Leiden Population 2026
Leiden has a population of 119,713, making it the #22 biggest city in 🇳🇱 Netherlands, located in South Holland. Roughly 0.6% of Netherlands's population lives here. It is about 7.3× smaller than Rotterdam, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
119,713
Rank in Netherlands
#22
Coordinates
52.16°N, 4.49°E
~6 m elevation · Europe/Amsterdam
Distance to capital (Amsterdam)
36 km
22 miles, straight line
Other big cities in South Holland
| City | Population | Rank in Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Rotterdam | 868,135 | #1 |
| The Hague | 474,292 | #3 |
| Dordrecht | 119,260 | #23 |
| Zoetermeer | 115,845 | #24 |
| Delft | 95,060 | #27 |
| Schiedam | 75,438 | #37 |
| Spijkenisse | 74,988 | #38 |
| Vlaardingen | 73,798 | #40 |
Cities near Leiden
- Leiderdorp25,966 people · ~2 km away
- Oegstgeest21,149 people · ~3 km away
- Voorschoten22,468 people · ~5 km away
- Wassenaar25,353 people · ~6 km away
- Sassenheim15,510 people · ~8 km away
- Katwijk aan Zee20,010 people · ~8 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Leiden?
Leiden has a population of 119,713 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #22 biggest city in Netherlands.
What region is Leiden in?
Leiden is located in South Holland, Netherlands.
Is Leiden the capital of Netherlands?
No, the capital of Netherlands is Amsterdam, about 36 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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