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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Netherlands was 17,993,485 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Netherlands' population is 18,252,623 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.24 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • The Netherlands is ranked the 72nd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.22% for the Netherlands vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Netherlands has had an average growth rate of +0.62% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Netherlands has increased from 16.3M people to 18.3M (11.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Netherlands vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Netherlands Zambia
2100 17,359,081 65,217,429
2099 17,392,412 64,871,545
2098 17,425,508 64,515,891
2097 17,459,827 64,148,736
2096 17,495,124 63,777,313
2095 17,532,593 63,393,169
2094 17,571,051 62,992,652
2093 17,610,792 62,590,327
2092 17,649,611 62,175,930
2091 17,688,532 61,750,591
2090 17,730,570 61,321,399
2089 17,770,380 60,880,148
2088 17,809,825 60,434,676
2087 17,845,820 59,970,107
2086 17,885,001 59,499,234
2085 17,921,302 59,023,040
2084 17,957,639 58,535,857
2083 17,994,232 58,040,512
2082 18,029,404 57,538,672
2081 18,063,233 57,027,491
2080 18,093,703 56,506,421
2079 18,124,294 55,983,242
2078 18,152,738 55,449,777
2077 18,181,372 54,906,771
2076 18,206,864 54,361,075
2075 18,227,791 53,806,856
2074 18,245,652 53,246,777
2073 18,263,765 52,677,348
2072 18,280,443 52,101,139
2071 18,295,700 51,519,691
2070 18,311,141 50,931,614
2069 18,326,509 50,334,700
2068 18,341,711 49,737,479
2067 18,356,770 49,135,488
2066 18,374,904 48,530,443
2065 18,396,018 47,918,592
2064 18,417,894 47,299,740
2063 18,441,434 46,677,439
2062 18,464,922 46,048,819
2061 18,492,436 45,416,657
2060 18,520,315 44,777,347
2059 18,548,786 44,137,306
2058 18,577,700 43,494,451
2057 18,608,370 42,851,923
2056 18,638,918 42,206,898
2055 18,666,514 41,558,284
2054 18,692,598 40,906,492
2053 18,718,268 40,255,629
2052 18,741,740 39,603,888
2051 18,768,309 38,949,958
2050 18,789,481 38,294,607
2049 18,809,886 37,634,194
2048 18,827,655 36,971,309
2047 18,844,635 36,309,749
2046 18,855,920 35,645,868
2045 18,867,286 34,981,812
2044 18,877,101 34,316,981
2043 18,882,735 33,652,420
2042 18,885,839 32,990,657
2041 18,885,255 32,329,447
2040 18,879,571 31,664,262
2039 18,870,248 31,001,305
2038 18,855,512 30,335,662
2037 18,837,172 29,668,561
2036 18,811,873 29,000,264
2035 18,783,312 28,333,498
2034 18,750,125 27,671,195
2033 18,708,101 27,011,974
2032 18,662,054 26,356,580
2031 18,609,452 25,702,812
2030 18,549,634 25,055,216
2029 18,481,269 24,414,405
2028 18,404,195 23,780,809
2027 18,320,644 23,151,479
2026 18,227,403 22,529,742
2025 18,118,662 21,918,187
2024 17,993,485 21,314,956
2023 17,877,117 20,723,965
2022 17,700,982 20,152,938
2021 17,533,044 19,603,607
2020 17,441,500 19,059,395
2019 17,344,874 18,513,839
2018 17,231,624 17,973,569
2017 17,131,296 17,441,320
2016 17,030,314 16,914,423
2015 16,939,923 16,399,089
2014 16,865,008 15,895,315
2013 16,804,432 15,398,997
2012 16,754,962 14,913,629
2011 16,693,074 14,437,796
2010 16,615,394 13,965,594
2009 16,530,388 13,490,389
2008 16,445,593 13,021,324
2007 16,381,696 12,565,085
2006 16,346,101 12,129,553
2005 16,319,868 11,718,819
2004 16,281,779 11,338,198
2003 16,225,302 10,983,595
2002 16,148,929 10,647,949
2001 16,046,180 10,325,185
2000 15,925,513 10,017,631
1999 15,812,088 9,740,005
1998 15,707,209 9,482,408
1997 15,610,650 9,237,063
1996 15,530,498 9,004,053
1995 15,459,006 8,785,763
1994 15,382,838 8,576,269
1993 15,290,368 8,373,921
1992 15,184,166 8,176,680
1991 15,069,798 7,981,650
1990 14,951,510 7,786,169
1989 14,848,907 7,589,216
1988 14,760,094 7,391,440
1987 14,665,037 7,191,282
1986 14,572,278 6,986,471
1985 14,491,632 6,780,953
1984 14,424,211 6,580,490
1983 14,367,070 6,381,038
1982 14,312,690 6,178,637
1981 14,247,208 5,983,289
1980 14,149,800 5,802,833
1979 14,038,270 5,631,728
1978 13,941,700 5,465,374
1977 13,856,185 5,302,480
1976 13,774,037 5,143,842
1975 13,666,335 4,990,086
1974 13,545,056 4,842,746
1973 13,439,322 4,702,693
1972 13,328,593 4,569,309
1971 13,194,497 4,442,525
1970 13,038,526 4,321,718
1969 12,877,984 4,197,116
1968 12,729,721 4,065,593
1967 12,598,201 3,936,343
1966 12,456,251 3,812,003
1965 12,294,732 3,692,086
1964 12,127,120 3,577,017
1963 11,965,966 3,465,907
1962 11,805,689 3,358,099
1961 11,638,712 3,254,086
1960 11,486,631 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Netherlands increased by 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Netherlands gained 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

The Netherlands was ranked 61st most populous country in 2006 and is 72nd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Netherlands
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Netherlands Zambia
2100 -0.19% 0.53%
2099 -0.19% 0.55%
2098 -0.2% 0.57%
2097 -0.2% 0.58%
2096 -0.21% 0.61%
2095 -0.22% 0.64%
2094 -0.23% 0.64%
2093 -0.22% 0.67%
2092 -0.22% 0.69%
2091 -0.24% 0.7%
2090 -0.22% 0.72%
2089 -0.22% 0.74%
2088 -0.2% 0.77%
2087 -0.22% 0.79%
2086 -0.2% 0.81%
2085 -0.2% 0.83%
2084 -0.2% 0.85%
2083 -0.2% 0.87%
2082 -0.19% 0.9%
2081 -0.17% 0.92%
2080 -0.17% 0.93%
2079 -0.16% 0.96%
2078 -0.16% 0.99%
2077 -0.14% 1%
2076 -0.11% 1.03%
2075 -0.1% 1.05%
2074 -0.1% 1.08%
2073 -0.09% 1.11%
2072 -0.08% 1.13%
2071 -0.08% 1.15%
2070 -0.08% 1.19%
2069 -0.08% 1.2%
2068 -0.08% 1.23%
2067 -0.1% 1.25%
2066 -0.11% 1.28%
2065 -0.12% 1.31%
2064 -0.13% 1.33%
2063 -0.13% 1.37%
2062 -0.15% 1.39%
2061 -0.15% 1.43%
2060 -0.15% 1.45%
2059 -0.16% 1.48%
2058 -0.16% 1.5%
2057 -0.16% 1.53%
2056 -0.15% 1.56%
2055 -0.14% 1.59%
2054 -0.14% 1.62%
2053 -0.13% 1.65%
2052 -0.14% 1.68%
2051 -0.11% 1.71%
2050 -0.11% 1.75%
2049 -0.09% 1.79%
2048 -0.09% 1.82%
2047 -0.06% 1.86%
2046 -0.06% 1.9%
2045 -0.05% 1.94%
2044 -0.03% 1.97%
2043 -0.02% 2.01%
2042 0.003% 2.05%
2041 0.03% 2.1%
2040 0.05% 2.14%
2039 0.08% 2.19%
2038 0.1% 2.25%
2037 0.13% 2.3%
2036 0.15% 2.35%
2035 0.18% 2.39%
2034 0.22% 2.44%
2033 0.25% 2.49%
2032 0.28% 2.54%
2031 0.32% 2.58%
2030 0.37% 2.62%
2029 0.42% 2.66%
2028 0.46% 2.72%
2027 0.51% 2.76%
2026 0.6% 2.79%
2025 0.7% 2.83%
2024 0.65% 2.85%
2023 1% 2.83%
2022 0.96% 2.8%
2021 0.52% 2.86%
2020 0.56% 2.95%
2019 0.66% 3.01%
2018 0.59% 3.05%
2017 0.59% 3.12%
2016 0.53% 3.14%
2015 0.44% 3.17%
2014 0.36% 3.22%
2013 0.3% 3.25%
2012 0.37% 3.3%
2011 0.47% 3.38%
2010 0.51% 3.52%
2009 0.52% 3.6%
2008 0.39% 3.63%
2007 0.22% 3.59%
2006 0.16% 3.5%
2005 0.23% 3.36%
2004 0.35% 3.23%
2003 0.47% 3.15%
2002 0.64% 3.13%
2001 0.76% 3.07%
2000 0.72% 2.85%
1999 0.67% 2.72%
1998 0.62% 2.66%
1997 0.52% 2.59%
1996 0.46% 2.48%
1995 0.5% 2.44%
1994 0.6% 2.42%
1993 0.7% 2.41%
1992 0.76% 2.44%
1991 0.79% 2.51%
1990 0.69% 2.6%
1989 0.6% 2.68%
1988 0.65% 2.78%
1987 0.64% 2.93%
1986 0.56% 3.03%
1985 0.47% 3.05%
1984 0.4% 3.13%
1983 0.38% 3.28%
1982 0.46% 3.26%
1981 0.69% 3.11%
1980 0.79% 3.04%
1979 0.69% 3.04%
1978 0.62% 3.07%
1977 0.6% 3.08%
1976 0.79% 3.08%
1975 0.9% 3.04%
1974 0.79% 2.98%
1973 0.83% 2.92%
1972 1.02% 2.85%
1971 1.2% 2.8%
1970 1.25% 2.97%
1969 1.16% 3.24%
1968 1.04% 3.28%
1967 1.14% 3.26%
1966 1.31% 3.25%
1965 1.38% 3.22%
1964 1.35% 3.21%
1963 1.36% 3.21%
1962 1.43% 3.2%
1961 1.32% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Netherlands grew by 0.65%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Netherlands Zambia
Current population
18252623
22697916
Population rank 72/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.27%
One net population change
4.52 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
3.2 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
3.09 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +319 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +116,368 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 121/197 21/197
One migration net change every
5.03 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +104,681 +6,562
Net migration rank 16/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 2,956,518 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 23/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 16.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 40/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Netherlands
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Netherlands Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 104,681 - 6,562
2024 - 121,628 - 7,381
2023 -5,363 144,558 577,660 9,521
2022 -1,770 224,472 563,456 -8,566
2021 7,014 106,416 535,629 8,143
2020 0 67,598 536,484 8,156
2019 17,345 109,003 528,089 18,385
2018 15,508 87,197 515,644 18,431
2017 18,844 86,332 504,630 25,789
2016 23,843 88,743 497,521 25,860
2015 23,716 55,585 491,021 16,261
2014 35,417 36,591 483,663 16,574
2013 30,248 19,973 476,846 15,542
2012 35,186 14,861 469,406 8,958
2011 45,072 31,224 459,743 13,569
2010 48,184 33,703 448,337 22,761
2009 51,244 39,832 434,458 44,867
2008 49,337 32,406 419,560 39,249
2007 49,145 -304 403,729 49,945
2006 49,038 -25,401 387,891 29,517
2005 50,592 -22,496 368,756 35,316
2004 56,987 -9,230 349,352 7,819
2003 58,411 7,937 331,189 20,845
2002 59,751 28,824 316,041 3,206
2001 62,580 56,096 302,682 23,582
2000 66,887 59,308 293,186 -4,338
1999 60,086 47,179 283,297 -16,888
1998 61,258 52,058 275,568 -26,796
1997 56,198 31,302 268,198 -26,276
1996 51,251 21,792 262,468 -38,358
1995 54,106 15,056 257,897 -45,423
1994 61,532 20,193 252,023 -45,504
1993 58,103 44,514 245,917 -47,739
1992 66,811 50,148 239,953 -43,656
1991 69,321 51,670 237,957 -44,203
1990 68,777 53,564 235,835 -38,619
1989 59,396 31,165 233,429 -36,736
1988 61,993 31,026 230,118 -31,270
1987 64,526 39,559 227,813 -26,338
1986 59,746 30,380 224,768 -16,610
1985 55,069 27,356 221,351 -18,474
1984 54,812 12,902 216,695 -18,652
1983 51,722 11,007 212,712 -11,849
1982 54,388 7,644 207,621 -3,676
1981 62,688 17,643 202,822 -16,072
1980 66,504 54,010 198,817 -24,664
1979 63,172 42,772 197,578 -29,515
1978 61,344 26,639 194,933 -30,284
1977 63,739 19,809 191,557 -30,423
1976 63,361 18,774 186,762 -30,612
1975 64,232 68,569 182,258 -30,886
1974 75,853 31,645 174,484 -31,178
1973 84,668 18,705 168,258 -31,472
1972 101,297 17,470 161,648 -31,672
1971 116,112 32,756 155,249 -31,651
1970 129,082 32,438 149,380 -31,370
1969 139,082 21,850 142,660 -11,469
1968 132,389 7,243 137,315 -5,447
1967 138,580 -10,673 131,938 -5,298
1966 138,265 20,740 127,164 -5,129
1965 146,308 19,444 122,814 -5,023
1964 157,653 15,014 117,197 -4,851
1963 154,361 -21 114,555 -4,676
1962 153,474 18,024 110,173 -4,428
1961 159,450 8,258 106,318 -4,043
1960 151,623 -13,235 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/netherlands/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 2,956,518 residents or 16.2% of the population were not native-born in the Netherlands, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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