Updated
Overview
Turkey (Türkiye) has 4.7 times the population of the Netherlands: 85.88 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
Turkey (Türkiye)'s economy is 20% larger than the Netherlands', at $1.60T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $18,599 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Turkey (Türkiye) | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.60T | $1.33T | 2025 | $1.32T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $18,599 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 34.9% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | 58.5% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 8.5% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,001 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $659 | Higher: $2,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 85.88 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 84.63 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.5 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 90% | Higher: 97% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 783,562 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 109.6/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 513 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.9 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.98B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 512,000 | 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
Turkey (Türkiye) is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Turkey (Türkiye) at 34.9%, while the other economy sits at 3.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Turkey (Türkiye): a price level of 41 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $1,001 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Turkey (Türkiye) is the younger society: median age 33.5 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.5 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 77.4).
Geography
By land area, Turkey (Türkiye) is 19 times the size of the Netherlands: 783,562 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 110.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $24.98B (Turkey (Türkiye)) and $23.18B (the Netherlands).
Turkey (Türkiye) fields the larger armed forces: 512,000 personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) bigger than the Netherlands?
- Turkey (Türkiye) is larger by land area. Turkey (Türkiye) covers 783,562 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so Turkey (Türkiye) is 19 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Turkey (Türkiye) or the Netherlands?
- Turkey (Türkiye) has the larger population: 85.88 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $18,599. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.60T for Turkey (Türkiye) versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, Turkey (Türkiye) or the Netherlands?
- Turkey (Türkiye) spends more: $24.98B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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