Netherlands vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 178 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

United Kingdom has 3.8 times as many people as Netherlands (69.96 million vs 18.46 million). United Kingdom's economy is 3.1 times the size of Netherlands's ($4.1 trillion vs $1.34 trillion GDP).

Comparing Netherlands and United Kingdom: Netherlands leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (954,500) against United Kingdom (1.58); United Kingdom leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (907,500) against Netherlands (2.15); United Kingdom leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (613,800) against Netherlands (2.41). Across 178 compared metrics, Netherlands wins on 82 and United Kingdom wins on 78.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 67 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 26 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration42.98 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…42.16 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)97.01 %ā˜…95.47 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)97.01 %ā˜…96.3 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 97% (2023 est.)percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed42.98 Mbpsā˜…42.16 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score88.64 pointsā˜…78.89 points
Radios15.384.5ā˜…
Televisions8.130.5ā˜…
Waterways6,237ā˜…3,200

Economy

67 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country15.60B $31.15B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars1.34T $4.10T $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)19.67 %ā˜…19.12 %
Apple Import Volume190.61M tonnes326.31M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate99.17 %99.28 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0 %0.25 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue00
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)1.33 %4.38 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends25 %ā˜…19 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)10 % of GDP10 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index94.3ā˜…93.8
Electricity Consumption108.8309.2ā˜…
Electricity Exports19.34ā˜…2.15
Electricity from Fossil Fuels75ā˜…50
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants02ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels19ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables2339ā˜…
Electricity Imports24.26ā˜…19.7
Electricity Installed Capacity34.1797.06ā˜…
Electricity Production109.3318.2ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)185.54 USD per capitaā˜…94.28 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate82.15 %ā˜…73.49 %
Gini Index Coefficient25.732.4ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment16.6ā˜…13.9
Gross National Saving31.2ā˜…13.6
High-Tech Export Percentage53.14 %63.43 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries71,378.48 USDā˜…53,993.12 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-1.5 %-0.5 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate3.26 %ā˜…3.88 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)3.3 %3.3 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2.5 % of GDPā˜…2.4 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption43.3879.17ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports51.25ā˜…11.27
Natural Gas Imports51ā˜…47
Natural Gas Production45.33ā˜…42.11
Natural Gas Proved Reserves801.4ā˜…176
Number of AI Patents Filed45 patents478 patentsā˜…
Oil Consumption1.011.62ā˜…
Oil Exports1.87ā˜…1.31
Oil Imports2.58ā˜…1.45
Oil Production59,490ā˜…1.39
Oil Proved Reserves310ā˜…2.86
Population Below Poverty Line14.5 peopleā˜…18.6 people
Public Debt56.5ā˜…138.6
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)2.27 %2.68 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1 USD1.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends0.35 %ā˜…-1.62 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption954,500ā˜…1.58
Refined Petroleum Products Exports2.41613,800ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports2.15907,500ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production1.281.29ā˜…
Remittances0.4ā˜…0.1
Researchers in R&D per Million5,273.18 researchersā˜…4,472.69 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.010.01
Robotics Research Funding2.27 USD2.68 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.1ā˜…0.5
Tax Burden (% of GDP)25.28 %ā˜…26.89 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)25.28 % of GDP26.89 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues24.827.4ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries1.00T USD1.14T USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-1.41 %-0.35 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires1356ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP2.3 %ā˜…1.77 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)2.3 %ā˜…1.77 %
Unemployment Rate3.6 %ā˜…4.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate67.25 %61.37 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate8.83 %ā˜…14.65 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)-2.23Mā˜…5.08M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate450 %12,600 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature11.27 °Cā˜…10.37 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions188.19ā˜…340.94
Global Precipitation Distribution709.41 mm962.53 mmā˜…
Population Distributionan area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire countrythe core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N
Protected Land Area for Adaptation23.02 sq km28.58 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage22.9 %28.4 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country4.5 Cubic meters per year9.8 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources91147ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species4 species4 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization21.23 %ā˜…9.75 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)55.13115ā˜…
Agricultural land17,883.7 sq. km172,448.2 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km33,670241,930ā˜…
Coastline Length (km)451 km12,429 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita502.73 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land2,969ā˜…718

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Rule of Law Index by Country92.54 %ā˜…86.77 %
Administrative Divisions12England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess
Corruption Perception Index78 index71 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score78 indexā˜…71 index
Independence26no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and
LGBT Rights Index Score11ā˜…10.98
Prison Population Rate61 per 100,000ā˜…131.63 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception7871ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

26 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water99.96 %ā˜…99.82 %
Average BMI for Adults26 kg/m²27.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate89 %89 %
Dentist Density5.6 per 10,000 peopleā˜…5.1 per 10,000 people
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)9.428.38ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)57.4ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders81.97 yearsā˜…81.39 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.22 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.25 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita8,735.73 USDā˜…7,011.86 USD
Health Coverage Index Score85 score88 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)11.3 % of GDP11.3 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy81.97 yearsā˜…81.39 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.1 %NA
Hospital Bed Density2.9 people/sq kmā˜…2.4 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita2.42 beds per 1,0002.42 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence5.65 %ā˜…6.83 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)4 %ā˜…8 %
Mean Age at First Birth30.2ā˜…29
Nurses and Midwives Density11.67 per 1,000 peopleā˜…9.06 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)20.4 %ā˜…27.8 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending12.03 %ā˜…14.63 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS24,000NA
Psychiatrist Density Per 100,000 People17 per 100,000 peopleā˜…14 per 100,000 people
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)8.39 %8.98 %ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors3.88ā˜…3.14
Underweight Children Under 5NANA

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Active Military Personnel34,000 personnel150,000 personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)2.19 %ā˜…2.35 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)41,000153,000ā˜…

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Currently married (Percent)53.17 %ā˜…46.59 %
Human Capital Index0.79ā˜…0.79
Life expectancy at birth84.31 yearsā˜…83.69 years
Median age of population41.39 yearsā˜…40.33 years
Population Change110,181.7 persons377,688.2 personsā˜…
Population density550.26 per sq. km288.63 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population18.46M persons69.96M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.76ā˜…0.67
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsB-CCā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita3.9 litersā˜…3.54 liters
Birth Rate (%)10.68 %10.76 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate73 %76.1 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate9.2 per 1,000 people9.89 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)9.7 %9.25 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)5.2 % of GDP5.9 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age4.03M persons15.28M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)94.44 %ā˜…93.5 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate42.98 %ā˜…42.16 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.05 male/female105.42 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.770.78ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate10.3235.36ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school11.56 years11.65 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.17 people9.65 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)182.54ā˜…177.49
Mean Years of Schooling11.82 years12.9 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation17ā˜…16
Old-Age Dependency Ratio31.15 %30.33 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization84.91 %86.48 %ā˜…
Physician Density3.88 people/sq kmā˜…3.3 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.3 %0.4 %ā˜…
Population living in slums0 %0.16 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio11.81ā˜…15.13
Total deaths166,908.2 personsā˜…675,626.2 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)68.26 %75.07 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.35 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration108,456.8 persons375,700.7 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate3.41 per live birthsā˜…4.03 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.83 %ā˜…0.39 %
Voting Age Population71.13 millionsā˜…61.06 millions

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.72.25ā˜…
Airports441,057ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel98618ā˜…
Heliports194ā˜…139

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡± NetherlandsšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita22.56B USD84.55B USDā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Netherlands vs United Kingdom

Which has a larger population, Netherlands or United Kingdom?ā–¾

United Kingdom. United Kingdom has 3.8 times as many people as Netherlands (69.96 million vs 18.46 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Netherlands or United Kingdom?ā–¾

United Kingdom. United Kingdom's economy is 3.1 times the size of Netherlands's ($4.1 trillion vs $1.34 trillion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Netherlands or United Kingdom?ā–¾

Netherlands is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $72,304 in Netherlands vs $58,622 in United Kingdom (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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