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Population in the Netherlands compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 1.56 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Netherlands vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands UAE
2100 17,359,081 26,368,750
2099 17,392,412 26,130,374
2098 17,425,508 25,894,010
2097 17,459,827 25,660,062
2096 17,495,124 25,427,961
2095 17,532,593 25,197,670
2094 17,571,051 24,968,891
2093 17,610,792 24,741,434
2092 17,649,611 24,515,086
2091 17,688,532 24,289,496
2090 17,730,570 24,064,404
2089 17,770,380 23,839,033
2088 17,809,825 23,613,963
2087 17,845,820 23,388,786
2086 17,885,001 23,163,641
2085 17,921,302 22,938,169
2084 17,957,639 22,711,804
2083 17,994,232 22,484,154
2082 18,029,404 22,255,625
2081 18,063,233 22,026,183
2080 18,093,703 21,796,073
2079 18,124,294 21,565,118
2078 18,152,738 21,333,574
2077 18,181,372 21,101,274
2076 18,206,864 20,868,733
2075 18,227,791 20,636,203
2074 18,245,652 20,404,044
2073 18,263,765 20,171,659
2072 18,280,443 19,940,853
2071 18,295,700 19,710,934
2070 18,311,141 19,483,026
2069 18,326,509 19,256,572
2068 18,341,711 19,032,681
2067 18,356,770 18,811,331
2066 18,374,904 18,593,017
2065 18,396,018 18,377,364
2064 18,417,894 18,164,584
2063 18,441,434 17,955,352
2062 18,464,922 17,749,596
2061 18,492,436 17,547,827
2060 18,520,315 17,349,620
2059 18,548,786 17,153,273
2058 18,577,700 16,959,263
2057 18,608,370 16,767,893
2056 18,638,918 16,579,195
2055 18,666,514 16,392,558
2054 18,692,598 16,207,309
2053 18,718,268 16,024,789
2052 18,741,740 15,844,357
2051 18,768,309 15,665,362
2050 18,789,481 15,487,008
2049 18,809,886 15,309,031
2048 18,827,655 15,132,784
2047 18,844,635 14,958,209
2046 18,855,920 14,788,046
2045 18,867,286 14,620,902
2044 18,877,101 14,454,466
2043 18,882,735 14,289,021
2042 18,885,839 14,124,515
2041 18,885,255 13,961,010
2040 18,879,571 13,798,651
2039 18,870,248 13,637,499
2038 18,855,512 13,477,450
2037 18,837,172 13,319,346
2036 18,811,873 13,163,073
2035 18,783,312 13,009,160
2034 18,750,125 12,857,729
2033 18,708,101 12,709,520
2032 18,662,054 12,564,906
2031 18,609,452 12,424,286
2030 18,549,634 12,288,186
2029 18,481,269 12,148,661
2028 18,404,195 11,999,549
2027 18,320,644 11,831,082
2026 18,227,403 11,632,806
2025 18,118,662 11,367,504
2024 17,993,485 10,986,400
2023 17,877,117 10,483,751
2022 17,700,982 10,074,977
2021 17,533,044 9,575,152
2020 17,441,500 9,401,038
2019 17,344,874 9,445,785
2018 17,231,624 9,346,701
2017 17,131,296 9,223,225
2016 17,030,314 8,935,095
2015 16,939,923 8,505,237
2014 16,865,008 8,059,440
2013 16,804,432 7,693,031
2012 16,754,962 7,391,448
2011 16,693,074 7,104,538
2010 16,615,394 6,869,838
2009 16,530,388 6,707,058
2008 16,445,593 6,302,664
2007 16,381,696 5,624,635
2006 16,346,101 5,009,100
2005 16,319,868 4,664,790
2004 16,281,779 4,428,967
2003 16,225,302 4,192,457
2002 16,148,929 3,956,826
2001 16,046,180 3,723,590
2000 15,925,513 3,493,575
1999 15,812,088 3,266,009
1998 15,707,209 3,040,421
1997 15,610,650 2,817,410
1996 15,530,498 2,597,564
1995 15,459,006 2,434,662
1994 15,382,838 2,328,188
1993 15,290,368 2,222,093
1992 15,184,166 2,114,730
1991 15,069,798 2,006,626
1990 14,951,510 1,898,220
1989 14,848,907 1,789,851
1988 14,760,094 1,681,788
1987 14,665,037 1,574,244
1986 14,572,278 1,467,383
1985 14,491,632 1,377,911
1984 14,424,211 1,305,996
1983 14,367,070 1,235,305
1982 14,312,690 1,166,370
1981 14,247,208 1,099,855
1980 14,149,800 1,015,700
1979 14,038,270 912,010
1978 13,941,700 809,274
1977 13,856,185 710,209
1976 13,774,037 615,866
1975 13,666,335 542,856
1974 13,545,056 489,087
1973 13,439,322 436,399
1972 13,328,593 385,014
1971 13,194,497 335,027
1970 13,038,526 286,536
1969 12,877,984 239,660
1968 12,729,721 199,416
1967 12,598,201 179,700
1966 12,456,251 173,976
1965 12,294,732 167,103
1964 12,127,120 159,692
1963 11,965,966 152,211
1962 11,805,689 144,946
1961 11,638,712 137,989
1960 11,486,631 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands UAE
2100 -0.19% 0.91%
2099 -0.19% 0.91%
2098 -0.2% 0.91%
2097 -0.2% 0.91%
2096 -0.21% 0.91%
2095 -0.22% 0.92%
2094 -0.23% 0.92%
2093 -0.22% 0.92%
2092 -0.22% 0.93%
2091 -0.24% 0.94%
2090 -0.22% 0.95%
2089 -0.22% 0.95%
2088 -0.2% 0.96%
2087 -0.22% 0.97%
2086 -0.2% 0.98%
2085 -0.2% 1%
2084 -0.2% 1.01%
2083 -0.2% 1.03%
2082 -0.19% 1.04%
2081 -0.17% 1.06%
2080 -0.17% 1.07%
2079 -0.16% 1.09%
2078 -0.16% 1.1%
2077 -0.14% 1.11%
2076 -0.11% 1.13%
2075 -0.1% 1.14%
2074 -0.1% 1.15%
2073 -0.09% 1.16%
2072 -0.08% 1.17%
2071 -0.08% 1.17%
2070 -0.08% 1.18%
2069 -0.08% 1.18%
2068 -0.08% 1.18%
2067 -0.1% 1.17%
2066 -0.11% 1.17%
2065 -0.12% 1.17%
2064 -0.13% 1.17%
2063 -0.13% 1.16%
2062 -0.15% 1.15%
2061 -0.15% 1.14%
2060 -0.15% 1.14%
2059 -0.16% 1.14%
2058 -0.16% 1.14%
2057 -0.16% 1.14%
2056 -0.15% 1.14%
2055 -0.14% 1.14%
2054 -0.14% 1.14%
2053 -0.13% 1.14%
2052 -0.14% 1.14%
2051 -0.11% 1.15%
2050 -0.11% 1.16%
2049 -0.09% 1.16%
2048 -0.09% 1.17%
2047 -0.06% 1.15%
2046 -0.06% 1.14%
2045 -0.05% 1.15%
2044 -0.03% 1.16%
2043 -0.02% 1.16%
2042 0.003% 1.17%
2041 0.03% 1.18%
2040 0.05% 1.18%
2039 0.08% 1.19%
2038 0.1% 1.19%
2037 0.13% 1.19%
2036 0.15% 1.18%
2035 0.18% 1.18%
2034 0.22% 1.17%
2033 0.25% 1.15%
2032 0.28% 1.13%
2031 0.32% 1.11%
2030 0.37% 1.15%
2029 0.42% 1.24%
2028 0.46% 1.42%
2027 0.51% 1.7%
2026 0.6% 2.33%
2025 0.7% 3.47%
2024 0.65% 4.79%
2023 1% 4.06%
2022 0.96% 5.22%
2021 0.52% 1.85%
2020 0.56% -0.47%
2019 0.66% 1.06%
2018 0.59% 1.34%
2017 0.59% 3.22%
2016 0.53% 5.05%
2015 0.44% 5.53%
2014 0.36% 4.76%
2013 0.3% 4.08%
2012 0.37% 4.04%
2011 0.47% 3.42%
2010 0.51% 2.43%
2009 0.52% 6.42%
2008 0.39% 12.1%
2007 0.22% 12.3%
2006 0.16% 7.38%
2005 0.23% 5.32%
2004 0.35% 5.64%
2003 0.47% 5.96%
2002 0.64% 6.26%
2001 0.76% 6.58%
2000 0.72% 6.97%
1999 0.67% 7.42%
1998 0.62% 7.92%
1997 0.52% 8.46%
1996 0.46% 6.69%
1995 0.5% 4.57%
1994 0.6% 4.77%
1993 0.7% 5.08%
1992 0.76% 5.39%
1991 0.79% 5.71%
1990 0.69% 6.05%
1989 0.6% 6.43%
1988 0.65% 6.83%
1987 0.64% 7.28%
1986 0.56% 6.49%
1985 0.47% 5.51%
1984 0.4% 5.72%
1983 0.38% 5.91%
1982 0.46% 6.05%
1981 0.69% 8.29%
1980 0.79% 11.4%
1979 0.69% 12.7%
1978 0.62% 13.9%
1977 0.6% 15.3%
1976 0.79% 13.4%
1975 0.9% 11%
1974 0.79% 12.1%
1973 0.83% 13.3%
1972 1.02% 14.9%
1971 1.2% 16.9%
1970 1.25% 19.6%
1969 1.16% 20.2%
1968 1.04% 11%
1967 1.14% 3.29%
1966 1.31% 4.11%
1965 1.38% 4.64%
1964 1.35% 4.91%
1963 1.36% 5.01%
1962 1.43% 5.04%
1961 1.32% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Netherlands UAE
Current population
18252623
11686438
Population rank 72/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.14%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
3.2 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
3.09 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 3/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +158,634
Net migration rank 16/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 158,634
2024 - 121,628 - 278,439
2023 -5,363 144,558 92,698 300,004
2022 -1,770 224,472 81,758 322,773
2021 7,014 106,416 76,802 421,663
2020 0 67,598 87,871 92,541
2019 17,345 109,003 86,296 -125,186
2018 15,508 87,197 86,840 14,611
2017 18,844 86,332 89,382 34,155
2016 23,843 88,743 87,028 195,317
2015 23,716 55,585 85,044 342,468
2014 35,417 36,591 84,277 360,174
2013 30,248 19,973 82,977 279,269
2012 35,186 14,861 78,682 225,921
2011 45,072 31,224 73,496 215,183
2010 48,184 33,703 69,907 161,842
2009 51,244 39,832 66,521 163,643
2008 49,337 32,406 55,426 523,207
2007 49,145 -304 55,048 722,380
2006 49,038 -25,401 54,338 399,306
2005 50,592 -22,496 60,046 174,926
2004 56,987 -9,230 60,344 176,319
2003 58,411 7,937 59,118 177,237
2002 59,751 28,824 55,922 178,988
2001 62,580 56,096 52,789 178,779
2000 66,887 59,308 49,993 178,469
1999 60,086 47,179 46,198 180,469
1998 61,258 52,058 41,176 183,329
1997 56,198 31,302 38,207 183,310
1996 51,251 21,792 37,886 180,296
1995 54,106 15,056 38,685 68,938
1994 61,532 20,193 42,976 62,352
1993 58,103 44,514 41,324 65,545
1992 66,811 50,148 42,119 65,739
1991 69,321 51,670 41,409 66,943
1990 68,777 53,564 41,339 67,118
1989 59,396 31,165 40,148 68,132
1988 61,993 31,026 38,861 68,991
1987 64,526 39,559 37,741 69,493
1986 59,746 30,380 36,829 69,655
1985 55,069 27,356 34,855 37,605
1984 54,812 12,902 33,250 38,124
1983 51,722 11,007 31,480 38,536
1982 54,388 7,644 29,585 38,276
1981 62,688 17,643 27,560 37,600
1980 66,504 54,010 25,005 78,148
1979 63,172 42,772 21,987 82,238
1978 61,344 26,639 18,879 82,359
1977 63,739 19,809 15,787 81,111
1976 63,361 18,774 12,876 78,903
1975 64,232 68,569 11,859 42,380
1974 75,853 31,645 10,835 42,474
1973 84,668 18,705 9,822 42,243
1972 101,297 17,470 8,818 41,888
1971 116,112 32,756 7,839 41,425
1970 129,082 32,438 6,922 40,792
1969 139,082 21,850 6,138 39,902
1968 132,389 7,243 5,588 28,866
1967 138,580 -10,673 5,264 -283
1966 138,265 20,740 4,955 1,516
1965 146,308 19,444 4,675 2,598
1964 157,653 15,014 4,410 3,126
1963 154,361 -21 4,157 3,264
1962 153,474 18,024 3,901 3,212
1961 159,450 8,258 3,657 3,141
1960 151,623 -13,235 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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