Population of the Netherlands

As of May 2026, the population of the Netherlands is 17.8 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 48 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.28%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 41.3 years in 2016 to 42.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 83 years and population density is 527.8 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of the Netherlands peaked in 1961, reaching around 1.36% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.27% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 162.54 thousand in 1964 to nearly 48.13 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In the Netherlands, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 79.8 years in 2006 to 83 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there are also some large ones. The most populous city is Rotterdam, South Holland, with approximately 868.1 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Amsterdam, North Holland with 741.6 thousand and The Hague, South Holland with 474.3 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in the Netherlands: