Updated
Overview
The United States has 19 times the population of the Netherlands: 341.78 million people against 18.09 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 23 times the size of the Netherlands', at $30.77T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $73,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $1.33T | 2025 | $29.18T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 3.3% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $6,273 | Higher: $6,402 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | Higher: $2,538 | 2026 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 18.09 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (2.2% for the United States, 1.8% for the Netherlands).
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 3.3% in the Netherlands.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Netherlands: a price level of 84 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $6,273 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the younger society: median age 38.5 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 3.1 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 78.9).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 80%.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 235 times the size of the Netherlands: 9,833,517 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 43 times as much on defence as the Netherlands: $997.31B versus $23.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.9%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than the Netherlands?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so the United States is 235 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or the Netherlands?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $73,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or the Netherlands?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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