As of January 1, 2023, there were approximately 3.8 million people younger than 20 years living in the Netherlands. The largest age group was formed by those between 40 and 65 years old. Together, this age group numbered nearly six million people. The retired population of the Netherlands consisted of approximately 3.5 million people. Considering this make-up of Dutch society, it is not surprising there are so many debates on increasing the retirement age. The ratio of the non-working population to the working population has decreased between 1950 and today.

Old age pensions grew steadily

When reaching the retirement age, there is an insurance scheme which covers everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands, regardless of nationality. This basic pension scheme is called AOW (National Old Age Pensions Act), though for those who have not lived in the Netherlands for a full 50 years, the pension is proportional. Between 1998 and 2019, the number of old age pensions grew steadily, reaching a total of 3.42 million pensions in 2019. As of the same year, disability pensions had approximately 3.84 million members, which is an increase of 276,000 pensions compared to the previous year.

Decrease in company pension funds

The number of company pension funds decreased drastically over a period of 21 years. In 1997, 957 pension funds by companies were registered, whereas by 2019 this decreased to a total of just 148 company pension schemes.

In 2023, 17.81 million people were living in the Netherlands. The most populated age group was 50 to 55 years old, with 1.28 million people in that age range. Of these, 635,000 were male, and 640,000 were female. The distribution between male and female population was somewhat equal for all age groups, until the highest age groups. For 100 years and older, there were around 2,200 females and only about 400 males, while the distribution for people between the ages of 95 to 100 was 5,700 males and 18,100 females.

How is the population distributed by province?

The Netherlands counts 12 provinces, and naturally, the Dutch population is not distributed among them equally. In 2022, the most populated province was South Holland which includes cities such as Rotterdam and The Hague with 3.67 million residents. North-Holland, which includes the Dutch capital Amsterdam, had 2.85 million residents. The least populated province was that of Zeeland, with a mere 383,000 residents.

How does the Dutch population compare to the rest of Europe?

In 2021, the Netherlands had the eleventh highest population in Europe, with 17.17 million residents. This puts the Netherlands above Belgium with 11.63 million and below Romania with 19.12 million. Russia is the most populated European country with 145.91 million residents, meaning it has about 8.5 times the population of the Netherlands. The least populated country in Europe other than Vatican city is Gibraltar, with 34,000 inhabitants, meaning it has 0.2 percent of the population of the Netherlands

Key figures on the population of the Netherlands.

The following information is available: - Population by sex; - Population by marital status; - Population by age (groups); - Population by origin; - Private households; - Persons in institutional households; - Population growth; - Population density.

CBS is in transition towards a new classification of the population by origin. Greater emphasis is now placed on where a person was born, aside from where that person’s parents were born. The term ‘migration background’ is no longer used in this regard. The main categories western/non-western are being replaced by categories based on continents and a few countries that share a specific migration history with the Netherlands. The new classification is being implemented gradually in tables and publications on population by origin.

Data available from: 1950 Figures on population by origin are only available from 2022 at this moment. The periods 1996 through 2021 will be added to the table at a later time.

Status of the figures: All the figures are final.

Changes as of 8 September 2025: Final figures with regard to population growth for 2024 and final figures of the population on 1 January 2025 have been added.

When will new figures be published? In the last quarter of 2026 final figures with regard to population growth for 2025 and final figures of the population on 1 January 2026 will be added.

The total population in Netherlands was estimated at 18.0 million people in 2025, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Netherlands Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In the year 1800, the population of the region which makes up the present-day Netherlands was approximately two million people. The beginning of the 19th century was a tumultuous time in Dutch history, as the region had recently been annexed by Revolutionary France; however the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was eventually established in 1815 (which also included present-day Belgium and Luxembourg) and a period of economic growth, modernization and high quality of life followed. In spite of this economic prosperity, religious tensions between the predominantly Catholic south and Protestant north led to a split in the kingdom in 1839, where it was eventually partitioned into Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, along borders very similar to today's. Rapid modernization and liberalization continued throughout the 19th century, and in 1900 the population of the Netherlands was over five million people.

Early 20th century The Netherlands was free to continue economic expansion, both in the metropole and in its colonies, uninterrupted for much of the first half of the 20th century (partly facilitated by its neutrality in the First World War). This resulted in a steady rise in population, which doubled to ten million within half a century. Population growth would even continue throughout the Second World War, as the Netherlands would be spared from much of the casualty-heavy conflicts seen in neighboring countries; however, most estimates concur that approximately 210,000 Dutch people died as a result of the war, half of which were Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The war also saw the end of Dutch colonization in the East Indies, as Japan annexed the region of present-day Indonesia in 1942; although the Dutch tried to re-colonize the region after the war, Indonesia became an officially recognized independent nation in 1949.

Netherlands today Population growth in the Netherlands would continue largely uninterrupted in the post-war years, until the 1970s, when it began to slow as Western Europe experienced periods of recession and high unemployment. Improvements in contraceptives and education also saw birth rates fall at their fastest ever rates in the 1970s. Following the recovery of the Dutch economy in the 1990s, population growth would resume once more, continuing steadily into the 21th century. In 2020, the Netherlands is estimated to have a population of just over 17 million people, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. For its size, the Netherlands has one of the strongest economies globally, and often ranks among the highest in terms of development, freedom and quality of life.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 238 cities in the Washington by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each city over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of city in the Washington by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• City: The City for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the city is shown in this column.
• % of Total City Population: This shows what percentage of the total city population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total Washington Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire Washington Dutch population lives in that city. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Analysis unit

Persons Persons not organized into households; age grouped into categories; virtual census

UNITS IDENTIFIED: - Dwellings: no - Vacant Units: No - Households: no - Individuals: yes - Group quarters: no

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS: - Dwellings: no - Households: Individuals living in the same dwelling and sharing at least one meal. - Group quarters: Group of persons who share a common roof and food because of work, health, religion, etc.

Universe

The entire population of the country: 15,985,538 persons. Microdata are available for 1.19 % of the population, but exclude the institutional population.

Sampling procedure

MICRODATA SOURCE: Central Bureau of Statistics (Statistics Netherlands)

SAMPLE SIZE (person records): 189725.

SAMPLE DESIGN: 1% sample of the total population, consisting of records of persons prevailing in most sources

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Dependent on source: register or survey

Population: East Netherlands data was reported at 3,603.000 Person th in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,584.000 Person th for 2015. Population: East Netherlands data is updated yearly, averaging 1,991.000 Person th from Dec 1899 (Median) to 2016, with 118 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,603.000 Person th in 2016 and a record low of 900.000 Person th in 1899. Population: East Netherlands data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Netherlands. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Netherlands – Table NL.G001: Population: Annual.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 21 counties in the New Jersey by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each county over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of county in the New Jersey by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• County: The County for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the county is shown in this column.
• % of Total County Population: This shows what percentage of the total county population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total New Jersey Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire New Jersey Dutch population lives in that county. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

This statistic shows the population of the Netherlands from 2013 to 2022, by education level. Between 2013 and 2022, the share of people who with a master's degree or PhD increased. Whereas in 2013, **** percent of the population had a university master's degree or higher, by 2022 this had grown to **** percent.

Comprehensive demographic dataset for Dutch Harbor, AK, US including population statistics, household income, housing units, education levels, employment data, and transportation with year-over-year changes.

This statistic shows the total population of the Netherlands from 1950 to 2023. In 1950, the total population of the Netherlands was around 10 million people. By 2023, the total population had increased to over 17.81 million people.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 3,057 counties in the United States by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each county over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of county in the United States by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• County: The County for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the county is shown in this column.
• % of Total County Population: This shows what percentage of the total county population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total United States Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire United States Dutch population lives in that county. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

In the last decade, the average age of the Dutch population increased year on year. Whereas the population had an average age of around 30.8 years in 1950, the average age reached 42.5 years by 2023. As a result, in this period the grey population pressure (the ratio of the non-working population compared to the working population) increased as well.

 Historical development  

Since the 1950s, the average age of the population has increased significantly. In nearly 70 years, the population’s average age grew by over ten years. This also caused a more than doubling of the grey population pressure in the country in this period, from 14 percent in 1950 to 33.1 percent in 2020. By 2060, the grey population pressure in the Netherlands is forecast to reach nearly 50 percent, meaning that for every working person in the country, there will also be a non-working person.

Comparison to Belgium  

The average age of the population in the Netherlands was comparable to the average age of the population in neighboring country Belgium, which reached 41.87 years in 2020. In Belgium too, the average age of the population is expected to increase in the future. By 2022, the average age here is forecast to reach 42.08 years.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 19,348 cities in the United States by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each city over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of city in the United States by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• City: The City for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the city is shown in this column.
• % of Total City Population: This shows what percentage of the total city population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total United States Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire United States Dutch population lives in that city. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 83 counties in the Michigan by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each county over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of county in the Michigan by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• County: The County for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the county is shown in this column.
• % of Total County Population: This shows what percentage of the total county population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total Michigan Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire Michigan Dutch population lives in that county. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 86 cities in the Los Angeles County, CA by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each city over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of city in the Los Angeles County, CA by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• City: The City for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the city is shown in this column.
• % of Total City Population: This shows what percentage of the total city population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total Los Angeles County Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire Los Angeles County, CA Dutch population lives in that city. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 365 cities in the Florida by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each city over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of city in the Florida by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• City: The City for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the city is shown in this column.
• % of Total City Population: This shows what percentage of the total city population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total Florida Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire Florida Dutch population lives in that city. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 22 counties in the Maryland by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each county over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of county in the Maryland by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• County: The County for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the county is shown in this column.
• % of Total County Population: This shows what percentage of the total county population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total Maryland Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire Maryland Dutch population lives in that county. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

About this dataset

Context

This list ranks the 32 cities in the Centre County, PA by Dutch population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. It also highlights population changes in each city over the past five years.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, including:

• 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
• 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Variables / Data Columns

• Rank by Dutch Population: This column displays the rank of city in the Centre County, PA by their Dutch population, using the most recent ACS data available.
• City: The City for which the rank is shown in the previous column.
• Dutch Population: The Dutch population of the city is shown in this column.
• % of Total City Population: This shows what percentage of the total city population identifies as Dutch. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• % of Total Centre County Dutch Population: This tells us how much of the entire Centre County, PA Dutch population lives in that city. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.
• 5 Year Rank Trend: This column displays the rank trend across the last 5 years.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.