Country comparison

Germany Netherlands

How do Germany and Netherlands compare on area, population, economy and living standards? Every figure below comes from open data, computed at build time.

Germany vs Netherlands at a glance

Germany vs Netherlands in the world: GDP per capita

GDP per capita log axis

GDP per capita across 168 countries with data: Germany at $60,496, Netherlands at $73,684, world median $6,834, logarithmic axis. Median $6,834 Germany · $60,496 Netherlands · $73,684

Every dot is one country with data — the two highlighted dots are these countries; the dashed line marks the world median. Wide-range metrics use a logarithmic axis (tagged).

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GermanyNetherlands — Germany's GDP per capita is about 82% of Netherlands's.

Side-by-side metric comparison
MetricGermanyNetherlandsA vs B
Population & land
Population83.5M (2025)18.1M (2025)4.6×
Population growth-0.0% (2025)0.5% (2025)N/A
Urban population share82.1% (2025)95.9% (2025)86%
Population aged 65+23.7% (2025)20.9% (2025)1.1×
Fertility rate1.4 (2024)1.4 (2024)95%
Birth rate8.1‰ (2024)9.2‰ (2024)88%
Death rate12.1‰ (2024)9.6‰ (2024)1.3×
Net migration-334.1K (2025)104.7K (2025)N/A
Surface area357,680 km² (2023)41,540 km² (2023)8.6×
Population densityderived233/km² (2025)435/km² (2025)54%
Economy
GDP (total)$5.1T (2025)$1.3T (2025)3.8×
GDP per capita$60,496 (2025)$73,684 (2025)82%
GNI per capita$60,200 (2025)$68,530 (2025)88%
GDP growth (annual)0.2% (2025)1.8% (2025)13%
Inflation rate2.2% (2025)3.3% (2025)67%
Unemployment rate3.7% (2025)3.9% (2025)96%
Gini index33.7 (2022)25.7 (2021)1.3×
Poverty rate ($2.15/day)0.7% (2022)0.1% (2021)7.0×
Trade & industry
Exports share of GDP40.4% (2025)80.7% (2025)50%
Imports share of GDP38.1% (2025)69.5% (2025)55%
Agriculture share of GDP0.9% (2025)1.7% (2025)52%
Manufacturing share of GDP17.6% (2025)10.1% (2025)1.7×
International tourist arrivals12.4M (2020)7.3M (2020)1.7×
Tourism receipts$58.4B (2019)$10.9B (2020)5.3×
Health & education
Life expectancy80.8 years (2024)82.0 years (2024)99%
Infant mortality3.1‰ (2024)3.4‰ (2024)91%
Under-five mortality3.7‰ (2024)3.9‰ (2024)95%
DPT immunization89.0% (2024)91.0% (2024)98%
Hospital beds7.6 per 1,000 (2023)2.4 per 1,000 (2022)3.1×
Health spending share of GDP12.3% (2024)10.0% (2024)1.2×
Secondary school enrollment100.2% (2024)137.5% (2023)73%
Education spending share of GDP5.2% (2022)5.2% (2022)1.0×
Society & living
Human Development Index0.959 (2023)0.955 (2023)1.0×
Internet users93.5% (2024)97.0% (2024)96%
Mobile subscriptions129.2 per 100 (2024)128.5 per 100 (2024)1.0×
Fixed broadband45.6 per 100 (2024)43.0 per 100 (2024)1.1×
Electricity access100.0% (2024)100.0% (2024)1.0×
Environment & security
CO₂ emissions per capita6.9 t (2024)6.6 t (2024)1.1×
CO₂ emissions (total)derived580 Mt (2024)119 Mt (2024)4.9×
Renewable electricity share39.8% (2021)33.1% (2021)1.2×
Renewable energy consumption17.6% (2021)12.2% (2021)1.4×
Forest area32.7% (2023)11.1% (2023)3.0×
Agricultural land47.5% (2023)53.5% (2023)89%
Arable land33.4% (2023)30.0% (2023)1.1×
PM2.5 exposure8.8 µg/m³ (2023)8.6 µg/m³ (2023)1.0×
Military spending1.9% (2024)1.9% (2024)99%

Population density is our own derived metric: latest population ÷ the displayed surface area (World Bank surface-area figures where available) — so it can differ from the World Bank's own land-area-based density.

Germany

Capital
Berlin
Languages
German
Currencies
EUR
Subregion
Western Europe

Netherlands

Capital
Amsterdam
Languages
Dutch
Currencies
EUR
Subregion
Western Europe

Germany vs Netherlands in five metrics

Horizontal bar chart comparing Germany and Netherlands on area, population, GDP, GDP per capita and life expectancy; the longer bar is the larger value within each metric. Germany Netherlands Surface area (2023) 357,680 km² 41,540 km² Population (2025) 83.5M 18.1M GDP (total) (2025) $5.1T $1.3T GDP per capita (2025) $60,496 $73,684 Life expectancy (2024) 80.8 years 82.0 years

Full metric comparison

Side-by-side metric comparison
Metric Germany Netherlands A vs B
Population & land
Population 83.5M (2025) 18.1M (2025) 4.6×
Population growth -0.0% (2025) 0.5% (2025) N/A
Urban population share 82.1% (2025) 95.9% (2025) 86%
Population aged 65+ 23.7% (2025) 20.9% (2025) 1.1×
Fertility rate 1.4 (2024) 1.4 (2024) 95%
Birth rate 8.1‰ (2024) 9.2‰ (2024) 88%
Death rate 12.1‰ (2024) 9.6‰ (2024) 1.3×
Net migration -334.1K (2025) 104.7K (2025) N/A
Surface area 357,680 km² (2023) 41,540 km² (2023) 8.6×
Population density derived 233/km² (2025) 435/km² (2025) 54%
Economy
GDP (total) $5.1T (2025) $1.3T (2025) 3.8×
GDP per capita $60,496 (2025) $73,684 (2025) 82%
GNI per capita $60,200 (2025) $68,530 (2025) 88%
GDP growth (annual) 0.2% (2025) 1.8% (2025) 13%
Inflation rate 2.2% (2025) 3.3% (2025) 67%
Unemployment rate 3.7% (2025) 3.9% (2025) 96%
Gini index 33.7 (2022) 25.7 (2021) 1.3×
Poverty rate ($2.15/day) 0.7% (2022) 0.1% (2021) 7.0×
Trade & industry
Exports share of GDP 40.4% (2025) 80.7% (2025) 50%
Imports share of GDP 38.1% (2025) 69.5% (2025) 55%
Agriculture share of GDP 0.9% (2025) 1.7% (2025) 52%
Manufacturing share of GDP 17.6% (2025) 10.1% (2025) 1.7×
International tourist arrivals 12.4M (2020) 7.3M (2020) 1.7×
Tourism receipts $58.4B (2019) $10.9B (2020) 5.3×
Health & education
Life expectancy 80.8 years (2024) 82.0 years (2024) 99%
Infant mortality 3.1‰ (2024) 3.4‰ (2024) 91%
Under-five mortality 3.7‰ (2024) 3.9‰ (2024) 95%
DPT immunization 89.0% (2024) 91.0% (2024) 98%
Hospital beds 7.6 per 1,000 (2023) 2.4 per 1,000 (2022) 3.1×
Health spending share of GDP 12.3% (2024) 10.0% (2024) 1.2×
Secondary school enrollment 100.2% (2024) 137.5% (2023) 73%
Education spending share of GDP 5.2% (2022) 5.2% (2022) 1.0×
Society & living
Human Development Index 0.959 (2023) 0.955 (2023) 1.0×
Internet users 93.5% (2024) 97.0% (2024) 96%
Mobile subscriptions 129.2 per 100 (2024) 128.5 per 100 (2024) 1.0×
Fixed broadband 45.6 per 100 (2024) 43.0 per 100 (2024) 1.1×
Electricity access 100.0% (2024) 100.0% (2024) 1.0×
Environment & security
CO₂ emissions per capita 6.9 t (2024) 6.6 t (2024) 1.1×
CO₂ emissions (total) derived 580 Mt (2024) 119 Mt (2024) 4.9×
Renewable electricity share 39.8% (2021) 33.1% (2021) 1.2×
Renewable energy consumption 17.6% (2021) 12.2% (2021) 1.4×
Forest area 32.7% (2023) 11.1% (2023) 3.0×
Agricultural land 47.5% (2023) 53.5% (2023) 89%
Arable land 33.4% (2023) 30.0% (2023) 1.1×
PM2.5 exposure 8.8 µg/m³ (2023) 8.6 µg/m³ (2023) 1.0×
Military spending 1.9% (2024) 1.9% (2024) 99%

Population density is our own derived metric: latest population ÷ the displayed surface area (World Bank surface-area figures where available) — so it can differ from the World Bank's own land-area-based density.

Reference facts

Metric Germany Netherlands
Capital Berlin Amsterdam
Languages German Dutch
Currencies EUR EUR
Subregion Western Europe Western Europe

Frequently asked questions

Which is bigger, Germany or Netherlands?

Germany's surface area is larger: about 8.6× Netherlands's (357,680 km² vs 41,540 km²).

Which has a larger population, Germany or Netherlands?

Germany's population is larger: about 4.6× Netherlands's (83.5M vs 18.1M).

Which economy is larger, Germany or Netherlands?

Germany's GDP (total) is larger: about 3.8× Netherlands's ($5.1T vs $1.3T).

Which has a higher GDP per capita, Germany or Netherlands?

Germany's GDP per capita is smaller: about 82% of Netherlands's ($60,496 vs $73,684).

Open the interactive compare tool with Germany and Netherlands preselected

See Germany and Netherlands's true size on a drag-and-drop map →

Distance between Germany and Netherlands →

Germany country profile: key metrics vs world median →

Netherlands country profile: key metrics vs world median →

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Data & method

Indicators: World Bank Open Data, 43 indicators — CC BY 4.0 © World Bank — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/; Surface area (sq. km) — CC BY 4.0 © World Bank — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/; Human Development Index — CC BY 3.0 IGO © United Nations Development Programme — https://hdr.undp.org/terms-use

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m (public domain); surface areas follow the World Bank AG.SRF.TOTL.K2 figures, with mledoze/countries (or a measured Natural Earth boundary, marked †) only where World Bank coverage is missing.

Reference facts (capital, languages, currencies, subregion): mledoze/countries (ODbL).