Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Netherlands
Netherlands: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 7.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Netherlands, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 7.7% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Netherlands peaked at 9.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2000.
That places Netherlands 171st out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.5% | — |
| 1955 | 9.3% | -2.2% |
| 1960 | 9.1% | -2.7% |
| 1965 | 8.8% | -2.9% |
| 1970 | 8.4% | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 8.4% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 7.8% | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 7.3% | -6.4% |
| 1990 | 7.3% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 7.5% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 7.3% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 7.3% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 7.7% | +2.3% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 7.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.2%, 26% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 7.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.1%, 32% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.4% | 9.3% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 8.9% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.6% | 7.3% | 7.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More population data for Netherlands
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1463 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1961 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5458 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1961 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 757,165 people (2100)
- Population density 519.97 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2761 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.0412 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Netherlands?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Netherlands was 7.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2000.
- How does Netherlands rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Netherlands ranks 171st out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.