Rotterdam: population and official figures

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Rotterdam: The average disposable income of a household in Rotterdam was €53,300 in 2024, below the national figure of €61,600; that is 9th lowest among the 31 large municipalities covered here, up 33% from €40,000 in 2019.
• Health in Rotterdam: In 2025, people in the municipality of Rotterdam lived an average of 0.7 km from a family doctor (huisarts), 7th shortest among the 31 large municipalities covered here.
• Education in Rotterdam: 33.5% of residents aged 15 to 74 in Rotterdam held a higher professional (hbo) or university degree in 2024, above the national figure of 33.3%; that is 16th highest among the 31 large municipalities covered here, up from 30.3% in 2019.
• Poverty and living standards in Rotterdam: Homes in the municipality of Rotterdam had an average WOZ value of €374,000 in 2026, 9th lowest among the 31 large municipalities covered here, up 69% from €221,000 in 2020.
• Government and politics in Rotterdam: 24% of people in Rotterdam agreed that there is corruption in their local public administration (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023).

Who runs Rotterdam?

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

• Amsterdam 1,059,596
• s-Gravenhage 804,675
• Utrecht 466,865
• Eindhoven 290,147
• Haarlem 285,886
• Leiden 272,764
• Groningen 238,147
• Tilburg 227,707
• Alkmaar 225,138
• Almere 222,825
• Heerlen-Kerkrade 197,599
• Breda 186,438

Up a level: all cities in the Netherlands · the Netherlands · government and power

Sources

• United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
• 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_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
• 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…)

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