Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Netherlands
Netherlands: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 46.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Netherlands, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 46.3% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Netherlands peaked at 46.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 1950.
Netherlands ranks 74th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 37.4% | — |
| 1955 | 38.1% | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 39.0% | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 39.5% | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 39.2% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 39.3% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 39.3% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 39.6% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 39.9% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 41.7% | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 42.8% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 43.9% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 43.4% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 45.0% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 46.3% | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 37.7% | 37.4% | 38.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 39.3% | 39.0% | 39.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.3% | 39.2% | 39.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.4% | 39.3% | 39.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 40.8% | 39.9% | 41.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 43.3% | 42.8% | 43.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 44.2% | 43.4% | 45.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 46.3% | 46.3% | 46.3% | 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 population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Netherlands?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Netherlands was 46.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 46.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 1950.
- How does Netherlands rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Netherlands ranks 74th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.