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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 3.84 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Netherlands vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands United Kingdom
2100 17,359,081 74,700,585
2099 17,392,412 74,831,175
2098 17,425,508 74,950,267
2097 17,459,827 75,064,397
2096 17,495,124 75,176,691
2095 17,532,593 75,287,063
2094 17,571,051 75,383,856
2093 17,610,792 75,482,205
2092 17,649,611 75,575,769
2091 17,688,532 75,666,091
2090 17,730,570 75,753,129
2089 17,770,380 75,835,723
2088 17,809,825 75,907,614
2087 17,845,820 75,978,712
2086 17,885,001 76,046,742
2085 17,921,302 76,105,680
2084 17,957,639 76,156,223
2083 17,994,232 76,205,894
2082 18,029,404 76,246,844
2081 18,063,233 76,274,040
2080 18,093,703 76,306,205
2079 18,124,294 76,334,949
2078 18,152,738 76,353,484
2077 18,181,372 76,371,123
2076 18,206,864 76,373,520
2075 18,227,791 76,386,071
2074 18,245,652 76,397,426
2073 18,263,765 76,406,554
2072 18,280,443 76,398,941
2071 18,295,700 76,388,223
2070 18,311,141 76,378,505
2069 18,326,509 76,371,827
2068 18,341,711 76,370,973
2067 18,356,770 76,363,548
2066 18,374,904 76,356,638
2065 18,396,018 76,355,841
2064 18,417,894 76,352,770
2063 18,441,434 76,353,175
2062 18,464,922 76,346,535
2061 18,492,436 76,344,206
2060 18,520,315 76,344,725
2059 18,548,786 76,345,215
2058 18,577,700 76,326,961
2057 18,608,370 76,307,006
2056 18,638,918 76,274,247
2055 18,666,514 76,235,304
2054 18,692,598 76,167,710
2053 18,718,268 76,094,051
2052 18,741,740 76,001,979
2051 18,768,309 75,895,690
2050 18,789,481 75,777,445
2049 18,809,886 75,646,044
2048 18,827,655 75,499,380
2047 18,844,635 75,338,951
2046 18,855,920 75,171,300
2045 18,867,286 74,993,186
2044 18,877,101 74,807,530
2043 18,882,735 74,607,485
2042 18,885,839 74,407,783
2041 18,885,255 74,203,292
2040 18,879,571 73,994,525
2039 18,870,248 73,782,112
2038 18,855,512 73,559,085
2037 18,837,172 73,335,723
2036 18,811,873 73,101,646
2035 18,783,312 72,850,722
2034 18,750,125 72,597,177
2033 18,708,101 72,322,802
2032 18,662,054 72,046,316
2031 18,609,452 71,757,868
2030 18,549,634 71,442,811
2029 18,481,269 71,123,782
2028 18,404,195 70,783,199
2027 18,320,644 70,421,923
2026 18,227,403 70,055,911
2025 18,118,662 69,658,188
2024 17,993,485 69,226,000
2023 17,877,117 68,492,000
2022 17,700,982 67,604,000
2021 17,533,044 66,984,000
2020 17,441,500 66,744,000
2019 17,344,874 66,631,000
2018 17,231,624 66,289,000
2017 17,131,296 65,966,000
2016 17,030,314 65,607,000
2015 16,939,923 65,088,000
2014 16,865,008 64,620,000
2013 16,804,432 64,139,000
2012 16,754,962 63,711,000
2011 16,693,074 63,258,810
2010 16,615,394 62,766,365
2009 16,530,388 62,276,270
2008 16,445,593 61,806,995
2007 16,381,696 61,322,463
2006 16,346,101 60,846,820
2005 16,319,868 60,401,206
2004 16,281,779 59,987,905
2003 16,225,302 59,647,577
2002 16,148,929 59,370,479
2001 16,046,180 59,119,673
2000 15,925,513 58,892,514
1999 15,812,088 58,682,466
1998 15,707,209 58,487,141
1997 15,610,650 58,316,954
1996 15,530,498 58,166,950
1995 15,459,006 58,019,030
1994 15,382,838 57,865,745
1993 15,290,368 57,718,614
1992 15,184,166 57,580,402
1991 15,069,798 57,424,897
1990 14,951,510 57,247,586
1989 14,848,907 57,076,711
1988 14,760,094 56,928,327
1987 14,665,037 56,802,050
1986 14,572,278 56,681,396
1985 14,491,632 56,550,268
1984 14,424,211 56,422,072
1983 14,367,070 56,332,848
1982 14,312,690 56,313,641
1981 14,247,208 56,333,829
1980 14,149,800 56,314,216
1979 14,038,270 56,246,951
1978 13,941,700 56,196,504
1977 13,856,185 56,193,492
1976 13,774,037 56,211,968
1975 13,666,335 56,225,800
1974 13,545,056 56,229,974
1973 13,439,322 56,194,527
1972 13,328,593 56,086,065
1971 13,194,497 55,896,223
1970 13,038,526 55,663,250
1969 12,877,984 55,441,750
1968 12,729,721 55,211,700
1967 12,598,201 54,943,600
1966 12,456,251 54,648,500
1965 12,294,732 54,348,050
1964 12,127,120 54,000,000
1963 11,965,966 53,650,000
1962 11,805,689 53,250,000
1961 11,638,712 52,800,000
1960 11,486,631 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands United Kingdom
2100 -0.19% -0.17%
2099 -0.19% -0.16%
2098 -0.2% -0.15%
2097 -0.2% -0.15%
2096 -0.21% -0.15%
2095 -0.22% -0.13%
2094 -0.23% -0.13%
2093 -0.22% -0.12%
2092 -0.22% -0.12%
2091 -0.24% -0.11%
2090 -0.22% -0.11%
2089 -0.22% -0.09%
2088 -0.2% -0.09%
2087 -0.22% -0.09%
2086 -0.2% -0.08%
2085 -0.2% -0.07%
2084 -0.2% -0.07%
2083 -0.2% -0.05%
2082 -0.19% -0.04%
2081 -0.17% -0.04%
2080 -0.17% -0.04%
2079 -0.16% -0.02%
2078 -0.16% -0.02%
2077 -0.14% -0.003%
2076 -0.11% -0.02%
2075 -0.1% -0.01%
2074 -0.1% -0.01%
2073 -0.09% 0.01%
2072 -0.08% 0.01%
2071 -0.08% 0.01%
2070 -0.08% 0.009%
2069 -0.08% 0.001%
2068 -0.08% 0.01%
2067 -0.1% 0.009%
2066 -0.11% 0.001%
2065 -0.12% 0.004%
2064 -0.13% -0%
2063 -0.13% 0.009%
2062 -0.15% 0.003%
2061 -0.15% -0.001%
2060 -0.15% -0.001%
2059 -0.16% 0.02%
2058 -0.16% 0.03%
2057 -0.16% 0.04%
2056 -0.15% 0.05%
2055 -0.14% 0.09%
2054 -0.14% 0.1%
2053 -0.13% 0.12%
2052 -0.14% 0.14%
2051 -0.11% 0.16%
2050 -0.11% 0.17%
2049 -0.09% 0.19%
2048 -0.09% 0.21%
2047 -0.06% 0.22%
2046 -0.06% 0.24%
2045 -0.05% 0.25%
2044 -0.03% 0.27%
2043 -0.02% 0.27%
2042 0.003% 0.28%
2041 0.03% 0.28%
2040 0.05% 0.29%
2039 0.08% 0.3%
2038 0.1% 0.3%
2037 0.13% 0.32%
2036 0.15% 0.34%
2035 0.18% 0.35%
2034 0.22% 0.38%
2033 0.25% 0.38%
2032 0.28% 0.4%
2031 0.32% 0.44%
2030 0.37% 0.45%
2029 0.42% 0.48%
2028 0.46% 0.51%
2027 0.51% 0.52%
2026 0.6% 0.57%
2025 0.7% 0.62%
2024 0.65% 1.07%
2023 1% 1.31%
2022 0.96% 0.93%
2021 0.52% 0.36%
2020 0.56% 0.17%
2019 0.66% 0.52%
2018 0.59% 0.49%
2017 0.59% 0.55%
2016 0.53% 0.8%
2015 0.44% 0.72%
2014 0.36% 0.75%
2013 0.3% 0.67%
2012 0.37% 0.71%
2011 0.47% 0.78%
2010 0.51% 0.79%
2009 0.52% 0.76%
2008 0.39% 0.79%
2007 0.22% 0.78%
2006 0.16% 0.74%
2005 0.23% 0.69%
2004 0.35% 0.57%
2003 0.47% 0.47%
2002 0.64% 0.42%
2001 0.76% 0.39%
2000 0.72% 0.36%
1999 0.67% 0.33%
1998 0.62% 0.29%
1997 0.52% 0.26%
1996 0.46% 0.25%
1995 0.5% 0.26%
1994 0.6% 0.25%
1993 0.7% 0.24%
1992 0.76% 0.27%
1991 0.79% 0.31%
1990 0.69% 0.3%
1989 0.6% 0.26%
1988 0.65% 0.22%
1987 0.64% 0.21%
1986 0.56% 0.23%
1985 0.47% 0.23%
1984 0.4% 0.16%
1983 0.38% 0.03%
1982 0.46% -0.04%
1981 0.69% 0.03%
1980 0.79% 0.12%
1979 0.69% 0.09%
1978 0.62% 0.005%
1977 0.6% -0.03%
1976 0.79% -0.02%
1975 0.9% -0.007%
1974 0.79% 0.06%
1973 0.83% 0.19%
1972 1.02% 0.34%
1971 1.2% 0.42%
1970 1.25% 0.4%
1969 1.16% 0.42%
1968 1.04% 0.49%
1967 1.14% 0.54%
1966 1.31% 0.55%
1965 1.38% 0.64%
1964 1.35% 0.65%
1963 1.36% 0.75%
1962 1.43% 0.85%
1961 1.32% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Netherlands United Kingdom
Current population
18252623
70154914
Population rank 72/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.85%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
3.2 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
3.09 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +319 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 97/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +104,681 +389,911
Net migration rank 16/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 389,911
2024 - 121,628 - 417,114
2023 -5,363 144,558 34,589 445,523
2022 -1,770 224,472 39,751 487,029
2021 7,014 106,416 30,612 462,967
2020 0 67,598 -4,272 144,221
2019 17,345 109,003 108,342 232,727
2018 15,508 87,197 119,321 259,744
2017 18,844 86,332 145,125 272,311
2016 23,843 88,743 177,139 324,649
2015 23,716 55,585 175,738 347,839
2014 35,417 36,591 206,784 306,091
2013 30,248 19,973 198,830 237,272
2012 35,186 14,861 248,473 172,088
2011 45,072 31,224 259,361 228,773
2010 48,184 33,703 251,066 274,811
2009 51,244 39,832 230,422 249,639
2008 49,337 32,406 216,325 263,390
2007 49,145 -304 196,232 309,385
2006 49,038 -25,401 176,455 288,923
2005 50,592 -22,496 144,963 308,279
2004 56,987 -9,230 131,974 276,077
2003 58,411 7,937 89,471 211,846
2002 59,751 28,824 65,308 203,577
2001 62,580 56,096 65,032 175,133
2000 66,887 59,308 70,671 153,917
1999 60,086 47,179 64,551 152,653
1998 61,258 52,058 87,730 125,541
1997 56,198 31,302 99,138 59,723
1996 51,251 21,792 98,884 54,964
1995 54,106 15,056 87,028 61,385
1994 61,532 20,193 127,304 45,339
1993 58,103 44,514 103,893 27,403
1992 66,811 50,148 149,709 17,846
1991 69,321 51,670 143,562 27,601
1990 68,777 53,564 154,569 57,132
1989 59,396 31,165 119,861 49,586
1988 61,993 31,026 136,628 13,952
1987 64,526 39,559 136,325 8,266
1986 59,746 30,380 90,690 41,836
1985 55,069 27,356 79,170 83,164
1984 54,812 12,902 84,633 71,107
1983 51,722 11,007 61,966 27,063
1982 54,388 7,644 56,314 -61,152
1981 62,688 17,643 73,234 -83,876
1980 66,504 54,010 95,734 -25,187
1979 63,172 42,772 61,872 11,255
1978 61,344 26,639 16,859 3,783
1977 63,739 19,809 0 -21,636
1976 63,361 18,774 -5,621 -19,135
1975 64,232 68,569 33,735 -40,241
1974 75,853 31,645 67,476 -65,710
1973 84,668 18,705 112,389 -33,840
1972 101,297 17,470 162,650 -1,406
1971 116,112 32,756 257,123 1,175
1970 129,082 32,438 244,918 -15,254
1969 139,082 21,850 260,577 -60,655
1968 132,389 7,243 292,622 -38,852
1967 138,580 -10,673 346,145 -39,659
1966 138,265 20,740 333,356 -27,935
1965 146,308 19,444 364,132 -24,955
1964 157,653 15,014 405,000 -23,885
1963 154,361 -21 337,995 8,271
1962 153,474 18,024 340,800 76,443
1961 159,450 8,258 311,519 52,295
1960 151,623 -13,235 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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