Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 15% more people than the Netherlands: 20.84 million against 18.09 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 4.4 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $1.33T versus $306.24B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $1.33T | 2025 | $288.41B / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 8.8% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $6,402 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 41,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.8%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 3.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 7.4 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 74.5).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 65 times the size of the Netherlands: 2,724,900 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 8.
Military
The Netherlands spends 19 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $23.18B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than the Netherlands?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Kazakhstan is 65 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or the Netherlands?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or the Netherlands?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).