Netherlands population pyramid 2026
18,448,775 people in 2026 (projected). The Netherlands has a double-humped pyramid: a 1960s baby-boom bulge now near retirement and a second bulge in the late twenties fed by births and immigration.
- 2026 population
- 18.4Mrank 71 of 237
- Median age
- 41.5 yearsoldest rank 51
- Fertility rate
- 1.44births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older21.3% age 65+
Netherlands population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
Download this population pyramid
Use the publication-ready SVG, create a high-resolution PNG, or download the complete age-by-sex dataset.
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Netherlands age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 14.9% of the population, while 21.3% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 63.9% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Netherlands’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 56.6: about 57 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (23.3 children and 33.3 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Netherlands’s population pyramid
A long baby boom and a sudden stop
The Netherlands had one of the most pronounced post-war baby booms in Western Europe. Births peaked immediately after liberation, and the 1946–50 cohorts formed the widest adult band in the 1975 pyramid, at ages 25–29. Fertility stayed high for longer than in most neighbouring countries: the total fertility rate was still about 3.1 in 1960, before falling to 1.6 by 1980, a decline that coincided with the spread of the contraceptive pill and rapid secularisation. The 1975 base was already narrower than the two bands above it.
That history gives the 2026 pyramid its shape. The largest bands are 55–59 and 60–64, the cohorts born in about 1962–71, the tail of the long boom. Below them the pyramid narrows to a waist at ages 45–49, born about 1977–81 after fertility had fallen well below replacement, before widening again.
Where migration adds width
The second hump, at ages 25–39, is partly an echo of the boomers’ own children and partly the work of migration. Children aged 0–4 in 2000 numbered about 1.01 million; a quarter of a century later the 25–29 band, covering almost the same birth years, holds about 1.27 million. Only net arrivals can enlarge a cohort in this way, and the step between the 15–19 and 20–24 bands in 2026, about 16%, points the same way; international students and young workers from elsewhere in the European Union and beyond are often cited as a major source. The UN estimates net immigration of about 1.3 million between 2000 and 2023, and assumes a similar total between 2026 and 2050.
The sexes are close to balanced across most of the pyramid. Men are slightly more numerous up to the early forties, and the female majority becomes marked only after 80, reflecting a life expectancy gap of about three years.
Growth that depends on arrivals
Births and deaths are now almost equal, about 176,000 and 171,000 in 2026, and deaths are projected to exceed births from 2030. Under the medium scenario the population peaks in 2041 at about 19.1 million, so growth until then depends mainly on migration. The constrictive pyramid that results is closely matched by those of Denmark, Belgium and Norway. By 2050 the 1960s generation will be in its eighties, and the 80–84 band will be larger than the number of children under five, a clear illustration of the processes described in the guide to population ageing.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Netherlands’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
Births outnumber deaths in 2026; the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2030. People aged 65 and older came to outnumber children under 15 between 2010 and 2015.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Netherlands is projected to record 176,063 births (about 482 births a day) and 171,311 deaths, a natural increase of 4,752. Net migration adds +89,379 people, ranking #25 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 4,390,429 births, 3,493,211 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +1,273,228. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +1,225,048 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 84.1 years72.6 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 81.1 years70.3 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 20.5 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 2.9per 1,000 births · 25 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 3.4per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 31.9 yearssex ratio at birth 105.3
Women in Netherlands are projected to live 3.0 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 25 to 2.9 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #203 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 31.9 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Netherlands
The median age of 41.5 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.44 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 82.6 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,448,775 | #71 | Largest first |
| Median age | 41.5 years | #51 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | #185 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.5% | #134 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 82.6 years | #33 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 21.3% | #35 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Netherlands
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55–59 | 1,291,886 | 7.0% | 646K / 645.9K |
| 2 | 60–64 | 1,268,533 | 6.9% | 631.1K / 637.4K |
| 3 | 25–29 | 1,265,153 | 6.9% | 639.6K / 625.5K |
| 4 | 30–34 | 1,249,788 | 6.8% | 632.9K / 616.9K |
| 5 | 35–39 | 1,218,240 | 6.6% | 616.4K / 601.9K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Netherlands has 9,168,238 males and 9,280,538 females. That is 98.8 males per 100 females, ranking #102 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.7% of the population and females for 50.3%. There are 112,300 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 87.8 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.3 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Netherlands has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 10,113,758 in 1950 to 18,448,775 in 2026, a change of 82%. Over the same span, median age moved from 27.0 to 41.5 years.
The under-15 share changed from 29.3% to 14.9%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 7.7% to 21.3%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Netherlands’s population is projected to grow by about 3%, reaching 18,958,475 in 2050. The median age changes from 41.5 to 45.5 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 5.0 percentage points to 26.3%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 13.8%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 19,066,147 in 2041. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10,113,758 | 27.0 | 3.10 | 71.4 | 229,967 | 75,833 | +19,294 | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 11,486,911 | 27.8 | 3.12 | 73.4 | 239,199 | 87,689 | −13,235 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 13,052,078 | 27.5 | 2.57 | 73.6 | 239,164 | 109,531 | +32,438 | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 14,162,686 | 30.3 | 1.60 | 75.8 | 180,232 | 114,284 | +54,010 | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 15,030,878 | 33.3 | 1.61 | 77.0 | 200,500 | 128,911 | +53,564 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 16,058,760 | 36.2 | 1.72 | 78.1 | 208,618 | 140,610 | +59,308 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 16,771,235 | 39.7 | 1.79 | 80.8 | 185,182 | 136,028 | +33,703 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 17,636,731 | 41.5 | 1.54 | 81.4 | 171,111 | 168,607 | +67,598 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 18,092,524 | 41.4 | 1.43 | 82.2 | 167,842 | 166,338 | +144,558 | +0.8% |
| 2024* | 18,228,742 | 41.4 | 1.43 | 82.3 | 171,524 | 166,777 | +121,628 | +0.7% |
| 2026* | 18,448,775 | 41.5 | 1.44 | 82.6 | 176,063 | 171,311 | +89,379 | +0.5% |
| 2030* | 18,757,217 | 42.0 | 1.46 | 83.2 | 180,864 | 181,829 | +61,367 | +0.3% |
| 2040* | 19,062,983 | 43.7 | 1.49 | 84.6 | 172,354 | 207,328 | +40,717 | +0.0% |
| 2050* | 18,958,475 | 45.5 | 1.51 | 85.9 | 164,015 | 222,898 | +37,497 | -0.1% |
| 2060* | 18,683,350 | 46.4 | 1.54 | 87.1 | 164,539 | 223,634 | +30,944 | -0.1% |
| 2070* | 18,478,454 | 47.0 | 1.54 | 88.2 | 159,393 | 206,758 | +31,783 | -0.1% |
| 2080* | 18,251,350 | 47.8 | 1.55 | 89.3 | 152,410 | 215,466 | +32,294 | -0.2% |
| 2090* | 17,878,905 | 48.3 | 1.56 | 90.4 | 151,432 | 220,824 | +26,961 | -0.2% |
| 2100* | 17,507,518 | 48.4 | 1.57 | 91.5 | 148,453 | 208,459 | +24,887 | -0.2% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 459,360 | 437,857 | 897,217 | 4.9% |
| 5–9 | 468,125 | 447,010 | 915,135 | 5.0% |
| 10–14 | 476,267 | 453,533 | 929,800 | 5.0% |
| 15–19 | 514,212 | 492,478 | 1,006,690 | 5.5% |
| 20–24 | 593,135 | 573,275 | 1,166,410 | 6.3% |
| 25–29 | 639,607 | 625,546 | 1,265,153 | 6.9% |
| 30–34 | 632,855 | 616,933 | 1,249,788 | 6.8% |
| 35–39 | 616,375 | 601,865 | 1,218,240 | 6.6% |
| 40–44 | 564,266 | 557,313 | 1,121,579 | 6.1% |
| 45–49 | 533,646 | 535,558 | 1,069,204 | 5.8% |
| 50–54 | 558,948 | 566,917 | 1,125,865 | 6.1% |
| 55–59 | 645,979 | 645,907 | 1,291,886 | 7.0% |
| 60–64 | 631,109 | 637,424 | 1,268,533 | 6.9% |
| 65–69 | 554,672 | 568,771 | 1,123,443 | 6.1% |
| 70–74 | 463,026 | 488,392 | 951,418 | 5.2% |
| 75–79 | 402,597 | 446,632 | 849,229 | 4.6% |
| 80–84 | 246,376 | 302,835 | 549,211 | 3.0% |
| 85–89 | 120,656 | 180,770 | 301,426 | 1.6% |
| 90–94 | 39,539 | 79,374 | 118,913 | 0.6% |
| 95–99 | 6,929 | 19,924 | 26,853 | 0.1% |
| 100+ | 560 | 2,221 | 2,781 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Netherlands’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Denmark98% overlap · median age 41.3
- Canada97% overlap · median age 40.8
- Belgium97% overlap · median age 42.1
- Norway96% overlap · median age 40.1
- United Kingdom96% overlap · median age 40.2
- Guernsey96% overlap · median age 44.5
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Netherlands.
Use this chart in your work
Charts and tables may be reused with attribution. Please link to this page and credit the United Nations as the data source.
Embed the population pyramid
Cite this page
APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Netherlands Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/netherlands/
MLA
“Netherlands Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/netherlands/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Netherlands Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/netherlands/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Netherlands in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Netherlands's population in 2026 is projected at 18,448,775.
What is the median age in Netherlands?
The projected median age in Netherlands in 2026 is 41.5 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Netherlands?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.44 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Netherlands's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 3%, from 18.4M to 19M.
What share of Netherlands is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 21.3% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 26.3%.
How many babies are born in Netherlands each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 176,063 births and 171,311 deaths in 2026, about 482 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 4,752.
What is life expectancy in Netherlands for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 84.1 years for women and 81.1 years for men, a gap of 3.0 years in favour of women.
Does Netherlands have more immigrants or emigrants?
Netherlands is projected to gain about 89,379 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +1,273,228.
What is the sex ratio in Netherlands?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 98.8 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.