Europe · Western Europe
Netherlands Demographics
The Netherlands combines slow population growth, low fertility, high life expectancy, a large older population, and continued positive net migration.
Main sources used here: Statistics Netherlands (CBS) resident-population and population-dynamics tables, CBS population dashboard and releases, CBS population forecast, and UN-derived Worldometer indicators for urban share, density and world-rank context.
Last updated: August 27, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident population | 18,153,386 | 30 June 2026 | CBS population dynamics table, provisional |
| Population change | +23,178 residents | January-June 2026 | CBS population dynamics table, provisional |
| Population growth rate | +0.13% | January-June 2026 | Derived from CBS start- and end-period population totals |
| Average age | 42.8 years | 2025 | CBS population key figures |
| Median age | Data not available in the current CBS table used here | Data not available | CBS average age used instead |
| Total fertility rate | 1.42 children per woman | 2025 | CBS population growth release |
| Life expectancy at birth, men | 80.7 years | 2025 | CBS mortality release |
| Life expectancy at birth, women | 83.5 years | 2025 | CBS mortality release |
| Male population | 8,978,451 | 2025 | CBS population key figures |
| Female population | 9,065,576 | 2025 | CBS population key figures |
| Sex ratio | 99 men per 100 women | 2025 | CBS population dashboard |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 3,755,679 residents; 20.8% | 2025 | CBS elderly population dashboard |
| Residents born abroad | 3,124,728 | 2026 | CBS population by country of birth |
| Immigration | 308,357 arrivals | 2025 | CBS population dynamics table, final |
| Emigration | 214,821 departures | 2025 | CBS population dynamics table, final |
| Net migration | +93,536 | 2025 | Derived from final CBS immigration and emigration totals |
| Urban population share | 88.89% | 2026 | UN-derived Worldometer estimate |
| Population density | 547 people per km² | 2026 | UN-derived Worldometer estimate |
| World population rank | 71 | 2026 | UN-derived Worldometer estimate |
Table analysis
- The latest CBS table places the registered population at 18,153,386 at the end of June 2026, up 23,178 from the start of the year.
- Final 2025 figures show positive net migration of +93,536, while deaths exceeded births.
- CBS reports average age in the table used here; a directly matched median-age value is not used because it is not available in that source.
- Life expectancy in 2025 was 2.8 years higher for women than for men.
Population Trend
Netherlands Population, 1950 to 2026
Registered resident population on 1 January for the selected CBS years.
Source: CBS population key figures for 1950-2025 and the 1 January 2026 resident total. The provisional 30 June 2026 population is reported separately and is not mixed into this annual reference-date series.
Trend analysis
- The Netherlands added about 8.1 million residents between 1950 and 2026.
- The population crossed 18 million between the 2024 and 2025 reference points.
- The annual increase from 1 January 2025 to 1 January 2026 was smaller than the decade-scale growth seen between 2010 and 2020.
Historical Population Table
| Year | Population | Change from previous listed year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10,026,773 | Data not available | CBS population key figures |
| 1960 | 11,417,254 | +1,390,481 | CBS population key figures |
| 1970 | 12,957,621 | +1,540,367 | CBS population key figures |
| 1980 | 14,091,014 | +1,133,393 | CBS population key figures |
| 1990 | 14,892,574 | +801,560 | CBS population key figures |
| 2000 | 15,863,950 | +971,376 | CBS population key figures |
| 2010 | 16,574,989 | +711,039 | CBS population key figures |
| 2020 | 17,407,585 | +832,596 | CBS population key figures |
| 2024 | 17,942,942 | +535,357 | CBS population key figures |
| 2025 | 18,044,027 | +101,085 | CBS population key figures |
| 2026 | 18,130,208 | +86,181 | CBS final population dynamics table |
Table analysis
- The largest listed decade increase in this selected series is between 1960 and 1970: +1,540,367.
- The 2025 to 2026 increase is +86,181, below the 2024 to 2025 increase in this selected table.
- The 2026 row uses the final CBS population-dynamics total for 1 January 2026, while the latest provisional end-of-June 2026 count is kept separate.
Broad Age Structure
Broad Age Groups, 2025
CBS dashboard counts for under 20 and 65+, with the 20-64 group derived from the 2025 total.
Source: CBS population dashboard and CBS population key figures. This is a broad age structure, not a full population pyramid.
| Age group | Population | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | about 3,720,000 | about 20.6% | 2025 | CBS dashboard, rounded |
| 20-64 | 10,568,348 | 58.6% | 2025 | Derived from CBS total, under-20 and 65+ counts |
| 65+ | 3,755,679 | 20.8% | 2025 | CBS elderly population dashboard |
Data analysis
- The 65+ group slightly exceeds the rounded under-20 count in the 2025 CBS dashboard data.
- The 20-64 group remains the largest broad segment, at about 58.6% of the 2025 population.
- This module uses broad age bands only; it is not presented as a population pyramid.
Fertility and Life Expectancy
Fertility Rate Compared With Replacement Level
Total fertility rate for 2025 compared with the broad 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
Source: CBS fertility rate for 2025; replacement level is a broad demographic benchmark.
Chart analysis
- The 2025 fertility rate of 1.42 is 0.68 below the 2.1 benchmark.
- CBS reported that the 2025 fertility rate remained close to the 2024 value of 1.43.
Life Expectancy at Birth by Sex
Period life expectancy at birth for men and women.
Source: CBS mortality release, 2025.
Chart analysis
- Women had a 2025 life expectancy of 83.5 years, compared with 80.7 years for men.
- The female-male gap in this source year is 2.8 years.
Migration and Natural Change
| Year | Immigration | Emigration | Net migration | Births | Deaths | Natural change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 316,000 | 209,000 | +107,000 | Data not available in this row | about 172,000 | Data not available in this row | CBS migration and mortality releases |
| 2025 | 308,357 | 214,821 | +93,536 | 166,588 | 173,494 | -6,906 | CBS population dynamics table, final |
| H1 2026 | 125,990 | 94,691 | +31,299 | 82,069 | 90,190 | -8,121 | CBS population dynamics table, January-June 2026 provisional totals |
Table analysis
- Final 2025 data show net migration of +93,536, with 308,357 immigrants and 214,821 emigrants.
- Deaths exceeded births by 6,906 in 2025, so natural change remained negative.
- In January-June 2026, net migration was +31,299 and natural change was -8,121. The registered population still grew by 23,178 over the six-month period.
Age-Sex Population Balance
Male and Female Population
Registered population by sex on 1 January 2025.
Source: CBS population key figures and CBS population dashboard, 2025.
| Sex | Population | Share of total | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 8,978,451 | 49.76% | 2025 | CBS population key figures |
| Women | 9,065,576 | 50.24% | 2025 | CBS population key figures |
| Sex ratio | 99 men per 100 women | Not applicable | 2025 | CBS population dashboard |
Age-sex analysis
- Women outnumbered men by 87,125 residents in the 2025 CBS population total.
- The total sex ratio was 99 men per 100 women.
- CBS notes that men are slightly more numerous at younger ages, while women become more numerous at older ages.
- A full population pyramid is not generated here because the visible source values used in this page do not provide a full five-year age-by-sex table.
Population Projection
CBS Population Forecast Path
Scenario-based population forecast values available from the CBS dashboard and forecast release.
Source: CBS population forecast dashboard and forecast release. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not observed population counts.
| Year | Projected population | Scenario or note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18,153,386 | Observed registered population at end of June 2026, provisional current anchor | CBS population dynamics table |
| 2037 | 19,000,000 | 19-millionth resident expected around this year | CBS population forecast dashboard |
| 2070 | 20,600,000 | Forecast path; uncertainty range 17.5 million to 23.9 million | CBS population forecast dashboard and release |
Projection analysis
- CBS expects the population to reach about 19 million around 2037.
- The 2070 central forecast is about 20.6 million.
- The 2070 uncertainty range is wide, from 17.5 million to 23.9 million.
- Projection rows are kept separate from historical resident-population rows because they are scenario-based estimates.
Demographic Overview
The registered population reached 18,153,386 at the end of June 2026, up 23,178 during the first half of the year.
The 65+ population reached 3,755,679 in 2025, slightly above the rounded count of residents under 20.
Women slightly outnumber men in the total 2025 population, while CBS notes a shift toward female majorities at older ages.
The 2025 fertility rate of 1.42 children per woman is below the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
Final 2025 data show net migration of +93,536. In January-June 2026, the provisional balance was +31,299, offsetting a natural decline of -8,121.
CBS forecasts continued population growth toward 20.6 million by 2070, but with a wide uncertainty interval.
Data Sources and Methodology
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Population; key figures | 1950-2025 table, updated September 2025 | Historical population, male and female totals, average age and 2025 resident-population base |
| Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Population dynamics; month and year | Updated July 30, 2026 | Final 2025 population change and migration totals; provisional population, births, deaths and migration through June 2026 |
| Statistics Netherlands (CBS), population dashboard and releases | 2025 and 2026 releases | 65+ population, under-20 rounded count, fertility and life expectancy |
| Statistics Netherlands (CBS), population forecast | 2025-2070 forecast release | Projection path, 19 million around 2037, 2070 forecast and uncertainty range |
| Worldometer, UN-derived population indicators | 2026 | Urban population share, density, world rank and mid-year international context |
Method note
- CBS resident population counts refer to people recorded in Dutch municipal population registers.
- UN-derived indicators use a mid-year international-estimate approach and may not match CBS registered counts for specific monthly or annual reference dates.
- The 2025 population-dynamics figures are final; 2026 monthly figures through June are provisional and may be revised.
- Projection values are not combined with observed historical rows except where a row is clearly marked as an anchor or forecast.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: The Netherlands has more than one valid population measure. CBS resident-population data use registered population counts for specific reference dates; the latest figure shown here is the provisional end-of-June 2026 count, while the historical population series uses 1 January values. UN-derived indicators often use mid-year model estimates. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not observed results. Fertility is reported as children per woman, life expectancy is period life expectancy at birth, urban share depends on source definitions, and migration balances include emigration with administrative corrections in the CBS monthly table. Missing values are left as “Data not available” rather than estimated.
Netherlands Demographics FAQ
What was the population of the Netherlands at the end of June 2026?
The provisional registered resident population was 18,153,386 at the end of June 2026.
Is the Netherlands still growing?
Yes. The registered population increased by 23,178 during January-June 2026, from 18,130,208 to 18,153,386.
Is population growth mainly from births or migration?
Recent growth is mainly from migration. In the first half of 2026, net migration was +31,299 while natural change was -8,121.
How old is the Dutch population?
CBS reported an average age of 42.8 years in 2025. The used CBS table does not provide a directly matched median-age value.
Why is the projection separated from the historical table?
Historical rows are observed or registered counts. Projection rows are scenario-based estimates and can change when CBS updates assumptions about migration, fertility and life expectancy.