107,970
2061 18,460,766 23,139,924
2060 18,488,598 23,171,649
2059 18,517,020 23,199,387
2058 18,545,884 23,224,997
2057 18,576,502 23,247,211
2056 18,606,997 23,267,292
2055 18,634,546 23,278,653
2054 18,660,585 23,287,520
2053 18,686,212 23,297,347
2052 18,709,643 23,301,287
2051 18,736,166 23,302,108
2050 18,757,302 23,299,282
2049 18,777,673 23,293,630
2048 18,795,411 23,283,465
2047 18,812,362 23,267,251
2046 18,823,628 23,244,081
2045 18,834,974 23,212,221
2044 18,844,772 23,181,041
2043 18,850,396 23,144,217
2042 18,853,495 23,103,489
2041 18,852,912 23,056,478
2040 18,847,238 23,005,928
2039 18,837,931 22,948,866
2038 18,823,220 22,888,821
2037 18,804,912 22,822,943
2036 18,779,656 22,756,462
2035 18,751,144 22,685,766
2034 18,718,013 22,611,514
2033 18,676,061 22,532,374
2032 18,630,094 22,449,310
2031 18,577,582 22,364,063
2030 18,517,866 22,273,377
2029 18,449,618 22,181,300
2028 18,372,676 22,082,826
2027 18,289,268 21,979,196
2026 18,196,186 21,870,145
2025 18,087,633 21,756,000
2024 17,993,485 21,916,000
2023 17,877,117 22,037,000
2022 17,700,982 22,181,000
2021 17,533,044 22,156,000
2020 17,441,500 21,919,000
2019 17,344,874 21,803,000
2018 17,231,624 21,670,000
2017 17,131,296 21,453,000
2016 17,030,314 21,209,000
2015 16,939,923 20,970,000
2014 16,865,008 20,778,000
2013 16,804,432 20,585,000
2012 16,754,962 21,169,458
2011 16,693,074 21,009,048
2010 16,615,394 20,879,089
2009 16,530,388 20,756,435
2008 16,445,593 20,629,378
2007 16,381,696 20,492,545
2006 16,346,101 20,352,411
2005 16,319,868 20,216,524
2004 16,281,779 20,087,605
2003 16,225,302 19,951,521
2002 16,148,929 19,805,752
2001 16,046,180 19,600,362
2000 15,925,513 19,293,054
1999 15,812,088 18,944,731
1998 15,707,209 18,596,003
1997 15,610,650 18,248,200
1996 15,530,498 17,905,018
1995 15,459,006 17,564,068
1994 15,382,838 17,275,773
1993 15,290,368 17,025,918
1992 15,184,166 16,739,284
1991 15,069,798 16,475,354
1990 14,951,510 16,352,458
1989 14,848,907 16,248,557
1988 14,760,094 16,078,621
1987 14,665,037 15,916,576
1986 14,572,278 15,731,256
1985 14,491,632 15,544,154
1984 14,424,211 15,441,860
1983 14,367,070 15,388,794
1982 14,312,690 15,286,567
1981 14,247,208 15,099,414
1980 14,149,800 14,847,974
1979 14,038,270 14,579,614
1978 13,941,700 14,310,128
1977 13,856,185 14,049,371
1976 13,774,037 13,796,770
1975 13,666,335 13,548,984
1974 13,545,056 13,305,693
1973 13,439,322 13,060,916
1972 13,328,593 12,809,205
1971 13,194,497 12,551,910
1970 13,038,526 12,287,110
1969 12,877,984 12,013,858
1968 12,729,721 11,736,088
1967 12,598,201 11,457,328
1966 12,456,251 11,183,928
1965 12,294,732 10,916,965
1964 12,127,120 10,653,397
1963 11,965,966 10,395,040
1962 11,805,689 10,143,754
1961 11,638,712 9,899,372
1960 11,486,631 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2100 -0.19% -0.56%
2099 -0.19% -0.56%
2098 -0.2% -0.55%
2097 -0.2% -0.54%
2096 -0.21% -0.53%
2095 -0.22% -0.52%
2094 -0.23% -0.51%
2093 -0.22% -0.5%
2092 -0.22% -0.49%
2091 -0.24% -0.5%
2090 -0.22% -0.49%
2089 -0.22% -0.47%
2088 -0.2% -0.46%
2087 -0.22% -0.46%
2086 -0.2% -0.45%
2085 -0.2% -0.43%
2084 -0.2% -0.42%
2083 -0.2% -0.4%
2082 -0.19% -0.4%
2081 -0.17% -0.38%
2080 -0.17% -0.38%
2079 -0.16% -0.35%
2078 -0.16% -0.33%
2077 -0.14% -0.32%
2076 -0.11% -0.31%
2075 -0.1% -0.31%
2074 -0.1% -0.29%
2073 -0.09% -0.27%
2072 -0.08% -0.26%
2071 -0.08% -0.25%
2070 -0.08% -0.23%
2069 -0.08% -0.23%
2068 -0.08% -0.24%
2067 -0.1% -0.21%
2066 -0.11% -0.22%
2065 -0.12% -0.19%
2064 -0.13% -0.17%
2063 -0.13% -0.16%
2062 -0.15% -0.14%
2061 -0.15% -0.14%
2060 -0.15% -0.12%
2059 -0.16% -0.11%
2058 -0.16% -0.1%
2057 -0.16% -0.09%
2056 -0.15% -0.05%
2055 -0.14% -0.04%
2054 -0.14% -0.04%
2053 -0.13% -0.02%
2052 -0.14% -0.004%
2051 -0.11% 0.01%
2050 -0.11% 0.02%
2049 -0.09% 0.04%
2048 -0.09% 0.07%
2047 -0.06% 0.1%
2046 -0.06% 0.14%
2045 -0.05% 0.13%
2044 -0.03% 0.16%
2043 -0.02% 0.18%
2042 0.003% 0.2%
2041 0.03% 0.22%
2040 0.05% 0.25%
2039 0.08% 0.26%
2038 0.1% 0.29%
2037 0.13% 0.29%
2036 0.15% 0.31%
2035 0.18% 0.33%
2034 0.22% 0.35%
2033 0.25% 0.37%
2032 0.28% 0.38%
2031 0.32% 0.41%
2030 0.37% 0.42%
2029 0.42% 0.45%
2028 0.46% 0.47%
2027 0.51% 0.5%
2026 0.6% 0.52%
2025 0.52% -0.73%
2024 0.65% -0.55%
2023 1% -0.65%
2022 0.96% 0.11%
2021 0.52% 1.08%
2020 0.56% 0.53%
2019 0.66% 0.61%
2018 0.59% 1.01%
2017 0.59% 1.15%
2016 0.53% 1.14%
2015 0.44% 0.92%
2014 0.36% 0.94%
2013 0.3% -2.76%
2012 0.37% 0.76%
2011 0.47% 0.62%
2010 0.51% 0.59%
2009 0.52% 0.62%
2008 0.39% 0.67%
2007 0.22% 0.69%
2006 0.16% 0.67%
2005 0.23% 0.64%
2004 0.35% 0.68%
2003 0.47% 0.74%
2002 0.64% 1.05%
2001 0.76% 1.59%
2000 0.72% 1.84%
1999 0.67% 1.88%
1998 0.62% 1.91%
1997 0.52% 1.92%
1996 0.46% 1.94%
1995 0.5% 1.67%
1994 0.6% 1.47%
1993 0.7% 1.71%
1992 0.76% 1.6%
1991 0.79% 0.75%
1990 0.69% 0.64%
1989 0.6% 1.06%
1988 0.65% 1.02%
1987 0.64% 1.18%
1986 0.56% 1.2%
1985 0.47% 0.66%
1984 0.4% 0.34%
1983 0.38% 0.67%
1982 0.46% 1.24%
1981 0.69% 1.69%
1980 0.79% 1.84%
1979 0.69% 1.88%
1978 0.62% 1.86%
1977 0.6% 1.83%
1976 0.79% 1.83%
1975 0.9% 1.83%
1974 0.79% 1.87%
1973 0.83% 1.97%
1972 1.02% 2.05%
1971 1.2% 2.16%
1970 1.25% 2.27%
1969 1.16% 2.37%
1968 1.04% 2.43%
1967 1.14% 2.44%
1966 1.31% 2.45%
1965 1.38% 2.47%
1964 1.35% 2.49%
1963 1.36% 2.48%
1962 1.43% 2.47%
1961 1.32% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.52%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Sri Lanka
Current population
18243998
21926160
Population rank 72/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.26%
One net population change
5.6 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
3.18 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
3.04 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +258 -438
Annual growth/decline +94,148 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.52% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 127/197 190/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 -30,724
Net migration rank 16/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -30,724
2024 -7,197 121,628 50,407 -27,245
2023 -5,363 144,558 66,111 -28,011
2022 -1,770 224,472 95,378 -27,435
2021 7,014 106,416 121,858 -29,586
2020 0 67,598 170,968 -29,875
2019 17,345 109,003 172,243 -28,426
2018 15,508 87,197 183,610 -28,607
2017 18,844 86,332 187,993 -22,324
2016 23,843 88,743 194,232 -18,388
2015 23,716 55,585 201,815 -29,797
2014 35,417 36,591 211,541 -33,672
2013 30,248 19,973 221,021 -37,754
2012 35,186 14,861 229,138 -41,955
2011 45,072 31,224 224,461 -90,839
2010 48,184 33,703 224,325 -98,060
2009 51,244 39,832 200,175 -81,130
2008 49,337 32,406 232,225 -97,144
2007 49,145 -304 248,287 -109,695
2006 49,038 -25,401 248,706 -107,045
2005 50,592 -22,496 248,683 -118,594
2004 56,987 -9,230 212,527 -84,795
2003 58,411 7,937 252,008 -107,573
2002 59,751 28,824 252,840 -105,718
2001 62,580 56,096 244,377 19,273
2000 66,887 59,308 227,060 123,894
1999 60,086 47,179 206,876 138,799
1998 61,258 52,058 201,059 150,724
1997 56,198 31,302 208,193 135,636
1996 51,251 21,792 215,290 127,236
1995 54,106 15,056 221,957 117,416
1994 61,532 20,193 228,904 8,323
1993 58,103 44,514 226,257 36,232
1992 66,811 50,148 222,230 88,542
1991 69,321 51,670 218,117 -1,047
1990 68,777 53,564 224,454 -195,736
1989 59,396 31,165 212,401 -33,305
1988 61,993 31,026 219,184 -58,415
1987 64,526 39,559 226,414 -63,105
1986 59,746 30,380 233,782 -26,460
1985 55,069 27,356 247,836 -80,950
1984 54,812 12,902 263,175 -225,450
1983 51,722 11,007 277,768 -209,362
1982 54,388 7,644 300,030 -163,987
1981 62,688 17,643 328,096 -89,824
1980 66,504 54,010 328,155 -63,541
1979 63,172 42,772 329,791 -57,683
1978 61,344 26,639 317,055 -50,189
1977 63,739 19,809 300,038 -45,383
1976 63,361 18,774 291,816 -41,258
1975 64,232 68,569 282,496 -37,475
1974 75,853 31,645 275,521 -33,979
1973 84,668 18,705 278,577 -30,582
1972 101,297 17,470 282,494 -27,071
1971 116,112 32,756 281,200 -22,021
1970 129,082 32,438 286,719 -16,299
1969 139,082 21,850 286,218 -10,152
1968 132,389 7,243 286,642 -7,163
1967 138,580 -10,673 284,738 -6,696
1966 138,265 20,740 275,549 -6,794
1965 146,308 19,444 272,422 -7,249
1964 157,653 15,014 269,584 -7,614
1963 154,361 -21 262,880 -8,118
1962 153,474 18,024 256,719 -8,909
1961 159,450 8,258 251,087 -10,144
1960 151,623 -13,235 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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