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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 19,501 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Netherlands vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Vatican
2100 17,359,081 2,521
2099 17,392,412 2,506
2098 17,425,508 2,497
2097 17,459,827 2,482
2096 17,495,124 2,469
2095 17,532,593 2,452
2094 17,571,051 2,435
2093 17,610,792 2,421
2092 17,649,611 2,400
2091 17,688,532 2,384
2090 17,730,570 2,359
2089 17,770,380 2,337
2088 17,809,825 2,319
2087 17,845,820 2,291
2086 17,885,001 2,269
2085 17,921,302 2,248
2084 17,957,639 2,217
2083 17,994,232 2,183
2082 18,029,404 2,159
2081 18,063,233 2,129
2080 18,093,703 2,105
2079 18,124,294 2,089
2078 18,152,738 2,068
2077 18,181,372 2,050
2076 18,206,864 2,025
2075 18,227,791 2,001
2074 18,245,652 1,970
2073 18,263,765 1,944
2072 18,280,443 1,912
2071 18,295,700 1,866
2070 18,311,141 1,829
2069 18,326,509 1,795
2068 18,341,711 1,777
2067 18,356,770 1,755
2066 18,374,904 1,729
2065 18,396,018 1,701
2064 18,417,894 1,679
2063 18,441,434 1,651
2062 18,464,922 1,623
2061 18,492,436 1,595
2060 18,520,315 1,556
2059 18,548,786 1,530
2058 18,577,700 1,512
2057 18,608,370 1,493
2056 18,638,918 1,469
2055 18,666,514 1,441
2054 18,692,598 1,419
2053 18,718,268 1,382
2052 18,741,740 1,358
2051 18,768,309 1,335
2050 18,789,481 1,311
2049 18,809,886 1,283
2048 18,827,655 1,256
2047 18,844,635 1,237
2046 18,855,920 1,215
2045 18,867,286 1,192
2044 18,877,101 1,174
2043 18,882,735 1,152
2042 18,885,839 1,135
2041 18,885,255 1,105
2040 18,879,571 1,070
2039 18,870,248 1,033
2038 18,855,512 1,001
2037 18,837,172 996
2036 18,811,873 1,001
2035 18,783,312 988
2034 18,750,125 988
2033 18,708,101 974
2032 18,662,054 964
2031 18,609,452 977
2030 18,549,634 979
2029 18,481,269 985
2028 18,404,195 983
2027 18,320,644 946
2026 18,227,403 933
2025 18,118,662 927
2024 17,993,485 910
2023 17,877,117 927
2022 17,700,982 951
2021 17,533,044 972
2020 17,441,500 987
2019 17,344,874 1,000
2018 17,231,624 -
2017 17,131,296 1,000
2016 17,030,314 -
2015 16,939,923 1,000
2014 16,865,008 842
2013 16,804,432 839
2012 16,754,962 836
2011 16,693,074 832
2010 16,615,394 829
2009 16,530,388 826
2008 16,445,593 824
2007 16,381,696 821
2006 16,346,101 932
2005 16,319,868 921
2004 16,281,779 921
2003 16,225,302 911
2002 16,148,929 900
2001 16,046,180 890
2000 15,925,513 880
1999 15,812,088 -
1998 15,707,209 -
1997 15,610,650 -
1996 15,530,498 -
1995 15,459,006 -
1994 15,382,838 -
1993 15,290,368 -
1992 15,184,166 -
1991 15,069,798 -
1990 14,951,510 -
1989 14,848,907 -
1988 14,760,094 -
1987 14,665,037 -
1986 14,572,278 -
1985 14,491,632 -
1984 14,424,211 -
1983 14,367,070 -
1982 14,312,690 -
1981 14,247,208 -
1980 14,149,800 -
1979 14,038,270 -
1978 13,941,700 -
1977 13,856,185 -
1976 13,774,037 -
1975 13,666,335 -
1974 13,545,056 -
1973 13,439,322 -
1972 13,328,593 -
1971 13,194,497 -
1970 13,038,526 -
1969 12,877,984 -
1968 12,729,721 -
1967 12,598,201 -
1966 12,456,251 -
1965 12,294,732 -
1964 12,127,120 -
1963 11,965,966 -
1962 11,805,689 -
1961 11,638,712 -
1960 11,486,631 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Vatican
2100 -0.19% 0.59%
2099 -0.19% 0.37%
2098 -0.2% 0.6%
2097 -0.2% 0.53%
2096 -0.21% 0.68%
2095 -0.22% 0.69%
2094 -0.23% 0.61%
2093 -0.22% 0.85%
2092 -0.22% 0.7%
2091 -0.24% 1.02%
2090 -0.22% 0.95%
2089 -0.22% 0.8%
2088 -0.2% 1.21%
2087 -0.22% 0.98%
2086 -0.2% 0.91%
2085 -0.2% 1.42%
2084 -0.2% 1.53%
2083 -0.2% 1.12%
2082 -0.19% 1.39%
2081 -0.17% 1.15%
2080 -0.17% 0.8%
2079 -0.16% 0.99%
2078 -0.16% 0.9%
2077 -0.14% 1.19%
2076 -0.11% 1.2%
2075 -0.1% 1.6%
2074 -0.1% 1.34%
2073 -0.09% 1.65%
2072 -0.08% 2.49%
2071 -0.08% 2.03%
2070 -0.08% 1.86%
2069 -0.08% 1.04%
2068 -0.08% 1.27%
2067 -0.1% 1.5%
2066 -0.11% 1.64%
2065 -0.12% 1.33%
2064 -0.13% 1.69%
2063 -0.13% 1.71%
2062 -0.15% 1.74%
2061 -0.15% 2.5%
2060 -0.15% 1.7%
2059 -0.16% 1.23%
2058 -0.16% 1.24%
2057 -0.16% 1.64%
2056 -0.15% 1.93%
2055 -0.14% 1.57%
2054 -0.14% 2.68%
2053 -0.13% 1.78%
2052 -0.14% 1.67%
2051 -0.11% 1.84%
2050 -0.11% 2.17%
2049 -0.09% 2.22%
2048 -0.09% 1.5%
2047 -0.06% 1.83%
2046 -0.06% 1.87%
2045 -0.05% 1.58%
2044 -0.03% 1.93%
2043 -0.02% 1.47%
2042 0.003% 2.68%
2041 0.03% 3.29%
2040 0.05% 3.59%
2039 0.08% 3.15%
2038 0.1% 0.56%
2037 0.13% -0.56%
2036 0.15% 1.31%
2035 0.18% 0%
2034 0.22% 1.52%
2033 0.25% 0.96%
2032 0.28% -1.33%
2031 0.32% -0.19%
2030 0.37% -0.56%
2029 0.42% 0.19%
2028 0.46% 3.92%
2027 0.51% 1.39%
2026 0.6% 0.6%
2025 0.7% 1.83%
2024 0.65% -1.8%
2023 1% -2.53%
2022 0.96% -2.1%
2021 0.52% -1.5%
2020 0.56% -1.3%
2019 0.66% 0%
2018 0.59% 0%
2017 0.59% 0%
2016 0.53% 0%
2015 0.44% 18.8%
2014 0.36% 0.36%
2013 0.3% 0.36%
2012 0.37% 0.48%
2011 0.47% 0.36%
2010 0.51% 0.36%
2009 0.52% 0.24%
2008 0.39% 0.37%
2007 0.22% -11.9%
2006 0.16% 1.19%
2005 0.23% 0%
2004 0.35% 1.1%
2003 0.47% 1.22%
2002 0.64% 1.12%
2001 0.76% 1.14%
2000 0.72% -
1999 0.67% -
1998 0.62% -
1997 0.52% -
1996 0.46% -
1995 0.5% -
1994 0.6% -
1993 0.7% -
1992 0.76% -
1991 0.79% -
1990 0.69% -
1989 0.6% -
1988 0.65% -
1987 0.64% -
1986 0.56% -
1985 0.47% -
1984 0.4% -
1983 0.38% -
1982 0.46% -
1981 0.69% -
1980 0.79% -
1979 0.69% -
1978 0.62% -
1977 0.6% -
1976 0.79% -
1975 0.9% -
1974 0.79% -
1973 0.83% -
1972 1.02% -
1971 1.2% -
1970 1.25% -
1969 1.16% -
1968 1.04% -
1967 1.14% -
1966 1.31% -
1965 1.38% -
1964 1.35% -
1963 1.36% -
1962 1.43% -
1961 1.32% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Vatican
Current population
18252623
936
Population rank 72/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.00001%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
1 month
One birth every
3.2 minutes
n/a
One death every
3.09 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +319 +0
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +0%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 163/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change +104,681 n/a
Net migration rank 16/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - -
2024 - 121,628 - -
2023 -5,363 144,558 - -
2022 -1,770 224,472 - -
2021 7,014 106,416 - -
2020 0 67,598 - -
2019 17,345 109,003 - -
2018 15,508 87,197 - -
2017 18,844 86,332 - -
2016 23,843 88,743 - -
2015 23,716 55,585 - -
2014 35,417 36,591 - -
2013 30,248 19,973 - -
2012 35,186 14,861 - -
2011 45,072 31,224 - -
2010 48,184 33,703 - -
2009 51,244 39,832 - -
2008 49,337 32,406 - -
2007 49,145 -304 - -
2006 49,038 -25,401 - -
2005 50,592 -22,496 - -
2004 56,987 -9,230 - -
2003 58,411 7,937 - -
2002 59,751 28,824 - -
2001 62,580 56,096 - -
2000 66,887 59,308 - -
1999 60,086 47,179 - -
1998 61,258 52,058 - -
1997 56,198 31,302 - -
1996 51,251 21,792 - -
1995 54,106 15,056 - -
1994 61,532 20,193 - -
1993 58,103 44,514 - -
1992 66,811 50,148 - -
1991 69,321 51,670 - -
1990 68,777 53,564 - -
1989 59,396 31,165 - -
1988 61,993 31,026 - -
1987 64,526 39,559 - -
1986 59,746 30,380 - -
1985 55,069 27,356 - -
1984 54,812 12,902 - -
1983 51,722 11,007 - -
1982 54,388 7,644 - -
1981 62,688 17,643 - -
1980 66,504 54,010 - -
1979 63,172 42,772 - -
1978 61,344 26,639 - -
1977 63,739 19,809 - -
1976 63,361 18,774 - -
1975 64,232 68,569 - -
1974 75,853 31,645 - -
1973 84,668 18,705 - -
1972 101,297 17,470 - -
1971 116,112 32,756 - -
1970 129,082 32,438 - -
1969 139,082 21,850 - -
1968 132,389 7,243 - -
1967 138,580 -10,673 - -
1966 138,265 20,740 - -
1965 146,308 19,444 - -
1964 157,653 15,014 - -
1963 154,361 -21 - -
1962 153,474 18,024 - -
1961 159,450 8,258 - -
1960 151,623 -13,235 - -

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/vatican | CC BY

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between the Netherlands and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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