The rate of natural increase (RNI) in the Netherlands—calculated as the difference between the birth rate and the death rate, excluding migration—has been relatively low in recent years, hovering close to zero or even dipping into negative territory. This reflects the country's aging population and declining fertility rates. In comparison, neighboring Belgium and Germany also experience low or negative RNIs, driven by similar demographic trends such as low birth rates and an aging populace. Belgium's RNI is slightly higher than that of the Netherlands, but still modest, while Germany has consistently had one of the lowest RNIs in Europe, often negative. To the east, Germany's demographic challenges are even more pronounced, whereas to the south, Belgium's situation closely mirrors that of the Netherlands. Overall, the Netherlands and its neighbors share a pattern of slow or stagnant natural population growth, relying increasingly on migration to sustain or increase their populations.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0.356 | 15,476,372 |
| 2000 | 0.415 | 15,930,182 |
| 2005 | 0.317 | 16,299,098 |
| 2010 | 0.283 | 16,573,644 |
| 2015 | 0.211 | 16,943,854 |
| 2020 | 0.175 | 17,274,001 |
| 2024 | 0.166 | 17,526,406 |
| 2025 | 0.16 | 17,588,011 |
| 2026 | 0.152 | 17,648,437 |
| 2030 | 0.104 | 17,871,948 |
| 2035 | 0.028 | 18,096,999 |
| 2040 | -0.052 | 18,248,576 |
| 2045 | -0.1 | 18,341,061 |
| 2050 | -0.115 | 18,405,073 |
| 2055 | -0.107 | 18,466,766 |
| 2060 | -0.092 | 18,538,888 |
| 2065 | -0.077 | 18,625,356 |
| 2070 | -0.068 | 18,723,766 |
| 2075 | -0.07 | 18,824,712 |
| 2080 | -0.085 | 18,917,235 |
| 2085 | -0.103 | 18,992,190 |
| 2090 | -0.119 | 19,050,591 |
| 2095 | -0.13 | 19,096,232 |
| 2100 | -0.14 | 19,132,501 |
Data from US Census International Database