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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Netherlands vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Switzerland
2100 17,359,081 9,234,296
2099 17,392,412 9,226,472
2098 17,425,508 9,220,109
2097 17,459,827 9,212,728
2096 17,495,124 9,208,997
2095 17,532,593 9,203,477
2094 17,571,051 9,199,095
2093 17,610,792 9,196,672
2092 17,649,611 9,194,082
2091 17,688,532 9,191,145
2090 17,730,570 9,189,122
2089 17,770,380 9,188,754
2088 17,809,825 9,190,102
2087 17,845,820 9,189,763
2086 17,885,001 9,191,494
2085 17,921,302 9,195,728
2084 17,957,639 9,199,983
2083 17,994,232 9,204,908
2082 18,029,404 9,210,695
2081 18,063,233 9,217,065
2080 18,093,703 9,223,475
2079 18,124,294 9,230,920
2078 18,152,738 9,237,649
2077 18,181,372 9,245,300
2076 18,206,864 9,250,248
2075 18,227,791 9,255,753
2074 18,245,652 9,266,455
2073 18,263,765 9,275,439
2072 18,280,443 9,283,185
2071 18,295,700 9,292,913
2070 18,311,141 9,303,843
2069 18,326,509 9,311,935
2068 18,341,711 9,320,335
2067 18,356,770 9,327,741
2066 18,374,904 9,339,455
2065 18,396,018 9,351,481
2064 18,417,894 9,362,413
2063 18,441,434 9,372,441
2062 18,464,922 9,383,258
2061 18,492,436 9,395,036
2060 18,520,315 9,403,920
2059 18,548,786 9,414,241
2058 18,577,700 9,422,560
2057 18,608,370 9,428,212
2056 18,638,918 9,435,441
2055 18,666,514 9,443,890
2054 18,692,598 9,451,268
2053 18,718,268 9,456,389
2052 18,741,740 9,456,418
2051 18,768,309 9,456,395
2050 18,789,481 9,454,544
2049 18,809,886 9,451,083
2048 18,827,655 9,444,091
2047 18,844,635 9,437,061
2046 18,855,920 9,430,954
2045 18,867,286 9,425,155
2044 18,877,101 9,418,152
2043 18,882,735 9,410,763
2042 18,885,839 9,400,808
2041 18,885,255 9,393,857
2040 18,879,571 9,382,662
2039 18,870,248 9,373,984
2038 18,855,512 9,365,030
2037 18,837,172 9,354,254
2036 18,811,873 9,342,450
2035 18,783,312 9,328,907
2034 18,750,125 9,312,054
2033 18,708,101 9,294,881
2032 18,662,054 9,276,221
2031 18,609,452 9,253,034
2030 18,549,634 9,228,188
2029 18,481,269 9,201,743
2028 18,404,195 9,170,620
2027 18,320,644 9,135,740
2026 18,227,403 9,097,532
2025 18,118,662 9,053,983
2024 17,993,485 9,005,582
2023 17,877,117 8,888,822
2022 17,700,982 8,777,088
2021 17,533,044 8,704,546
2020 17,441,500 8,638,167
2019 17,344,874 8,575,280
2018 17,231,624 8,514,329
2017 17,131,296 8,451,840
2016 17,030,314 8,373,338
2015 16,939,923 8,282,396
2014 16,865,008 8,188,649
2013 16,804,432 8,089,346
2012 16,754,962 7,996,861
2011 16,693,074 7,912,398
2010 16,615,394 7,824,909
2009 16,530,388 7,743,831
2008 16,445,593 7,647,675
2007 16,381,696 7,551,117
2006 16,346,101 7,483,934
2005 16,319,868 7,437,115
2004 16,281,779 7,389,625
2003 16,225,302 7,339,001
2002 16,148,929 7,284,753
2001 16,046,180 7,229,854
2000 15,925,513 7,184,250
1999 15,812,088 7,143,991
1998 15,707,209 7,110,001
1997 15,610,650 7,088,906
1996 15,530,498 7,071,850
1995 15,459,006 7,040,687
1994 15,382,838 6,993,795
1993 15,290,368 6,938,265
1992 15,184,166 6,875,364
1991 15,069,798 6,799,978
1990 14,951,510 6,715,519
1989 14,848,907 6,646,912
1988 14,760,094 6,593,386
1987 14,665,037 6,545,106
1986 14,572,278 6,504,124
1985 14,491,632 6,470,365
1984 14,424,211 6,441,865
1983 14,367,070 6,418,773
1982 14,312,690 6,391,309
1981 14,247,208 6,354,074
1980 14,149,800 6,319,408
1979 14,038,270 6,294,365
1978 13,941,700 6,281,738
1977 13,856,185 6,281,174
1976 13,774,037 6,302,504
1975 13,666,335 6,338,632
1974 13,545,056 6,341,405
1973 13,439,322 6,307,347
1972 13,328,593 6,260,956
1971 13,194,497 6,213,399
1970 13,038,526 6,180,877
1969 12,877,984 6,136,387
1968 12,729,721 6,067,714
1967 12,598,201 5,991,785
1966 12,456,251 5,918,002
1965 12,294,732 5,856,472
1964 12,127,120 5,789,228
1963 11,965,966 5,694,247
1962 11,805,689 5,573,815
1961 11,638,712 5,434,294
1960 11,486,631 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th 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 2.94% to 18,789,481 people with a rank change from 72nd to 77th. The population of Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Switzerland
2100 -0.19% 0.08%
2099 -0.19% 0.07%
2098 -0.2% 0.08%
2097 -0.2% 0.04%
2096 -0.21% 0.06%
2095 -0.22% 0.05%
2094 -0.23% 0.03%
2093 -0.22% 0.03%
2092 -0.22% 0.03%
2091 -0.24% 0.02%
2090 -0.22% 0.004%
2089 -0.22% -0.01%
2088 -0.2% 0.004%
2087 -0.22% -0.02%
2086 -0.2% -0.05%
2085 -0.2% -0.05%
2084 -0.2% -0.05%
2083 -0.2% -0.06%
2082 -0.19% -0.07%
2081 -0.17% -0.07%
2080 -0.17% -0.08%
2079 -0.16% -0.07%
2078 -0.16% -0.08%
2077 -0.14% -0.05%
2076 -0.11% -0.06%
2075 -0.1% -0.12%
2074 -0.1% -0.1%
2073 -0.09% -0.08%
2072 -0.08% -0.1%
2071 -0.08% -0.12%
2070 -0.08% -0.09%
2069 -0.08% -0.09%
2068 -0.08% -0.08%
2067 -0.1% -0.13%
2066 -0.11% -0.13%
2065 -0.12% -0.12%
2064 -0.13% -0.11%
2063 -0.13% -0.12%
2062 -0.15% -0.13%
2061 -0.15% -0.09%
2060 -0.15% -0.11%
2059 -0.16% -0.09%
2058 -0.16% -0.06%
2057 -0.16% -0.08%
2056 -0.15% -0.09%
2055 -0.14% -0.08%
2054 -0.14% -0.05%
2053 -0.13% -0%
2052 -0.14% 0%
2051 -0.11% 0.02%
2050 -0.11% 0.04%
2049 -0.09% 0.07%
2048 -0.09% 0.07%
2047 -0.06% 0.06%
2046 -0.06% 0.06%
2045 -0.05% 0.07%
2044 -0.03% 0.08%
2043 -0.02% 0.11%
2042 0.003% 0.07%
2041 0.03% 0.12%
2040 0.05% 0.09%
2039 0.08% 0.1%
2038 0.1% 0.12%
2037 0.13% 0.13%
2036 0.15% 0.15%
2035 0.18% 0.18%
2034 0.22% 0.18%
2033 0.25% 0.2%
2032 0.28% 0.25%
2031 0.32% 0.27%
2030 0.37% 0.29%
2029 0.42% 0.34%
2028 0.46% 0.38%
2027 0.51% 0.42%
2026 0.6% 0.48%
2025 0.7% 0.54%
2024 0.65% 1.31%
2023 1% 1.27%
2022 0.96% 0.83%
2021 0.52% 0.77%
2020 0.56% 0.73%
2019 0.66% 0.72%
2018 0.59% 0.74%
2017 0.59% 0.94%
2016 0.53% 1.1%
2015 0.44% 1.14%
2014 0.36% 1.23%
2013 0.3% 1.16%
2012 0.37% 1.07%
2011 0.47% 1.12%
2010 0.51% 1.05%
2009 0.52% 1.26%
2008 0.39% 1.28%
2007 0.22% 0.9%
2006 0.16% 0.63%
2005 0.23% 0.64%
2004 0.35% 0.69%
2003 0.47% 0.74%
2002 0.64% 0.76%
2001 0.76% 0.63%
2000 0.72% 0.56%
1999 0.67% 0.48%
1998 0.62% 0.3%
1997 0.52% 0.24%
1996 0.46% 0.44%
1995 0.5% 0.67%
1994 0.6% 0.8%
1993 0.7% 0.91%
1992 0.76% 1.11%
1991 0.79% 1.26%
1990 0.69% 1.03%
1989 0.6% 0.81%
1988 0.65% 0.74%
1987 0.64% 0.63%
1986 0.56% 0.52%
1985 0.47% 0.44%
1984 0.4% 0.36%
1983 0.38% 0.43%
1982 0.46% 0.59%
1981 0.69% 0.55%
1980 0.79% 0.4%
1979 0.69% 0.2%
1978 0.62% 0.009%
1977 0.6% -0.34%
1976 0.79% -0.57%
1975 0.9% -0.04%
1974 0.79% 0.54%
1973 0.83% 0.74%
1972 1.02% 0.77%
1971 1.2% 0.53%
1970 1.25% 0.73%
1969 1.16% 1.13%
1968 1.04% 1.27%
1967 1.14% 1.25%
1966 1.31% 1.05%
1965 1.38% 1.16%
1964 1.35% 1.67%
1963 1.36% 2.16%
1962 1.43% 2.57%
1961 1.32% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Switzerland
Current population
18252623
9107866
Population rank 72/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.11%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +320
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 81/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +37,253
Net migration rank 16/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 37,253
2024 - 121,628 - 40,099
2023 -5,363 144,558 8,000 45,098
2022 -1,770 224,472 7,899 96,424
2021 7,014 106,416 18,279 50,665
2020 0 67,598 9,502 55,523
2019 17,345 109,003 18,008 44,517
2018 15,508 87,197 20,434 41,253
2017 18,844 86,332 20,284 45,658
2016 23,843 88,743 22,608 71,009
2015 23,716 55,585 19,050 71,876
2014 35,417 36,591 21,290 78,122
2013 30,248 19,973 17,797 83,823
2012 35,186 14,861 18,393 67,840
2011 45,072 31,224 18,990 67,194
2010 48,184 33,703 17,997 76,388
2009 51,244 39,832 15,487 69,324
2008 49,337 32,406 15,295 94,430
2007 49,145 -304 13,592 72,475
2006 49,038 -25,401 12,723 37,308
2005 50,592 -22,496 11,899 33,203
2004 56,987 -9,230 13,302 39,484
2003 58,411 7,937 8,807 42,567
2002 59,751 28,824 10,199 49,650
2001 62,580 56,096 10,845 35,420
2000 66,887 59,308 15,806 24,463
1999 60,086 47,179 16,431 25,599
1998 61,258 52,058 16,353 11,325
1997 56,198 31,302 17,722 -1,939
1996 51,251 21,792 19,801 -131
1995 54,106 15,056 19,010 25,343
1994 61,532 20,193 20,982 30,274
1993 58,103 44,514 21,509 40,267
1992 66,811 50,148 24,064 42,014
1991 69,321 51,670 23,800 69,738
1990 68,777 53,564 20,146 58,428
1989 59,396 31,165 19,941 34,432
1988 61,993 31,026 21,099 34,602
1987 64,526 39,559 15,708 27,081
1986 59,746 30,380 16,261 23,242
1985 55,069 27,356 14,882 14,402
1984 54,812 12,902 16,105 12,532
1983 51,722 11,007 12,837 5,663
1982 54,388 7,644 15,339 21,929
1981 62,688 17,643 13,979 24,229
1980 66,504 54,010 14,535 17,841
1979 63,172 42,772 14,477 4,262
1978 61,344 26,639 13,820 -6,552
1977 63,739 19,809 16,959 -22,516
1976 63,361 18,774 17,017 -54,255
1975 64,232 68,569 22,820 -58,187
1974 75,853 31,645 27,902 2,008
1973 84,668 18,705 30,906 8,158
1972 101,297 17,470 35,061 19,991
1971 116,112 32,756 38,523 2,636
1970 129,082 32,438 42,648 -18,326
1969 139,082 21,850 44,182 20,754
1968 132,389 7,243 47,328 25,828
1967 138,580 -10,673 52,128 27,697
1966 138,265 20,740 53,854 14,979
1965 146,308 19,444 56,222 -1,351
1964 157,653 15,014 59,050 21,455
1963 154,361 -21 52,956 58,415
1962 153,474 18,024 49,050 82,798
1961 159,450 8,258 48,365 101,278
1960 151,623 -13,235 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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