Demography of the Netherlands

This article is about the demographic features of the population of the Netherlands, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the population, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Demographics of the Netherlands
Population pyramid of the Netherlands in 2023
Population	17,821,419 (January 2023) (67th)
Density	532 per km^2 (26th)
Growth rate	0.29% (155th)
Birth rate	10.2 births/1,000 (2021)
Death rate	9.7 deaths/1,000 (2021)
Life expectancy	82.1 years (16th)
• male	80.4 years
• female	83.8 years
Fertility rate	1.574 children/woman (2019)
Age structure
0–14 years	16.1%
15–64 years	64.1%
65 and over	19.8%
Sex ratio
Total	0.98 male/female
At birth	1.05 male/female
Under 15	1.05 male/female
15–64 years	1.02 male/female
65 and over	0.83 male/female
Nationality
Nationality	Dutch
Major ethnic	Dutch 73.7%
Minor ethnic	Other European 6.3% Indo 4.9% Turks 2.4% Moroccans 2.2% Surinamese 2.1% Caribbeans 0.9% Chinese 0.3% Iraqis 0.3% Other 9.5%
Language
Official	Dutch, Frisian

Population growth between 1000–2021

Population

The Netherlands is the 67th most populated country in the world. As of January 2023, the Netherlands has a population of 17,821,419.^[1]

Between 1900 and 1950 the population doubled from 5.1 to 10.2 million people. From 1951 to 2000 the population increased from 10.0 to 15.9 million people, increasing by a smaller proportion.^[2]

The Netherlands is the 3rd most densely populated country (restricted to countries with at least 7.5 million people) in the world, and ranks 26th in the most populated countries and dependencies in the world. It is the 5th most densely populated country in Europe; the first four are microstates. The 17.8 million^[1] Dutch inhabitants are concentrated on an area of 41,545 km² (16,041 sq mi) including water surface, the land surface being 33,481 km² (12,927 sq mi). This means that the country has a population density of 532/km² (1,380/sq mi). The density of 500 inhabitants/km² was reached in the first half of 2014.

As a result of these demographic characteristics, the Netherlands has had to plan its land use strictly. Since 1946 the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment has been occupied with the national coordination of land use. Because of its high population density the Netherlands has also reclaimed land from the sea by poldering. Between 1927 and 1968 an entire province, Flevoland was created. It currently (2015) houses more than 400,000 people. Because of these policies, the Dutch have been able to combine high levels of population density with extremely high levels of agricultural production.

Even though the Netherlands is so densely populated, it has no municipalities with a population over one million, although the two largest municipalities of the country do score well over a million if the complete city region is counted, including the neighbouring satellite towns that often are physically connected to the main municipality. Moreover, the "four big cities" (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) can in many ways be regarded as a single metropolitan area, the Randstad ("rim city" or "edge city") with over 7.5 million inhabitants around an agricultural "green heart" (het Groene Hart).

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.^[3]

• One birth every 3 minutes
• One death every 4 minutes
• One net migrant every 31 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 11 minutes

^[4]

Growth rate

0.37% (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 168th

Fertility

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1000	369,000	—
1300	881,000	+0.29%
1500	1,090,000	+0.11%
1600	1,540,000	+0.35%
1700	2,000,000	+0.26%
1800	2,000,000	+0.00%
1900	5,104,000	+0.94%
1910	5,858,000	+1.39%
1920	6,754,000	+1.43%
1930	7,825,000	+1.48%
1940	8,834,000	+1.22%
1950	10,026,773	+1.27%
1960	11,417,254	+1.31%
1970	12,957,621	+1.27%
1980	14,091,014	+0.84%
1990	14,892,574	+0.55%
2000	15,863,950	+0.63%
2010	16,574,989	+0.44%
2020	17,424,978	+0.50%
Source: Our World in Data^[5] and Statistics Netherlands^[6]

The Dutch population is ageing. Furthermore, life expectancy has increased because of developments in medicine, and in addition to this, the Netherlands has seen increasing immigration. Despite these developments combined with the population boom after the Second World War, the low birth rate has caused extremely low population growth: 2005 saw the lowest absolute population growth since 1900.

This demographic development has consequences for health care and social security policy. As the Dutch population ages, the proportion of people of working age, as a percentage of the entire population, decreases. Important policy advisors like the CBS (Statistical Office) and the CPB (Planning Office) have pointed out that this will cause problems with the current system of old age pensions: fewer people will work to pay for old age pensions, while there will be more people receiving those pensions. Furthermore, the costs of health care are also projected to increase. These developments have caused several cabinets, notably the second Balkenende cabinet to reform the system of health care and social security to increase participation in the labour market and make people more conscious of the money they spend on health care.

In 2003, the annual birth rate per thousand was highest in the province of Flevoland (15.9). The overall lifelong Total fertility rate (TFR), was highest in the province of Flevoland (2.0) and lowest in the province of Limburg (1.6). The municipality with the highest TFR was Urk (3.23) followed by Valkenburg (2.83), Graafstroom (2.79) and Staphorst (2.76). The lowest TFRs were recorded in Vaals (1.11) and Thorn (1.21).^[7]

The total population at December 31, 2006 was 16,356,914. The population loss due to net emigration was 35,502 (an estimated 40-50% of emigrants were ethnic non-Dutch).

In 2007, there were 117,000 immigrants (including 7000 Germans, 6000 Poles, 5000 Bulgarians, 3000 Turks and 2000 Moroccans) and 123,000 emigrants. Nearly half the emigrants were native Dutch, followed at a distance by nearly 5000 Poles and more than 3000 Germans. There was an observable increase in net immigration from the former USSR, Bulgaria and Romania.^[8]

The annual death rate was lowest in the municipalities of Valkenburg (2.9 per 1000), Zeewolde (3.2), Renswoude (3.4), Westervoort and Zeevang (both 3.9). The highest annual death rates were recorded in Warmond (22.3 per 1000), Laren (19.9) and Doorn (18.8).^[9]

16.4% of the total births in 2003 were to parents of non-European origin, although they account for only 12.4% of the population in the 25-34 age group. For example, 3.8% of the births were ethnic Moroccan, although they were only 2.26% of the 25-34 age group. Respective figures were 3.27% and 3.0% for Turks. The TFR for Moroccans in 2003 was 3.3 while the general TFR was 1.73. TFR was 2.3 for Turks, 1.7 for Surinamese, 1.8 for Arubans, 3.0 for Africans and 1.8 for Americans.^[10] (These figures compare with a figure of around 2.1 required to maintain a stable overall population figure.)

According to Statistics Netherlands, for the year 2007, the TFR for those born in Netherlands was 1.72^[11] (1.65 in 2000). TFR of Moroccan immigrants was 2.87 (3.22 in 2000) and that of Turkish immigrants was 1.88 (2.18 in 2000).^[12]

The total fertility rate is the annual average number of children born per woman over her lifespan. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.^[13]

Years	1840	1841	1842	1843	1844	1845	1846	1847	1848	1849	1850^[13]
Total Fertility Rate in the Netherlands	5.11	5.09	5.06	5.04	5.02	4.99	4.99	4.99	4.99	4.99	4.89

Years	1851	1852	1853	1854	1855	1856	1857	1858	1859	1860^[13]
Total Fertility Rate in the Netherlands	4.8	4.7	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.6	4.68	4.75

Years	1861	1862	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868	1869	1870^[13]
Total Fertility Rate in the Netherlands	4.83	4.9	4.98	4.99	5.01	5.02	5.04	5.05	5.09	5.12

Years	1871	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1879	1880^[13]
Total Fertility Rate in the Netherlands	5.16	5.19	5.23	5.27	5.31	5.34	5.38	5.42	5.39	5.35

Years	1881	1882	1883	1884	1885	1886	1887	1888	1889	1890^[13]
Total Fertility Rate in the Netherlands	5.32	5.28	5.25	5.23	5.21	5.18	5.16	5.14	5.11	5.07

Years	1891	1892	1893	1894	1895	1896	1897	1898	1899^[13]
Total Fertility Rate in the Netherlands	5.04	5	4.97	4.93	4.88	4.84	4.79	4.75	4.6

1.78 children born/woman (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 157th

11.0 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 178th

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.8 years (2017 est.)

Life expectancy

 

Life expectancy in the Netherlands since 1850

 

Life expectancy in the Netherlands since 1960 by gender

Sources: Our World In Data

1850–1950

Years	1850	1851	1852	1853	1854	1855	1856	1857	1858	1859	1860^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	39.8	40.0	38.6	38.6	38.6	34.5	38.8	35.5	34.7	30.9	36.9

Years	1861	1862	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868	1869	1870^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	36.4	38.3	38.3	37.5	36.4	33.6	39.2	37.7	40.4	37.3

Years	1871	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1879	1880^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	32.9	36.5	39.2	41.3	38.2	40.4	42.0	41.1	41.9	40.3

Years	1881	1882	1883	1884	1885	1886	1887	1888	1889	1890^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	42.8	43.7	42.3	41.3	43.2	41.9	44.9	44.2	44.3	44.4

Years	1891	1892	1893	1894	1895	1896	1897	1898	1899	1900^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	44.2	43.9	45.8	46.9	46.6	48.6	49.4	49.1	49.3	48.4

Years	1901	1902	1903	1904	1905	1906	1907	1908	1909	1910^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	48.7	50.6	51.5	50.9	52.1	52.7	53.5	52.7	54.9	55.1

Years	1911	1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918	1919	1920^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	53.1	57.2	57.3	57.2	57.2	56.2	55.6	47.6	55.0	57.8

Years	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929	1930^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	59.7	59.8	62.0	62.9	63.1	63.0	62.6	63.7	62.2	64.7

Years	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	64.3	65.4	66.0	66.6	66.5	66.7	67.0	67.4	67.7	65.4

Years	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949	1950^[14]
Life expectancy in the Netherlands	65.3	65.8	64.4	61.3	55.4	67.6	69.5	71.1	70.3	71.4

total population: 81.9 years (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 30th

male: 79.7 years (2020 est.)

female: 84.3 years (2020 est.)

Age structure

 

Animated population pyramid of the Netherlands: 1950-2020

0-14 years: 16.11% (male 1,425,547 /female 1,358,894)

15-24 years: 11.91% (male 1,049.000 /female 1,008,763)

25-54 years: 38.47% (male 3,334,064 /female 3,313,238)

55-64 years: 13.69% (male 1,177,657/female 1,188,613)

65 years and over: 19.82% (male 1,558,241/female 1,866,380) (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 42.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 32nd

male: 41.6 years

female: 44.0 years (2020 est.)

Cities and population density

 

Population density by municipality as of 2020

v t e Largest municipalities in the Netherlands Statistics Netherlands^[15]
	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.
Amsterdam   Rotterdam	1	Amsterdam	North Holland	905,234	11	Apeldoorn	Gelderland	165,648	The Hague   Utrecht
	2	Rotterdam	South Holland	656,050	12	Arnhem	Gelderland	164,096
	3	The Hague	South Holland	552,995	13	Haarlem	North Holland	162,914
	4	Utrecht	Utrecht	361,924	14	Enschede	Overijssel	160,383
	5	Eindhoven	North Brabant	238,478	15	Haarlemmermeer	North Holland	159,346
	6	Groningen	Groningen	234,649	16	Amersfoort	Utrecht	158,712
	7	Tilburg	North Brabant	224,702	17	Zaanstad	North Holland	157,215
	8	Almere	Flevoland	218,096	18	's-Hertogenbosch	North Brabant	156,599
	9	Breda	North Brabant	184,716	19	Zwolle	Overijssel	130,872
	10	Nijmegen	Gelderland	179,073	20	Zoetermeer	South Holland	125,867

Functional urban areas

 

Population density in the Netherlands by municipality. The largest urban area, the Randstad is clearly visible along the west coast.

"Functional urban areas"^[16] are a type of urban areas with large populations where commuters from nearby areas work in the core area. There are several functional urban areas officially identified in the Netherlands. The largest ones (with populations over 300,000) are listed below, which count the populations of the core city and their "commuting zones".^[17]

Functional urban areas	Population (2015)
Amsterdam-Haarlem-Almere	2,751,000
Rotterdam-Dordrecht	1,805,000
The Hague-Delft	1,052,000
Utrecht	875,000
Eindhoven	736,000
Groningen	474,000
Arnhem	420,000
Enschede	401,000
Breda	367,000
Zwolle	350,000
Leiden	339,000
Nijmegen	322,000
Tilburg	310,000

Vital statistics

The following table presents the evolution since 1900; click on "show" to display the table:^[18]

	Population	Live births (total)	Deaths (total)	Natural change (total)	Birth rate (per mille)	Mortality rate (per mille)	Natural change (per mille)	TFR	IMR (per mille)	Life expectancy males	Life expectancy females
1900	5,142,000	162,611	92,043	70,568	31.6	17.9	13.7	4.45	155.2
1901	5,221,000	168,380	89,967	78,413	32.3	17.2	15.0	4.53	149.3
1902	5,305,000	168,728	86,248	82,480	31.8	16.3	15.5	4.46	129.9
1903	5,389,000	170,108	83,933	86,175	31.6	15.6	16.0	4.42	135.1
1904	5,470,000	171,495	87,091	84,404	31.4	15.9	15.4	4.38	136.9
1905	5,551,000	170,767	85,016	85,751	30.8	15.3	15.4	4.29	130.9
1906	5,632,000	170,952	83,259	87,693	30.4	14.8	15.6	4.23	127.1
1907	5,710,000	171,506	82,250	89,256	30.0	14.4	15.6	4.18	111.9
1908	5,786,000	171,861	86,936	84,925	29.7	15.0	14.7	4.13	124.8
1909	5,862,000	170,766	80,283	90,483	29.1	13.7	15.4	4.04	99.1
1910	5,899,000	168,894	79,984	88,910	28.6	13.6	15.1	3.94	107.9
1911	5,976,000	166,527	86,786	79,741	27.9	14.5	13.3	3.81	137.2
1912	6,054,000	170,269	74,647	95,622	28.1	12.3	15.8	3.84	87.0
1913	6,145,000	173,541	75,867	97,674	28.2	12.3	15.9	3.85	91.4
1914	6,251,000	176,831	77,739	99,092	28.3	12.4	15.9	3.86	94.8
1915	6,364,000	167,426	79,613	87,813	26.3	12.5	13.8	3.59	86.8
1916	6,480,000	172,572	84,024	88,548	26.6	13.0	13.7	3.64	84.5
1917	6,612,000	173,112	87,273	85,839	26.2	13.2	13.0	3.59	86.8
1918	6,705,000	167,636	115,440	52,196	25.0	17.2	7.8	3.47	103.9
1919	6,752,000	164,447	89,646	74,801	24.4	13.3	11.1	3.36	94.0
1920	6,820,000	192,987	81,525	111,462	28.3	12.0	16.3	3.89	83.3
1921	6,921,000	189,546	77,002	112,544	27.4	11.1	16.3	3.75	86.1
1922	7,032,000	181,886	80,381	101,505	25.9	11.4	14.4	3.54	77.6
1923	7,150,000	187,512	72,809	114,703	26.2	10.2	16.0	3.55	66.8
1924	7,264,000	182,430	71,167	111,263	25.1	9.8	15.3	3.39	60.6
1925	7,366,000	178,545	72,121	106,424	24.2	9.8	14.4	3.26	58.4
1926	7,472,000	177,498	73,357	104,141	23.8	9.8	13.9	3.18	61.1
1927	7,576,000	175,098	77,614	97,484	23.1	10.2	12.9	3.08	58.7
1928	7,678,000	179,028	73,816	105,212	23.3	9.6	13.7	3.09	52.3
1929	7,781,000	177,216	83,224	93,992	22.8	10.7	12.1	3.00	59.0
1930	7,884,000	182,310	71,682	110,628	23.1	9.1	14.0	3.03	50.9
1931	7,999,000	177,387	77,048	100,339	22.2	9.6	12.5	2.88	49.6
1932	8,122,000	178,525	73,059	105,466	22.0	9.0	13.0	2.83	46.3
1933	8,237,000	171,289	72,096	99,193	20.8	8.8	12.0	2.66	43.9
1934	8,341,000	172,214	70,164	102,050	20.6	8.4	12.2	2.63	42.6
1935	8,433,000	170,425	73,660	96,765	20.2	8.7	11.5	2.57	40.0
1936	8,516,000	171,675	73,923	97,752	20.2	8.7	11.5	2.51	38.9
1937	8,598,000	170,220	75,516	94,704	19.8	8.8	11.0	2.53	38.1
1938	8,684,000	178,422	77,043	101,379	20.5	8.9	11.7	2.63	36.5
1939	8,781,000	180,917	75,841	105,076	20.6	8.6	12.0	2.64	33.7
1940	8,879,000	184,846	87,722	97,124	20.8	9.9	10.9	2.67	39.1
1941	8,965,000	181,959	89,716	92,243	20.3	10.0	10.3	2.61	43.6
1942	9,042,000	189,975	76,040	113,935	21.0	8.4	12.6	2.71	39.5
1943	9,102,000	209,379	91,438	117,941	23.0	10.0	13.0	2.98	40.1
1944	9,174,000	219,946	108,087	111,859	24.0	11.8	12.2	3.13	46.3
1945	9,262,000	209,607	141,398	68,209	22.6	15.3	7.4	2.96	79.7
1946	9,423,000	284,456	80,151	204,305	30.2	8.5	21.7	3.97	38.7
1947	9,629,000	267,348	77,646	189,702	27.8	8.1	19.7	3.70	33.5
1948	9,800,000	247,923	72,459	175,464	25.3	7.4	17.9	3.41	29.3
1949	9,956,000	236,177	81,077	155,100	23.7	8.1	15.6	3.22	26.8
1950	10,114,000	229,718	75,929	153,789	22.7	7.5	15.2	3.10	26.7	70.3	72.6
1951	10,264,000	228,405	77,560	150,845	22.3	7.6	14.7	3.05	26.7	70.2	72.8
1952	10,382,000	231,888	76,346	155,542	22.3	7.4	15.0	3.09	24.1	71.0	73.3
1953	10,493,000	227,964	80,901	147,063	21.7	7.7	14.0	3.03	23.7	70.4	73.0
1954	10,615,000	228,173	79,623	148,550	21.5	7.5	14.0	3.03	22.6	71.0	73.8
1955	10,751,000	229,222	81,708	147,514	21.3	7.6	13.7	3.03	21.6	70.9	71.4
1956	10,889,000	231,492	84,809	146,683	21.3	7.8	13.5	3.05	20.2	71.0	74.1
1957	11,021,000	233,892	82,961	150,931	21.2	7.5	13.7	3.08	18.4	71.4	74.6
1958	11,186,000	236,859	84,491	152,368	21.2	7.6	13.6	3.11	18.5	71.5	74.8
1959	11,346,000	242,518	86,072	156,446	21.4	7.6	13.8	3.17	18.1	71.2	75.2
1960	11,480,000	239,128	87,825	151,303	20.8	7.7	13.2	3.12	17.9	71.4	75.3
1961	11,637,000	247,407	88,321	159,086	21.3	7.6	13.7	3.22	17.0	71.5	75.7
1962	11,890,000	246,150	93,969	152,181	20.7	7.9	12.8	3.18	17.0	71.0	75.6
1963	12,042,000	249,879	95,734	154,145	20.8	8.0	12.8	3.19	15.8	71.0	75.8
1964	12,212,000	250,914	93,437	157,477	20.5	7.7	12.9	3.17	14.8	71.3	76.3
1965	12,377,000	245,216	98,026	147,190	19.8	7.9	11.9	3.04	14.4	71.1	76.1
1966	12,535,000	239,611	100,516	139,095	19.1	8.0	11.1	2.90	14.7	71.0	76.1
1967	12,597,000	238,678	99,792	138,886	18.9	7.9	11.0	2.81	13.4	71.2	76.6
1968	12,725,000	237,112	104,989	132,123	18.6	8.3	10.4	2.72	13.6	70.9	76.4
1969	12,958,000	247,588	107,615	139,973	19.1	8.3	10.8	2.75	13.2	70.9	76.3
1970	13,032,000	238,912	109,619	129,293	18.3	8.4	9.9	2.57	12.7	70.8	76.5
1971	13,266,000	227,180	110,243	116,937	17.1	8.3	8.8	2.36	12.1	71.0	76.8
1972	13,330,000	214,133	113,576	100,557	16.1	8.5	7.5	2.15	11.7	70.8	76.5
1973	13,438,000	194,993	110,682	84,311	14.5	8.2	6.3	1.90	11.5	71.3	77.1
1974	13,541,000	185,982	109,250	76,732	13.7	8.1	5.7	1.77	11.3	71.6	77.6
1975	13,653,000	177,876	113,737	64,139	13.0	8.3	4.7	1.66	10.6	71.5	77.7
1976	13,770,000	177,090	114,454	62,636	12.9	8.3	4.5	1.63	10.7	71.5	77.9
1977	13,853,000	173,296	110,093	63,203	12.5	7.9	4.6	1.58	9.5	72.1	78.5
1978	13,937,000	175,550	114,415	61,135	12.6	8.2	4.4	1.58	9.6	72.0	78.5
1979	14,030,000	174,979	112,565	62,414	12.5	8.0	4.4	1.56	8.7	72.5	78.9
1980	14,144,000	181,294	114,279	67,015	12.8	8.1	4.7	1.60	8.6	72.5	79.2
1981	14,246,000	178,569	115,515	63,054	12.5	8.1	4.4	1.56	8.3	72.7	79.3
1982	14,310,000	172,071	117,264	54,807	12.0	8.2	3.8	1.50	8.3	72.8	79.4
1983	14,362,000	170,246	117,761	52,485	11.9	8.2	3.7	1.47	8.4	72.9	79.6
1984	14,420,000	174,436	119,812	54,624	12.1	8.3	3.8	1.49	8.3	73.0	79.7
1985	14,484,000	178,136	122,704	55,432	12.3	8.5	3.8	1.51	8.0	73.1	79.7
1986	14,564,000	184,513	125,307	59,206	12.7	8.6	4.1	1.55	7.7	73.1	79.6
1987	14,665,000	186,667	122,199	64,468	12.7	8.3	4.4	1.56	7.6	73.5	80.1
1988	14,758,000	186,647	124,163	62,484	12.6	8.4	4.2	1.55	6.8	73.7	80.2
1989	14,849,000	188,979	128,905	60,086	12.7	8.7	4.0	1.55	6.8	73.7	79.9
1990	14,951,000	197,965	128,824	69,115	13.2	8.6	4.6	1.62	7.1	73.8	80.1
1991	15,070,000	198,665	129,958	68,707	13.2	8.6	4.6	1.61	6.5	74.1	80.2
1992	15,184,000	196,734	129,887	66,847	13.0	8.6	4.4	1.59	6.3	74.3	80.3
1993	15,290,000	195,748	137,795	57,953	12.8	9.0	3.8	1.57	6.3	74.0	80.0
1994	15,383,000	195,611	133,471	62,140	12.7	8.7	4.0	1.57	5.6	74.6	80.3
1995	15,459,000	190,513	135,675	54,838	12.3	8.8	3.5	1.531	5.5	74.6	80.4
1996	15,528,000	189,521	137,561	51,960	12.2	8.9	3.3	1.529	5.7	74.7	80.4
1997	15,611,000	192,443	135,783	56,660	12.3	8.7	3.6	1.562	5.0	75.2	80.6
1998	15,706,000	199,412	137,968	61,444	12.7	8.8	3.9	1.628	5.2	75.2	80.7
1999	15,812,000	200,445	140,487	59,958	12.7	8.9	3.8	1.652	5.2	75.3	80.5
2000	15,924,000	206,619	140,527	66,092	13.0	8.8	4.2	1.723	5.1	75.5	80.6
2001	16,044,000	202,603	140,377	62,226	12.6	8.7	3.9	1.710	5.4	75.8	80.7
2002	16,149,000	202,083	142,355	59,728	12.5	8.8	3.7	1.731	5.0	76.0	80.7
2003	16,225,000	200,297	141,936	58,361	12.3	8.7	3.6	1.747	4.8	76.2	80.9
2004	16,282,000	194,007	136,553	57,454	11.9	8.4	3.5	1.726	4.4	76.9	81.4
2005	16,320,000	187,910	136,402	51,508	11.5	8.4	3.2	1.708	4.9	77.2	81.6
2006	16,346,000	185,057	135,372	49,685	11.3	8.3	3.0	1.720	4.4	77.6	81.9
2007	16,382,000	181,336	133,022	48,314	11.1	8.1	2.9	1.718	4.1	78.0	82.3
2008	16,446,000	184,634	135,136	49,498	11.2	8.2	3.0	1.773	3.8	78.3	82.3
2009	16,530,000	184,915	134,235	50,680	11.2	8.1	3.1	1.790	3.8	78.5	82.7
2010	16,615,000	184,397	136,058	48,339	11.1	8.2	2.9	1.796	3.8	78.8	82.7
2011	16,693,000	180,060	135,741	44,319	10.8	8.1	2.7	1.759	3.6	79.2	82.8
2012	16,754,000	175,959	140,813	35,146	10.5	8.4	2.1	1.723	3.7	79.1	82.8
2013	16,803,000	171,341	141,245	30,096	10.2	8.4	1.8	1.679	3.8	79.4	83.0
2014	16,865,000	175,181	139,073	35,434	10.3	8.2	2.1	1.713	3.6	79.9	83.3
2015	16,900,000	170,510	147,134	23,376	10.0	8.7	1.3	1.658	3.3	79.7	83.1
2016	16,979,000	172,520	148,997	23,523	10.2	8.8	1.3	1.663	3.5	79.9	83.1
2017	17,082,000	169,836	150,214	19,622	9.9	8.8	1.1	1.619	3.6	80.1	83.3
2018	17,181,084	168,525	153,363	15,162	9.8	8.9	0.9	1.586	3.5	80.2	83.3
2019	17,282,163	169,680	151,885	17,795	9.8	8.8	1.0	1.574	3.6	80.5	83.6
2020	17,407,585	168,681	168,678	3	9.7	9.7	0.0	1.545	3.8	79.7	83.1
2021	17,475,415	179,441	170,972	8,469	10.2	9.8	0.4	1.624		79.7	83.0
2022	17,590,672	166,891	169,937	-3,046	9.5	9.7	-0.2

Current vital statistics

Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek^[19]

Period	Live births	Deaths	Natural increase
January - March 2022	40,258	43,109	-2,851
January - March 2023	39,003	46,644	-7,641
Difference	-1,387 (-3.44%)	+3,535 (+8.20%)	-4,790

Migration and origin groups

See also: Multiculturalism in the Netherlands

Between 1590 and 1800 the estimated share of foreign-born population was consistently above 5%.^[20]

According to Eurostat, in 2010 there were 1,800,000 foreign-born residents in the Netherlands, corresponding to 11.1% of the total population. Of these, 1,400,000 (8.5%) were born outside the EU (including those from Dutch colonies) and 428,000 (2.6%) were born in another EU member state. The most common countries of birth being: Belgium, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.^[21] On 1 January 2016, 26,2% of persons aged 0–50 had at least one parent born in a foreign country. 11,4% of persons aged 0–50 of 'Dutch background' belonged to the 'third generation', the majority descending from Western immigrants. The third generation constitutes persons born from two second generation immigrants or one second generation immigrant and one person with a Dutch background. First and second generation immigrants and the third generation were 34,5% of the population aged 0–50.^[22]

As the result of immigration from overseas, the Netherlands have a sizeable minority of non-indigenous peoples. There is also a considerable level of emigration, in majority consisting of former immigrants. In 2005, some 121,000 people left the country, while 94,000 entered it. Out of a total of 101,150 people immigrating into the Netherlands in 2006, 66,658 were from Europe, Oceania, the Americas or Japan, and 34,492 were from other (mostly developing) countries. Out of a total of 132,470 emigrants, 94,834 were going to Europe, Oceania, the Americas or Japan and 37,636 to other countries.^[23]

A large number^[20] of immigrants come from countries in Western Europe, mostly from the neighbouring countries of Germany and Belgium. There were five subsequent waves of immigration to the Netherlands in recent history.

1. In the late-1940s and into the 1950s, following the end of the Second World War, people from the newly independent Republic of Indonesia repatriated or emigrated to the Netherlands - mainly Indo-European (people of mixed European and Indonesian ancestry of Dutch nationality) and supporters of the Republic of South Maluku.
2. Between 1960 and 1974, migrants from Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Morocco came to work in the Netherlands as guest workers. They were expected to return to their own country and many did, but others remained and in the 1970s and 1980s were joined by their families. Until 2004, when marriage immigration was restricted, their children usually married others from their home country.^{[citation needed]}
3. After 1974, people emigrated from the newly independent Suriname and from the Netherlands Antilles, which remained part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1974, about forty thousand Surinamese migrated while still retaining Dutch citizenship; between 1975 and 1980 there was a transitional arrangement allowing migration. Antilleans have the Dutch nationality and behave like typical labour migrants, travelling to and from the country in response to the employment available.
4. During the 1970s and 1980s, the number of asylum seekers was low, consisting e.g. of Chileans fleeing from political oppression and/or persecution. In the 1990s, asylum migration sharply increased,^[24] largely consisting of Yugoslavs, Somalis, Iraqis, Iranians, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Afghans and Vietnamese, fleeing war or famine.^[25] Between 2000 and 2014 asylum migration strongly decreased due to the strict "Cohen Law". However, the Syrian Civil War from 2011 resulted in a large influx of Syrian asylum seekers in 2015 and 2016; about ninety thousand Syrians had been granted asylum by 2018.
5. Since the 2000s, migrant workers and their families from the newly joined EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe, including: Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, and non-EU states Moldova, Ukraine and the former Yugoslavia.^{[citation needed]} In addition, a number of Spaniards, Greeks, Italians, and Portuguese also migrated due to the impact of the Great Recession in those countries. In 2005, non-Western ethnic population comprised 1.7 million individuals, about 10% of the population in the country.^[26]

Illegal immigration to the Netherlands results in automatic deportation^[27] but this is often not enforced for various reasons such as unknown country of origin, etc. Many Dutch provinces in 2012 had quotas for deporting illegal immigrants.^{[28][29][30][31]}

By 2017, persons with an immigration background, both western and non-western, formed a majority in Amsterdam (2011), Rotterdam (2013) and The Hague, the three largest cities of the Netherlands.^[32]

In 2005, the governmental Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau in its annual report, noted recurring integration problems for ethnic minorities. While during the economic boom of the 1990s their unemployment and dependence on welfare had strongly decreased, the economic downturn between 2001 and 2004 disproportionally affected immigrant groups. This would be explained by their functioning as a labour reserve, by their lower educational levels and by lower language skills. The report also noted that per capita social interactions between native Dutch and immigrant populations tended to decline over time, partly explainable by the size growth of immigrant groups. Integration levels strongly varied between groups. Surinamese and Antilleans were well economically integrated, but the latter less so culturally. Cultural integration was limited for Turks, but better for Moroccans. Of the asylum seekers, Somalis were among the least integrated into Dutch society, while Iranians were the best integrated with the highest education levels and modern lifestyles. Though the educational levels of the second generation were a significant improvement over those of the first generation, they still lagged behind the native Dutch who themselves on average had been attending ever higher school types. While half of all native Dutch pupils in 2005 proceeded to higher secondary education (HAVO and VWO), for Turks and Moroccans the share was a fifth and for Somali pupils even lower.^[26]

In 2007, non-Western groups were generally socio-economically disadvantaged and of the four largest non-Western groups, Turks and Moroccans were the most disadvantaged. In 2006 38.7% of Moroccans and 43.9% of Turks aged 15–64 were in employment, their unemployment rate was about four times the level of the native Dutch (17.2% for Moroccans and 15.1% for Turks), and 30% received some type of social welfare.^[20]

After 2008, the financial crisis and the eurocrisis again hit immigrant groups particularly hard. In 2012, at 12% non-Western migrants were six times more likely than native Dutch to receive social welfare benefits, with 2% for the Dutch.^[33]

 

Western and non-Western fraction of low-income households and source of income. Data sourced from Statistics Netherlands.^[34]

According to a 2010 Statistics Netherlands report, the third generation of non-Western immigrants was predominantly young with 80% being younger than 15, while growing with 10% each year. The third generation have a similar employment rate as the native Dutch and receive a similar amount of social benefits. The third non-Western generation follow adult education more frequently than both the native Dutch and non-Western immigrants. The non-Western immigrant population as a whole has 1.5 to 2 times the benefit dependence compared to the natives. The non-Western third generation had a rate slightly higher than the native Dutch as crime suspects, but lower than for non-Western immigrants as a whole.^[35][36]

According to Statistics Netherlands, nearly 53% of refugee households have a low income, six times the Netherlands average (8.2%).^[34] For Syrian and Eritrean households the share is about 80%. At 33% the poverty risk is lowest among Iranian refugee households. The group of Syrian households at risk of poverty grew from ten thousand (76% of all Syrian households in 2016) to eighteen thousand (79% of all Syrian households) in 2018. Households of Polish, Romanian or Bulgarian origin have a greater than average risk of poverty even though households from these Eastern European countries generally depend on work for their income. Migrant workers from Eastern Europe generally perform low-skilled work while migrants from Western Europe are often highly educated.^[34]

Immigrants from foreign countries are divided into several ethnic groups. For example, there are both Russians and Chechens from Russia, Turks and Kurds from Turkey, Serbs and Albanians from Serbia and immigrants from Iran are divided into Persians, Azeris and Kurds.^[37]

National origins

 

Population of the Netherlands by country of birth

Pie chart showing the breakdown of the Netherlands by national origin (2022)

  Dutch (74.77%)

  Turks (2.44%)

  Moroccans (2.38%)

  Surinamese (2.05%)

  Indos (1.99%)

  Germans (1.95%)

  Poles (1.26%)

  Curaçao (0.77%)

  Belgians (0.7%)

  Other (11.69%)

Further information: Integration law for new immigrants to the Netherlands

As of 1 January 2022^[update], 4 438 900 citizens are of non-Dutch/Frisian origin. A majority of these (50,86%) are from seven backgrounds alone: Turks (inc. Kurds), Moroccans (inc. Berbers), Surinamese, Indonesians (inc. Moluccans), Germans, Poles and Curaçao.^[38]

With the huge expansion of the European Union during the 2000s, the Netherlands has seen a rise in the number of immigrants coming from new member states. Migrant workers from these countries are estimated to be about 100,000 as of 2007.^[39] Legal migrants from new EU-member states doubled between 2007–11 to 200,000,^[40] with estimates totaling up to 300,000. Of the Poles who initially moved to the Netherlands in 2004, about a quarter had returned to Poland by 2006.^[41] In addition, a large number of Syrians moved to the Netherlands in the 2010s mostly as refugees, with the population increasing seven-fold between 2014 and 2019. Both Poles and Syrians have overtaken the population of Antilleans during the decade.^[38] More than 36,000 Roma live in the Netherlands.^[42] Dutch Roma, Sinti and Dutch Jews were decimated by the Holocaust.^[43][44] However, the Jewish population has seen growth in the Netherlands in recent years.^[45]

As of 1 January 2022^[update]:^[38]

National origins/Migration background	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2010
Dutch (& Frisians)	13 151 772 (74.77%)	13 169 507 (75.36%)	13 186 880 (75.75%)	13 196 025 (76.36%)	13 209 225 (76.88%)	13 218 754 (77.39%)	13 226 829 (77.90%)	13 235 405 (78.31%)	13 234 545 (78.64%)	13 236 494 (78.89%)	13 236 618 (79.12%)	13 215 458 (79.73%)
Turks (& Kurds)	429 978 (2.444%)	422 030 (2.415%)	416 864 (2.395%)	409 877 (2.37%)	404 459 (2.35%)	400 367 (2.34%)	397 471 (2.34%)	396 555 (2.35%)	396 414 (2.36%)	392 923 (2.34%)	392 923 (2.35%)	384 164 (2.32%)
Moroccans (& Berbers)	419 272 (2.38%)	414 186 (2.37%)	408 864 (2.35%)	402 492 (2.33%)	396 539 (2.31%)	391 088 (2.29%)	385 761 (2.27%)	380 755 (2.25%)	374 996 (2.23%)	368 838 (2.20%)	362 954 (2.17%)	349 270 (2.11%)
Surinamese	359 814 (2.05%)	358 266 (2.05%)	356 402 (2.05%)	353 909 (2.05%)	351 681 (2.05%)	349 978 (2.05%)	349 022 (2.06%)	348 662 (2.06%)	348 291 (2.07%)	344 734 (2.05%)	344 734 (2.06%)	342 016 (2.06%)
Indos (& Moluccans)	349 301 (1.986%)	352 266 (2.016%)	356 029 (2.045%)	358 773 (2.08%)	361 594 (2.10%)	364 328 (2.13%)	366 849 (2.16%)	369 661 (2.19%)	372 233 (2.21%)	374 847 (2.23%)	377 618 (2.26%)	382 319 (2.31%)
Germans	342 925 (1.95%)	345 746 (1.98%)	349 284 (2.006%)	351 552 (2.03%)	354 136 (2.06%)	356 875 (2.09%)	360 116 (2.12%)	364 125 (2.15%)	368 512 (2.19%)	?	?	379 017 (2.29%)
Poles	220 980 (1.26%)	209 278 (1.2%)	198 024 (1.14%)	185 497 (1.07%)	173 050 (1.01%)	161 158 (0.94%)	149 831 (0.88%)	137 794 (0.82%)	123 003 (0.73%)	111 121 (0.66%)	100 775 (0.60%)	77 178 (0.47%)
Antilleans	?	?	158 487 (0.91%)	155 492 (0.90%)	153 469 (0.90%)	150 981 (0.89%)	148 926 (0.88%)	146 855 (0.87%)	145 499 (0.87%)	143 992 (0.86%)	138 113 (0.83%)	134 486 (0.82%)
Belgians	123 136 (0.7%)	122 197 (0.7%)	121 019 (0.695%)	119 769 (0.69%)	118 725 (0.69%)	117 495 (0.69%)	116 389 (0.69%)	115 687 (0.68%)	?	?	?	?
Syrians	126 260 (0.72%)	113 126 (0.65%)	105 440 (0.61%)	98 090 (0.57%)	90 771 (0.53%)	72 903 (0.43%)	43 838 (0.26%)	22 568 (0.13%)	13 744 (0.08%)	11 665 (0.07%)	11 025 (0.07%)	10 263 (0.06%)
Former Soviets^[a]	?	110 877		92 128 (0.53%)		84 498 (0.49%)	80 013 (0.47%)	76 102 (0.45%)	?	?	?	?
British	97 844 (0.56%)	97 614 (0.56%)		91 154 (0.53%)	88 390 (0.51%)	86 293 (0.51%)	84 466 (0.50%)	82 879 (0.49%)	?	?	?	?
Former Yugoslavs^[b]	?	91 951		87 536 (0.51%)		85 504 (0.50%)	84 243 (0.50%)	83 261 (0.49%)	?	?	?	?
Chinese	84 453 (0.48%)	81 735 (0.47%)		77 648 (0.45%)	74 234 (0.43%)	71 229 (0.42%)	68 697 (0.40%)	66 088 (0.39%)	?	?	?	?
Iraqis	67 757 (0.39%)	66 216 (0.38%)		63 008 (0.36%)	61 255 (0.36%)	59 497 (0.35%)	56 269 (0.33%)	?	?	?	?	?
Italians	64 398 (0.37%)	61 367 (0.35%)		56 645 (0.33%)	53 703 (0.31%)	50 925 (0.30%)	48 366 (0.28%)	?	?	?	?	?
Indians	65 399 (0.37%)	58 460 (0.33%)		48 724 (0.28%)		36 818 (0.22%)	32 682 (0.19%)	?	?	?	?	?
Afghans	54 991 (0.31%)	51 830 (0.3%)		49 122 (0.28%)	47 776 (0.28%)	46 701 (0.27%)	44 339 (0.26%)	?	?	?	?	?
Spaniards	54 269 (0.31%)	50 466 (0.29%)		46 741 (0.27%)		42 926 (0.25%)	41 572 (0.24%)	?	?	?	?	?
French	52 389 (0.3%)	50 207 (0.29%)		47 009 (0.27%)	45 558 (0.27%)	43 836 (0.26%)	42 070 (0.25%)	?	?	?	?	?
Iranians (Persians, Azeris and Kurds)	52 099 (0.3%)	49 723 (0.29%)		44 379 (0.26%)	42 464 (0.25%)	40 893 (0.24%)	38 458 (0.23%)	?	?	?	?	?
Americans	49 246 (0.28%)	47 408 (0.27%)		44 399 (0.26%)		40 022 (0.23%)	38 494 (0.23%)	?	?	?	?	?
Bulgarians	50 305 (0.29%)	44 874 (0.26%)	40 216 (0.23%)	34 809 (0.20%)		27 729 (0.16%)	25 520 (0.15%)	?	?	?	?	?
Romanians	48 563 (0.28%)	43 161 (0.25%)	39 340 (0.225%)	34 185 (0.20%)		25 551 (0.15%)	23 020 (0.14%)	?	?	?	?	?
Somalis	41 064 (0.23%)	40 701 (0.23%)	40 251 (0.23%)	39 947 (0.23%)	39 737 (0.23%)	39 457 (0.23%)	39 465 (0.23%)	?	?	?	?	?
Bosnians	39 265 (0.22%)	38 927 (0.22%)	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Brazilians	38 125 (0.22%)	35 285 (0.2%)	33 348 (0.19%)	30 104 (0.17%)		24 725 (0.14%)	23 675 (0.14%)	?	?	?	?	?
Portuguese	31 306 (0.18%)	29 092 (0.17%)	28 802 (0.17%)	27 450 (0.16%)		25 637 (0.15%)	24 930 (0.15%)	?	?	?	?	?
Greeks	31 480 (0.18%)	28 856 (0.16%)	28 100 (0.16%)	25 709 (0.15%)		22 141 (0.13%)	20 769 (0.12%)	?	?	?	?	?
South Africans (Afrikaners)	31 693 (0.18%)	28 562 (0.16%)		23 738 (0.14%)		20 859 (0.12%)	19 877 (0.12%)	?	?	?	?	?
Egyptians	29 483 (0.17%)	28 399 (0.16%)		26 152 (0.15%)		23 956 (0.14%)	23 198 (0.14%)	?	?	?	?	?
Ethiopians	28 635 (0.16%)	27 139 (0.15%)		23 777 (0.14%)		19 528 (0.11%)	16 347 (0.10%)	?	?	?	?	?
Hungarians	28 210 (0.16%)	26 853 (0.15%)		24 898 (0.14%)		22 870 (0.13%)	22 080 (0.13%)	?	?	?	?	?
Ghanaians	26 694 (0.15%)	25 999 (0.15%)		24 460 (0.14%)		23 430 (0.14%)	23 168 (0.14%)	?	?	?	?	?
Pakistanis	27 261 (0.15%)	25 938 (0.15%)		23 855 (0.14%)	22 897 (0.13%)	22 137 (0.13%)	21 447 (0.13%)	?	?	?	?	?
Filipinos	26 658 (0.15%)	25 365 (0.14%)		23 128 (0.13%)	22 000 (0.13%)	20 937 (0.12%)	20 073 (0.12%)	?	?	?	?	?
Vietnamese (Kinh)	25 135 (0.14%)	24 594 (0.14%)		23 488 (0.14%)		22 023 (0.13%)	21 435 (0.13%)	?	?	?	?	?
Cape Verdeans	23 150 (0.13%)	22 980 (0.13%)		22 632 (0.13%)		22 285 (0.13%)	22 157 (0.13%)	?	?	?	?	?
Thai	23 390 (0.13%)	22 642 (0.13%)		21 364 (0.12%)		20 106 (0.12%)	19 513 (0.11%)	?	?	?	?	?
Colombians	21 853 (0.12%)	20 515 (0.12%)		18 351 (0.11%)		16 607 (0.10%)	15 892 (0.09%)	?	?	?	?	?
Hong Kongers	18 363 (0.1%)	18 332 (0.10%)		18 367 (0.11%)		18 357 (0.11%)	18 300 (0.11%)	?	?	?	?	?
Australians	17 722 (0.10%)	17 688 (0.10%)		17 349 (0.10%)		16 597 (0.10%)	16 127 (0.09%)	?	?	?	?	?
Canadians	17 266 (0.1%)	16 997 (0.10%)		16 614 (0.10%)	16 240 (0.09%)	15 944 (0.09%)	15 625 (0.09%)	?	?	?	?	?
Austrians	16 216 (0.09%)	16 130 (0.09%)		16 055 (0.09%)		15 777 (0.09%)	15 674 (0.09%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of Sub-Saharan Africa	?			108 621 (0.63%)		97 026 (0.57%)	91 797 (0.54%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of Europe	?			77 245 (0.45%)		68 592 (0.40%)	65 849 (0.39%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of Americas (except Caribbean)	?			52 425 (0.30)		47 048 (0.28%)	45 256 (0.27%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of North Africa and Middle East	?			55 180 (0.32%)		46 231 (0.27%)	44 059 (0.26%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of East and Southeast Asia	?			38 279 (0.22%)		34 562 (0.20%)	33 473 (0.20%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of Caribbean	?			28 861 (0.17%)		21 514 (0.13%)	20 956 (0.12%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of South Asia	?			18 672 (0.11%)		17 448 (0.10%)	16 762 (0.10%)	?	?	?	?	?
Rest of Oceania	?			6 479 (0.04%)		6 062 (0.04%)	5 916 (0.03%)	?	?	?	?	?
Others	?							1 094 826 (6.48%)	1 587 433 (9.43%)	1 437 462 (8.57%)	1 437 462 (8.59%)	1 387 255 (8.37%)
Total	17 590 672	17 475 415	17 407 575	17 282 163	17 181 084	17 081 507	16 979 120	16 900 726	16 829 289	16 779 575	16 730 348	16 577 612

• Population pyramids of background groups
•  

  Dutch background population pyramid in 2022

•  

  Migration background: Total

•  

  1st generation migrant background

•  

  2nd generation (both parents born abroad) migrant background

•  

  2nd generation partial (one parent born abroad) migrant background

•  

  Europe (total foreign/non-Dutch) migrant background

•  

  Americas (total foreign/non-Dutch) migrant background

•  

  Asia (total foreign/non-Dutch) migrant background

•  

  Africa (total foreign/non-Dutch) migrant background

Region of the World	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017	2016
Netherlands	13 151 772 (74.77%)	13 169 507 (75.36%)	13 196 025 (76.36%)	13 209 225 (76.88%)	13 218 754 (77.39%)	13 226 829 (77.90%)
Europe (Except Netherlands)	1 889 704 (10.74%)	1 830 696 (10.48%)	1 318 382 (7.63%)		1 237 807 (7.25%)	1 204 908 (7.10%)
Asia	1 023 304 (5.82%)	985 977 (5.64%)	985 977 (5.64%)
Americas	751 689 (4.27%)	733 401 (4.2%)
Africa	749 780 (4.26%)	731 444 (4.19%)	731 444 (4.19%)
North Africa and Middle East			1 148 300 (6.64%)		1 081 636 (6.33%)	1 033 393 (6.09%)
East and South East Asia			561 047 (3.25%)		551 542 (3.23%)	548 340 (3.23%)
Caribbean and Suriname			538 262 (3.11%)		524 961 (3.07%)	520 959 (3.07%)
Sub-Saharan Africa			243 175 (1.41%)		222 585 (1.30%)	212 811 (1.25%)
Americas (Except Caribbean and Suriname)			161 893 (0.94%)		144 346 (0.85%)	138 942 (0.82%)
South Asia			91 251 (0.53%)		76 403 (0.45%)	70 891 (0.42%)
Oceania	24 423 (0.14%)	24 390 (0.14%)	22 828 (0.14%)		22 659 (0.13%)	22 043 (0.13%)

Immigrants and people of migrant backgrounds

Nationality	Population (2022)^[46]
Turkey	429,978
Morocco	419,272
Suriname	359,814
Indonesia	349,301
Germany	342,925
Poland	220,980
Syria	126,260
Belgium	123,136
United Kingdom	97,844
China	84,453
Iraq	67,757
India	65,399
Italy	55,001
Afghanistan	54,991
Spain	54,269
France	52,389
Iran	52,099
Bulgaria	50,305
United States	49,246
Romania	48,563
Somalia	41,064
Bosnia and Herzegovina	39,265
Brazil	38,125
South Africa	31,693
Greece	31,480
Portugal	31,306
Egypt	29,483
Ethiopia	28,635
Hungary	28,210
Pakistan	27,261
Ghana	26,694
Philippines	26,658
Cape Verde	23,150
Thailand	23,390
Colombia	21,853
Hong Kong	18,363
Australia	17,722
Canada	17,266
Austria	16,216

Net immigrants in the Netherlands in 2019^[47]

Rank	Country	Number	Percentage
1	Poland	10,352	9.6
2	India	7,041	6.5
3	Syria	5,244	4.9
4	Turkey	4,920	4.6
5	Bulgaria	4,885	4.5
6	Romania	4,800	4.4
7	United Kingdom	3,506	3.2
8	China	3,308	3.1
9	Germany	3,187	2.9
10	Iran	2,935	2.7
	Top 10 total	50,178	46.4
	Other	57,857	53.6
	Total	108,035	100

Emigration

The Netherlands has seen considerable emigration. In the 1950s, 560,000^{[citation needed]} people migrated to the United States, South Africa, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, leaving their war-torn and overpopulated home country behind. At least 60,000 of these migrants were Indo-European (mixed Dutch-Indonesian) repatriates that moved on, mostly to the United States, after being repatriated to the Netherlands from the former Dutch East Indies during and after the Indonesian Revolution.

In 2005, some 121,000 people migrated from the Netherlands. There is considerable migration towards neighbouring states, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom and to the Netherlands Antilles. Furthermore, almost half of the current emigration consists of people returning to their country of birth, including rejected asylum seekers, after the more stringent migration laws were implemented.

Education by background

According to a 2016 study by Statistics Netherlands, students with a non-western background generally study at a lower level of secondary education. 48 percent of those with a Dutch background were at HAVO or VWO level at third year, compared to 23 percent for Dutch Turks, 28 percent for Dutch Moroccans, 35 percent for Dutch Surinamese and 31 percent for Dutch Antilleans. Some backgrounds fared better: over 40 percent of Dutch Afghans studied at HAVO/VWO level, and for Dutch Iranians the rate was 50 percent, which was above native Dutch students.^[48]

Employment and income

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24

total: 7.2%. Country comparison to the world: 130th

male: 7.7%

female: 6.6% (2018 est.)

Religion

Main article: Religion in the Netherlands

In 2013, Statistics Netherlands found that 26% of the population identified as Roman Catholic, 16% as Protestant, 5% as Muslim, and 6% as "other" (the last includes other Christian denominations, Hindus 0.6%, Jews 0.1%, and Buddhists 0.4%). The agency interviewed 355,237 people in the period 2010–2013. ^[49] In 2019, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported that for the first time non-religious people were in the majority in the Netherlands. Only 49% of people older than 15 years reported to be religious; in 2012 that was still 54%. The largest religion was still Catholicism (24%), while 5% identified with Islam.^[50]

Religion in Netherlands (2018) by Statista^[51]

  No religion (53%)

  Roman Catholic (22%)

  Dutch Reformed Church^[c] (6%)

  Protestant Church in the Netherlands^[c] (6%)

  Reformed Churches in the Netherlands^[c] (3%)

  Muslim (5%)

  Other religions (5%)

Language

Main article: Languages of the Netherlands

The main language is Dutch, while Frisian (known as West Frisian outside of the Netherlands) is also a recognized language in the province of Friesland and is used by the government and schools there. Several dialects of Low Saxon (Nedersaksisch in Dutch) are spoken in much of the north and east and are recognized by the Netherlands as regional languages according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Another Dutch dialect granted the status of regional language is Limburgish, which is spoken in the south-eastern province of Limburg. Major immigrant languages are Indonesian, Turkish, Arabic, Berber, Papiamento, German and Polish.

See also

• Dutch people
• Islam in the Netherlands
• Immigration to Europe
• List of countries by immigrant population
• Netherlands
• Indo people

Notes

1. Primarily Estonians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Russians and Ukrainians
2. Bosniaks & Bosnians, Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Serbs, Slovenes, and other Yugoslavs collectively
3. In 2004, the Dutch Reformed Church (NHK) and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (GKN) merged to form the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) and officially no longer exist. However, many people still tend to give their older affiliation even after the merger. People who declared themselves simply as belonging to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands did not give an information about belonging to an older affiliation.^[52]

References

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4. Note: Crude migration change % is a trend analysis, an extrapolation, based average population change (current year minus previous) minus natural change of the current year (see table vital statistics). As average population is an estimate of the population in the middle of the year and not end of the year.
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External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Demographics of the Netherlands.

• CIA World Factbook data
• CBS Dutch Bureau of Statistics