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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.47 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Netherlands vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Syria
2100 17,359,081 44,620,090
2099 17,392,412 44,690,260
2098 17,425,508 44,750,249
2097 17,459,827 44,813,148
2096 17,495,124 44,867,740
2095 17,532,593 44,895,489
2094 17,571,051 44,945,231
2093 17,610,792 44,974,311
2092 17,649,611 45,003,795
2091 17,688,532 45,016,478
2090 17,730,570 45,048,083
2089 17,770,380 45,047,102
2088 17,809,825 45,041,864
2087 17,845,820 45,049,516
2086 17,885,001 45,068,928
2085 17,921,302 45,034,847
2084 17,957,639 44,999,929
2083 17,994,232 44,971,600
2082 18,029,404 44,910,859
2081 18,063,233 44,843,908
2080 18,093,703 44,744,718
2079 18,124,294 44,687,371
2078 18,152,738 44,649,760
2077 18,181,372 44,604,175
2076 18,206,864 44,520,132
2075 18,227,791 44,426,423
2074 18,245,652 44,328,795
2073 18,263,765 44,221,016
2072 18,280,443 44,084,262
2071 18,295,700 43,939,848
2070 18,311,141 43,795,999
2069 18,326,509 43,648,130
2068 18,341,711 43,465,442
2067 18,356,770 43,271,173
2066 18,374,904 43,060,752
2065 18,396,018 42,810,442
2064 18,417,894 42,559,554
2063 18,441,434 42,311,907
2062 18,464,922 42,062,193
2061 18,492,436 41,808,082
2060 18,520,315 41,522,274
2059 18,548,786 41,208,825
2058 18,577,700 40,925,728
2057 18,608,370 40,643,453
2056 18,638,918 40,332,578
2055 18,666,514 40,026,632
2054 18,692,598 39,691,425
2053 18,718,268 39,348,020
2052 18,741,740 39,045,268
2051 18,768,309 38,733,827
2050 18,789,481 38,410,423
2049 18,809,886 38,089,455
2048 18,827,655 37,784,449
2047 18,844,635 37,492,636
2046 18,855,920 37,181,526
2045 18,867,286 36,843,579
2044 18,877,101 36,526,509
2043 18,882,735 36,188,225
2042 18,885,839 35,825,419
2041 18,885,255 35,447,414
2040 18,879,571 35,042,107
2039 18,870,248 34,626,945
2038 18,855,512 34,183,740
2037 18,837,172 33,703,682
2036 18,811,873 33,223,843
2035 18,783,312 32,696,648
2034 18,750,125 32,148,814
2033 18,708,101 31,562,427
2032 18,662,054 30,967,322
2031 18,609,452 30,329,874
2030 18,549,634 29,672,629
2029 18,481,269 28,949,535
2028 18,404,195 28,217,748
2027 18,320,644 27,428,807
2026 18,227,403 26,607,148
2025 18,118,662 25,689,551
2024 17,993,485 24,672,760
2023 17,877,117 23,594,623
2022 17,700,982 22,462,173
2021 17,533,044 21,628,839
2020 17,441,500 21,049,429
2019 17,344,874 20,353,534
2018 17,231,624 19,577,845
2017 17,131,296 19,224,668
2016 17,030,314 19,193,834
2015 16,939,923 19,424,618
2014 16,865,008 20,273,659
2013 16,804,432 21,666,917
2012 16,754,962 22,759,763
2011 16,693,074 22,878,098
2010 16,615,394 22,482,421
2009 16,530,388 21,976,969
2008 16,445,593 21,636,564
2007 16,381,696 20,884,125
2006 16,346,101 19,637,022
2005 16,319,868 18,814,091
2004 16,281,779 18,336,875
2003 16,225,302 17,889,296
2002 16,148,929 17,468,332
2001 16,046,180 17,051,338
2000 15,925,513 16,637,888
1999 15,812,088 16,228,061
1998 15,707,209 15,820,413
1997 15,610,650 15,417,542
1996 15,530,498 15,018,104
1995 15,459,006 14,616,801
1994 15,382,838 14,208,583
1993 15,290,368 13,795,686
1992 15,184,166 13,385,571
1991 15,069,798 12,980,821
1990 14,951,510 12,579,208
1989 14,848,907 12,179,060
1988 14,760,094 11,782,264
1987 14,665,037 11,388,923
1986 14,572,278 11,002,844
1985 14,491,632 10,625,672
1984 14,424,211 10,258,398
1983 14,367,070 9,904,809
1982 14,312,690 9,572,511
1981 14,247,208 9,260,189
1980 14,149,800 8,957,663
1979 14,038,270 8,661,909
1978 13,941,700 8,372,759
1977 13,856,185 8,090,501
1976 13,774,037 7,817,320
1975 13,666,335 7,554,364
1974 13,545,056 7,302,160
1973 13,439,322 7,060,321
1972 13,328,593 6,826,024
1971 13,194,497 6,598,094
1970 13,038,526 6,380,609
1969 12,877,984 6,175,166
1968 12,729,721 5,978,742
1967 12,598,201 5,790,198
1966 12,456,251 5,609,047
1965 12,294,732 5,435,267
1964 12,127,120 5,269,087
1963 11,965,966 5,110,467
1962 11,805,689 4,959,340
1961 11,638,712 4,815,466
1960 11,486,631 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Syria
2100 -0.19% -0.16%
2099 -0.19% -0.13%
2098 -0.2% -0.14%
2097 -0.2% -0.12%
2096 -0.21% -0.06%
2095 -0.22% -0.11%
2094 -0.23% -0.06%
2093 -0.22% -0.07%
2092 -0.22% -0.03%
2091 -0.24% -0.07%
2090 -0.22% 0.002%
2089 -0.22% 0.01%
2088 -0.2% -0.02%
2087 -0.22% -0.04%
2086 -0.2% 0.08%
2085 -0.2% 0.08%
2084 -0.2% 0.06%
2083 -0.2% 0.14%
2082 -0.19% 0.15%
2081 -0.17% 0.22%
2080 -0.17% 0.13%
2079 -0.16% 0.08%
2078 -0.16% 0.1%
2077 -0.14% 0.19%
2076 -0.11% 0.21%
2075 -0.1% 0.22%
2074 -0.1% 0.24%
2073 -0.09% 0.31%
2072 -0.08% 0.33%
2071 -0.08% 0.33%
2070 -0.08% 0.34%
2069 -0.08% 0.42%
2068 -0.08% 0.45%
2067 -0.1% 0.49%
2066 -0.11% 0.58%
2065 -0.12% 0.59%
2064 -0.13% 0.59%
2063 -0.13% 0.59%
2062 -0.15% 0.61%
2061 -0.15% 0.69%
2060 -0.15% 0.76%
2059 -0.16% 0.69%
2058 -0.16% 0.69%
2057 -0.16% 0.77%
2056 -0.15% 0.76%
2055 -0.14% 0.84%
2054 -0.14% 0.87%
2053 -0.13% 0.78%
2052 -0.14% 0.8%
2051 -0.11% 0.84%
2050 -0.11% 0.84%
2049 -0.09% 0.81%
2048 -0.09% 0.78%
2047 -0.06% 0.84%
2046 -0.06% 0.92%
2045 -0.05% 0.87%
2044 -0.03% 0.93%
2043 -0.02% 1.01%
2042 0.003% 1.07%
2041 0.03% 1.16%
2040 0.05% 1.2%
2039 0.08% 1.3%
2038 0.1% 1.42%
2037 0.13% 1.44%
2036 0.15% 1.61%
2035 0.18% 1.7%
2034 0.22% 1.86%
2033 0.25% 1.92%
2032 0.28% 2.1%
2031 0.32% 2.21%
2030 0.37% 2.5%
2029 0.42% 2.59%
2028 0.46% 2.88%
2027 0.51% 3.09%
2026 0.6% 3.57%
2025 0.7% 4.12%
2024 0.65% 4.57%
2023 1% 5.04%
2022 0.96% 3.85%
2021 0.52% 2.75%
2020 0.56% 3.42%
2019 0.66% 3.96%
2018 0.59% 1.84%
2017 0.59% 0.16%
2016 0.53% -1.19%
2015 0.44% -4.19%
2014 0.36% -6.43%
2013 0.3% -4.8%
2012 0.37% -0.52%
2011 0.47% 1.76%
2010 0.51% 2.3%
2009 0.52% 1.57%
2008 0.39% 3.6%
2007 0.22% 6.35%
2006 0.16% 4.37%
2005 0.23% 2.6%
2004 0.35% 2.5%
2003 0.47% 2.41%
2002 0.64% 2.45%
2001 0.76% 2.48%
2000 0.72% 2.53%
1999 0.67% 2.58%
1998 0.62% 2.61%
1997 0.52% 2.66%
1996 0.46% 2.75%
1995 0.5% 2.87%
1994 0.6% 2.99%
1993 0.7% 3.06%
1992 0.76% 3.12%
1991 0.79% 3.19%
1990 0.69% 3.29%
1989 0.6% 3.37%
1988 0.65% 3.45%
1987 0.64% 3.51%
1986 0.56% 3.55%
1985 0.47% 3.58%
1984 0.4% 3.57%
1983 0.38% 3.47%
1982 0.46% 3.37%
1981 0.69% 3.38%
1980 0.79% 3.41%
1979 0.69% 3.45%
1978 0.62% 3.49%
1977 0.6% 3.49%
1976 0.79% 3.48%
1975 0.9% 3.45%
1974 0.79% 3.43%
1973 0.83% 3.43%
1972 1.02% 3.45%
1971 1.2% 3.41%
1970 1.25% 3.33%
1969 1.16% 3.29%
1968 1.04% 3.26%
1967 1.14% 3.23%
1966 1.31% 3.2%
1965 1.38% 3.15%
1964 1.35% 3.1%
1963 1.36% 3.05%
1962 1.43% 2.99%
1961 1.32% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Syria
Current population
18252623
26829400
Population rank 72/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.32%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
3.2 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 6/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +421,693
Net migration rank 16/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 421,693
2024 - 121,628 - 546,494
2023 -5,363 144,558 402,713 757,309
2022 -1,770 224,472 369,750 735,142
2021 7,014 106,416 350,560 211,220
2020 0 67,598 327,992 269,050
2019 17,345 109,003 293,762 500,985
2018 15,508 87,197 242,530 514,102
2017 18,844 86,332 237,214 -287,501
2016 23,843 88,743 236,007 -124,063
2015 23,716 55,585 253,977 -827,496
2014 35,417 36,591 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 30,248 19,973 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 35,186 14,861 475,520 -999,267
2011 45,072 31,224 543,950 -256,888
2010 48,184 33,703 558,666 -54,359
2009 51,244 39,832 559,314 -52,703
2008 49,337 32,406 576,593 -402,393
2007 49,145 -304 529,162 801,514
2006 49,038 -25,401 480,616 682,911
2005 50,592 -22,496 468,960 13,382
2004 56,987 -9,230 461,209 10,881
2003 58,411 7,937 457,000 -33,920
2002 59,751 28,824 453,967 -35,096
2001 62,580 56,096 451,503 -36,383
2000 66,887 59,308 446,211 -34,425
1999 60,086 47,179 439,261 -31,394
1998 61,258 52,058 433,447 -26,025
1997 56,198 31,302 429,887 -31,571
1996 51,251 21,792 430,765 -30,197
1995 54,106 15,056 430,172 -28,122
1994 61,532 20,193 426,996 -12,630
1993 58,103 44,514 420,244 -8,828
1992 66,811 50,148 412,878 -4,063
1991 69,321 51,670 410,830 -10,154
1990 68,777 53,564 409,177 -6,620
1989 59,396 31,165 406,111 -8,379
1988 61,993 31,026 404,285 -8,426
1987 64,526 39,559 399,159 -8,335
1986 59,746 30,380 390,821 -9,485
1985 55,069 27,356 379,231 -6,221
1984 54,812 12,902 366,768 -5,245
1983 51,722 11,007 355,375 -9,729
1982 54,388 7,644 319,664 -721
1981 62,688 17,643 330,237 -24,536
1980 66,504 54,010 332,464 -33,114
1979 63,172 42,772 324,943 -32,793
1978 61,344 26,639 316,724 -30,567
1977 63,739 19,809 306,630 -28,275
1976 63,361 18,774 294,267 -26,268
1975 64,232 68,569 282,299 -24,389
1974 75,853 31,645 270,735 -24,242
1973 84,668 18,705 254,687 -17,502
1972 101,297 17,470 249,027 -17,610
1971 116,112 32,756 239,610 -15,167
1970 129,082 32,438 230,117 -19,594
1969 139,082 21,850 219,114 -18,749
1968 132,389 7,243 209,454 -16,968
1967 138,580 -10,673 199,223 -14,618
1966 138,265 20,740 191,122 -13,434
1965 146,308 19,444 182,560 -12,704
1964 157,653 15,014 174,549 -12,044
1963 154,361 -21 166,555 -11,817
1962 153,474 18,024 159,155 -11,641
1961 159,450 8,258 151,485 -11,237
1960 151,623 -13,235 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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