Netherlands Population Pyramid (2026)
The Netherlands has a population of 18,448,776 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 70th-largest population in the world and 0.22% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 14.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 21.3%, with 98.8 males for every 100 females.
Netherlands Demographics
The Netherlands has 18.4 million people in 2026, up 41.3% from 13.1 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 4,752 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 21.3% — the 26th-highest of 194 countries.
Under-15 share 14.9% — the 32nd-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Baby Boomers — 21.1% (3,892,282)
All generations in the Netherlands →Compare Netherlands Demographics
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how the Netherlands' population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
The Netherlands has 98.8 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 112,300 (0.6% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:9,168,238
- Percentage:49.7%
Female Statistics
- Population:9,280,538
- Percentage:50.3%
- Ratio Format:1:1.012
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of the Netherlands indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 176,063 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 182,048 | 10.3 | 1.62 | estimate |
| 2022 | 172,487 | 9.6 | 1.51 | estimate |
| 2023 | 167,842 | 9.3 | 1.43 | estimate |
| 2024 | 171,524 | 9.4 | 1.43 | projection |
| 2025 | 174,210 | 9.5 | 1.44 | projection |
| 2026 | 176,063 | 9.5 | 1.44 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (176,063 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
The Netherlands' median age is 41.5 years
Half the population is younger than 41.5 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 897,217 | 4.9% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 915,134 | 5.0% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 929,800 | 5.0% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 1,006,690 | 5.5% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 1,166,409 | 6.3% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 1,265,153 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,249,787 | 6.8% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,218,240 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 1,121,579 | 6.1% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 1,069,204 | 5.8% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,125,865 | 6.1% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,291,885 | 7.0% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 1,268,533 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 1,123,443 | 6.1% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 951,418 | 5.2% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 849,229 | 4.6% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 549,211 | 3.0% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 301,426 | 1.6% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 118,914 | 0.6% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 26,854 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 100+ | 2,782 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.44 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (9.5 vs 9.3 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Netherlands Total Fertility Rate: 1.44 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.62 | 10.3 | |
| 2022 | 1.51 | 9.6 | ↓0.11 |
| 2023 | 1.43 | 9.3 | ↓0.08 |
| 2024 | 1.43 | 9.4 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.44 | 9.5 | ↑0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.44 | 9.5 | 0.00 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.46
The Netherlands' total fertility rate is 1.44 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. The Netherlands ranks 160 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −53.5% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, the Netherlands' population has increased by 82.4%.
The median age has increased from 27.0 in 1950 to 41.5 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding the Netherlands' Demographics
The Netherlands has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 14.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 21.3%.
The largest five-year age band is 55–59, at 7.0% of the population, compared with 4.9% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: the Netherlands' Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The Netherlands' working-age share peaked in 1988 at 69.0% and is 63.9% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
The Netherlands is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.44 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
The Netherlands' median age changed by +0.2 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 18,448,776 |
| Male Population | 9,168,238(49.7%) |
| Female Population | 9,280,538(50.3%) |
| Median Age | 41.5 years |
| Sex Ratio | 98.8 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 2,742,151(14.9%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 11,783,348(63.9%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 3,923,277(21.3%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 56.6 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 23.3 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 33.3 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in the Netherlands
How long the average person in the Netherlands is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
The Netherlands is projected to grow to 19.0 million people by 2050 (+2.8% from 2026).
The median age rises from 41.5 in 2026 to 45.5 by 2050.
Netherlands' Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 8.5%, growing from 13.1 million in 1970 to 14.2 million by 1980
The median age increased by 2.8 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 5.0 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 1.3 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 13.1M to 14.2M
- • Growth rate of 8.5% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 27.5 to 30.3 years (+2.8y)
- • 65+ share changed by +1.3 points; under-15 share by −5.0 points
How Does the Netherlands Compare to Its Neighbors?
The Netherlands has a younger population than Germany, France, Italy. The Netherlands has an older population than United Kingdom.
Netherlands
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Italy
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (Current) | 18,448,776 | 41.5 | 14.9% | 21.3% | constrictive |
| Germany | 83,644,259 | 45.7 | 13.9% | 24.2% | constrictive |
| France | 66,746,401 | 42.5 | 16.0% | 22.9% | constrictive |
| United Kingdom | 69,931,529 | 40.2 | 16.7% | 19.9% | constrictive |
| Italy | 58,926,167 | 48.6 | 11.4% | 25.6% | constrictive |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Netherlands
How does the Netherlands rank globally by population?
The Netherlands ranks 70th in the world by population with 18.4 million people as of 2026, representing 0.22% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does the Netherlands' age structure reveal about its development?
The Netherlands' age structure — 14.9% under 15, 63.9% working-age (15–64) and 21.3% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 41.5 years.
What is the dependency ratio in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands has 56.6 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is the Netherlands experiencing a demographic dividend?
The Netherlands has moved past its demographic-dividend window. The Netherlands' working-age share peaked in 1988 at 69.0% and is 63.9% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in the Netherlands' population?
The Netherlands has more females than males, with 98.8 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Netherlands Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/netherlands
View UN World Population Prospects Data →