Leeuwarden: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Leeuwarden: In 2024 the average household in Leeuwarden had a disposable income of €50,400, 3rd lowest among the 31 large municipalities covered here and below the national figure of €61,600, up 30% from €38,900 in 2019.
- Health in Leeuwarden: The nearest GP practice was on average 1.4 km by road from home for residents of Leeuwarden in 2025, above the national figure of 1.1 km; that is the longest among the 31 large municipalities covered here.
- Education in Leeuwarden: In 2024, 32.4% of people aged 15 to 74 in Leeuwarden had completed hbo or university, 11th lowest among the 31 large municipalities covered here, up from 30.3% in 2019.
- Poverty and living standards in Leeuwarden: The average WOZ value of a home in Leeuwarden, the official valuation used for property tax, was €282,000 in 2026, below the national figure of €439,000, up 69% from €167,000 in 2020; that is 2nd lowest among the 31 large municipalities covered here.
What is the population of Leeuwarden?
The municipality of Leeuwarden had 130,162 residents on 1 January 2026, up 20.6% from 107,897 ten years earlier.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the population of Leeuwarden?
Leeuwarden had 128,810 residents on 1 January 2024 according to the EU Urban Audit; 14.3% were under 15 and 19.6% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Leeuwarden growing?
The population grew by 35.1% between 2012 and 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWho runs Leeuwarden?
In the Netherlands, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Municipal council elected every four years (last March 2026); aldermen (wethouders) chosen by the council; mayor appointed by the Crown for six years on the council's recommendation. Social care and youth services, employment support, housing, planning, local roads, public order.
How local power works in the Netherlands
Cities of a similar size in the Netherlands
- Heerlen-Kerkrade 197,599
- Breda 186,438
- Nijmegen 182,480
- Arnhem 180,884
- Apeldoorn 167,191
- Ede 162,972
- Haarlemmermeer 162,300
- Enschede 161,235
- Amersfoort 160,759
- Zaanstad 159,618
- s-Hertogenbosch 158,753
- Zwolle 132,411
- Zoetermeer 126,998
- Maastricht 122,734
- Sittard-Geleen 117,006
- Alphen aan den 114,182
Up a level: all cities in the Netherlands · the Netherlands · government and power
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS): Regionale kerncijfers Nederland (table 70072ned): provinces, COROP areas and selected municipalities, 2014-2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d2b63aac3a26…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS): Geregistreerde misdrijven en verdachten; soort misdrijf, regio (table 83648NED): police-recorded crime by province and municipality, 2015-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 301a92d5d72f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.