Updated
Overview
The Netherlands has 2.0 times the population of Austria: 18.09 million people against 9.21 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is 2.3 times the size of Austria's, at $1.33T versus $579.47B.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $62,930 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Netherlands | Austria | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.33T | $579.47B | 2025 | $1.23T / $521.64B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $73,684 | $62,930 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.8% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 3.5% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.9% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.9% | 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 84 | 82 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,402 | $6,155 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,538 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 18.09 million | 9.21 million | 2025 | 17.83 million / 9.17 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.5 yrs | 43.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.0 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 96% | 70% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 97% | 92% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 41,850 km² | 83,871 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 432.2/km² | 109.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 115 Mt | Lower: 56 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.3 t | Lower: 6.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $23.18B | $5.26B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 41,000 | 23,000 | 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
The Netherlands is growing faster: 1.8% annual GDP growth versus 0.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in the Netherlands and 3.5% in Austria.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $6,155 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Netherlands is the younger society: median age 41.5 versus 43.6 years.
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, the Netherlands is 50% smaller than Austria: 41,850 km² versus 83,871 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 110.
Military
The Netherlands spends 4.4 times as much on defence as Austria: $23.18B versus $5.26B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.0%.
The Netherlands fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 23,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Netherlands bigger than Austria?
- Austria is larger by land area. The Netherlands covers 41,850 km² while Austria covers 83,871 km², so Austria is 2.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the Netherlands or Austria?
- The Netherlands has the larger population: 18.09 million versus 9.21 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Netherlands richer than Austria?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $62,930. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.33T for the Netherlands versus $579.47B for Austria.
- Who spends more on their military, the Netherlands or Austria?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $5.26B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).