How many residents of the Netherlands have a non-Dutch background?

On 1 January 2025, the Netherlands had 18 million inhabitants, 16.8 percent of whom were born abroad. They came to live in the Netherlands as migrants. That amounts to slightly more than 3 million people.

Population by country of birth, 1 january 2025
Country of birthpopulation
Netherlands and both parents12902
Netherlands 1 parent born abroad1149
Netherlands both parents born abroad968
Outside the Netherlands3026

How many residents of the Netherlands were born abroad?

The remaining 15 million inhabitants were born in the Netherlands. Among them are 2.1 million people who are children of migrants. They have one or two parents who were born abroad. Of these, just over half (more than 1.1 million) have one parent born abroad and one born in the Netherlands, while just under half (968 thousand) have two parents born abroad. In total, 11.7 percent of the population was born in the Netherlands to one or both parents born abroad. 

Population with a migration background, by country of birth (incl. parents), 2024
GeboortelandEurope (excl. the Netherlands) (x 1,000)Türkiye / Turkey (x 1,000)Morocco (x 1,000)Suriname (x 1,000)Caribbean Netherlands (x 1,000)Indonesia (x 1,000)Africa (excl. Morocco) (x 1,000)Asia (excl. Indonesia and Türkiye) (x 1,000)N & S America and Oceania
(excl. Suriname and Caribbean NL) (x 1,000)
Netherlands, 1 parent born abroad479.57564.01661.13876.20048.680188.35858.60677.72384.005
Netherlands, both parents born abroad128.831167.578191.730110.44937.98166.74582.771142.33219.537
Born outside the Netherlands1068.687225.506176.308178.703107.793101.463236.329628.010192.140

Where in the country do people with a non-Dutch background live?

People with a non-Dutch background live mainly in the Randstad conurbation in the west of the country, or in south Limburg. In 2024, The Hague and Amsterdam had the highest percentage of residents with a non-Dutch background. Residents of Urk and Achtkarspelen are the least likely to have roots outside the Netherlands. The spatial distribution of the group as a whole is very similar among both first-generation migrants and people whose parents migrated to the Netherlands (the second generation).

Share of population with a migration background, 1 januari 2024
MunicipalityTotal (%)Born outside the Netherlands (%)Born in the Netherlands* (but one or both parents born abroad) (%)
Aa en Hunze9.35.43.9
Aalsmeer26.716.710.0
Aalten12.96.56.3
Achtkarspelen6.03.62.3
Alblasserdam17.99.78.3
Albrandswaard25.511.614.0
Alkmaar25.614.111.5
Almelo29.215.913.3
Almere49.327.222.1
Alphen aan den Rijn24.013.110.9
Alphen-Chaam16.48.18.3
Altena10.86.93.9
Ameland11.07.43.6
Amersfoort28.314.613.8
Amstelveen53.036.316.7
Amsterdam59.638.021.7
Apeldoorn21.211.59.7
Arnhem36.620.715.9
Assen19.410.88.6
Asten13.59.04.6
Baarle-Nassau29.516.013.5
Baarn21.510.910.6
Barendrecht29.613.616.0
Barneveld11.46.74.7
Beek (L.)19.110.58.6
Beekdaelen17.07.49.6
Beesel19.19.29.9
Berg en Dal16.88.38.5
Bergeijk13.88.25.6
Bergen (L.)17.48.58.9
Bergen (NH.)16.99.67.3
Bergen op Zoom29.315.813.5
Berkelland9.75.24.4
Bernheze11.87.44.3
Best22.213.29.0
Beuningen15.37.67.7
Beverwijk31.617.614.1
De Bilt22.211.211.1
Bladel12.67.55.1
Blaricum26.012.913.1
Bloemendaal23.912.311.6
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk17.19.67.5
Boekel10.66.93.7
Borger-Odoorn8.34.63.8
Borne13.77.06.7
Borsele12.07.05.0
Boxtel19.511.77.9
Breda27.815.512.3
Bronckhorst8.04.33.7
Brummen14.27.17.2
Brunssum25.410.514.9
Bunnik17.18.78.3
Bunschoten13.78.55.2
Buren11.87.04.8
Capelle aan den IJssel41.622.718.9
Castricum13.56.57.0
Coevorden11.46.45.0
Cranendonck19.110.98.1
Culemborg25.812.813.1
Dalfsen8.65.53.1
Dantumadiel6.53.92.6
Delft41.928.013.9
Deurne12.77.84.9
Deventer24.713.311.5
Diemen54.534.819.7
Dijk en Waard21.711.410.4
Dinkelland9.64.84.8
Doesburg22.511.910.6
Doetinchem17.29.08.3
Dongen16.79.37.4
Dordrecht34.118.715.4
Drechterland14.18.65.6
Drimmelen12.77.75.0
Dronten21.412.98.5
Druten15.28.07.2
Duiven17.28.78.5
Echt-Susteren19.49.69.8
Edam-Volendam11.86.45.4
Ede18.610.18.6
Eemnes18.09.78.3
Eemsdelta17.910.27.8
Eersel13.38.15.2
Eijsden-Margraten15.78.07.8
Eindhoven44.429.814.6
Elburg8.75.43.3
Emmen15.08.36.7
Enkhuizen19.812.17.8
Enschede33.719.414.3
Epe13.47.26.2
Ermelo13.97.96.0
Etten-Leur22.211.810.4
De Fryske Marren10.15.94.2
Geertruidenberg13.27.35.9
Geldrop-Mierlo22.112.49.7
Gemert-Bakel13.78.45.2
Gennep18.210.28.0
Gilze en Rijen20.812.08.8
Goeree-Overflakkee9.75.74.0
Goes20.211.78.5
Goirle13.86.96.9
Gooise Meren26.613.912.7
Gorinchem29.615.913.6
Gouda30.116.613.5
's-Gravenhage (gemeente)59.938.121.8
Groningen (gemeente)29.019.19.8
Gulpen-Wittem15.97.78.2
Haaksbergen14.37.07.3
Haarlem36.321.415.0
Haarlemmermeer34.419.315.1
Halderberge19.211.28.1
Hardenberg8.75.03.8
Harderwijk20.911.09.9
Hardinxveld-Giessendam10.46.14.3
Harlingen15.18.66.5
Hattem10.15.44.7
Heemskerk23.212.410.8
Heemstede24.812.911.9
Heerde8.55.03.5
Heerenveen14.88.36.5
Heerlen32.216.515.7
Heeze-Leende13.77.76.1
Heiloo15.37.97.5
Den Helder22.912.010.9
Hellendoorn8.94.94.0
Helmond32.318.913.4
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht18.18.69.5
Hengelo (O.)26.514.012.5
's-Hertogenbosch24.513.610.9
Heumen16.58.48.1
Heusden17.19.97.2
Hillegom22.213.19.1
Hilvarenbeek10.05.64.4
Hilversum34.821.513.3
Hoeksche Waard12.26.45.8
Hof van Twente11.66.84.8
Het Hogeland10.45.94.5
Hollands Kroon14.69.35.3
Hoogeveen14.38.85.5
Hoorn27.715.312.4
Horst aan de Maas15.310.35.1
Houten19.510.09.5
Huizen24.312.212.1
Hulst32.821.611.2
IJsselstein23.111.511.6
Kaag en Braassem16.19.26.8
Kampen12.87.55.3
Kapelle12.47.54.9
Katwijk14.28.45.8
Kerkrade33.819.014.8
Koggenland11.36.64.7
Krimpen aan den IJssel20.210.010.2
Krimpenerwaard13.67.26.3
Laarbeek11.86.85.0
Land van Cuijk15.48.56.9
Landgraaf24.410.713.8
Landsmeer22.310.412.0
Lansingerland22.810.712.1
Laren (NH.)25.213.311.9
Leeuwarden21.112.58.6
Leiden36.522.813.7
Leiderdorp26.314.212.1
Leidschendam-Voorburg37.622.415.1
Lelystad39.021.817.1
Leudal15.59.06.5
Leusden17.49.18.4
Lingewaard12.66.16.5
Lisse17.010.26.7
Lochem13.26.86.4
Loon op Zand13.77.85.8
Lopik12.46.85.5
Losser16.07.18.8
Maasdriel16.911.95.0
Maasgouw17.48.88.6
Maashorst17.29.77.4
Maassluis31.815.915.9
Maastricht38.127.410.7
Medemblik16.410.06.4
Meerssen15.68.17.5
Meierijstad17.610.86.8
Meppel15.99.56.4
Middelburg (Z.)23.313.310.0
Midden-Delfland15.58.17.3
Midden-Drenthe9.25.24.0
Midden-Groningen17.710.07.8
Moerdijk15.79.06.7
Molenlanden9.45.63.8
Montferland14.57.56.9
Montfoort13.27.26.0
Mook en Middelaar17.19.37.8
Neder-Betuwe11.07.23.8
Nederweert12.47.64.8
Nieuwegein32.817.715.1
Nieuwkoop13.88.15.7
Nijkerk14.88.16.7
Nijmegen29.216.412.8
Nissewaard29.915.514.4
Noardeast-Fryslân7.74.53.2
Noord-Beveland16.510.95.6
Noordenveld9.85.44.4
Noordoostpolder20.313.56.8
Noordwijk21.113.27.9
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten17.09.27.9
Nunspeet9.15.43.7
Oegstgeest30.318.012.4
Oirschot10.86.74.2
Oisterwijk14.38.55.9
Oldambt13.77.66.1
Oldebroek8.04.93.1
Oldenzaal17.38.68.6
Olst-Wijhe10.45.74.7
Ommen11.17.53.6
Oost Gelre9.54.84.8
Oosterhout23.712.011.7
Ooststellingwerf9.35.14.2
Oostzaan17.58.78.8
Opmeer11.56.84.6
Opsterland8.14.53.6
Oss22.813.39.5
Oude IJsselstreek15.27.57.7
Ouder-Amstel35.020.314.7
Oudewater11.57.14.4
Overbetuwe14.37.07.3
Papendrecht21.610.411.2
Peel en Maas15.39.85.5
Pekela13.28.54.7
Pijnacker-Nootdorp25.713.112.6
Purmerend30.016.113.9
Putten10.05.84.1
Raalte8.85.23.6
Reimerswaal17.512.15.5
Renkum18.49.68.7
Renswoude11.27.73.5
Reusel-De Mierden11.16.64.5
Rheden19.810.49.3
Rhenen14.37.46.9
Ridderkerk24.712.012.7
Rijssen-Holten9.95.84.2
Rijswijk (ZH.)42.823.819.0
Roerdalen19.510.49.2
Roermond33.418.814.6
De Ronde Venen20.510.79.8
Roosendaal29.616.912.7
Rotterdam56.533.223.3
Rozendaal21.611.610.0
Rucphen13.17.45.7
Schagen14.08.06.0
Scherpenzeel9.25.73.5
Schiedam48.427.421.0
Schiermonnikoog18.010.77.3
Schouwen-Duiveland12.77.65.1
Simpelveld19.39.99.4
Sint-Michielsgestel10.75.94.9
Sittard-Geleen25.012.412.6
Sliedrecht18.19.68.5
Sluis38.029.18.9
Smallingerland14.48.26.3
Soest24.212.112.1
Someren12.58.04.5
Son en Breugel16.99.07.9
Stadskanaal11.16.64.5
Staphorst7.05.12.0
Stede Broec16.59.96.5
Steenbergen16.09.96.0
Steenwijkerland11.97.24.7
Stein (L.)15.97.28.7
Stichtse Vecht22.712.110.6
Súdwest-Fryslân11.66.65.0
Terneuzen32.621.011.6
Terschelling10.05.04.9
Texel14.79.35.5
Teylingen19.410.98.5
Tholen12.17.64.5
Tiel29.916.113.8
Tilburg32.819.813.1
Tubbergen6.13.22.9
Twenterand6.93.93.0
Tynaarlo11.35.95.5
Tytsjerksteradiel8.55.13.4
Uitgeest15.07.47.6
Uithoorn34.520.514.0
Urk5.63.62.0
Utrecht (gemeente)40.323.117.1
Utrechtse Heuvelrug18.69.69.1
Vaals54.542.012.6
Valkenburg aan de Geul18.09.78.3
Valkenswaard18.110.27.8
Veendam15.07.97.1
Veenendaal21.411.110.3
Veere11.37.04.4
Veldhoven24.515.78.8
Velsen22.912.610.3
Venlo32.619.013.6
Venray23.714.39.4
Vijfheerenlanden20.410.010.4
Vlaardingen37.620.716.9
Vlieland22.317.54.9
Vlissingen30.417.812.6
Voerendaal15.56.88.6
Voorne aan Zee19.610.29.4
Voorschoten26.014.811.1
Voorst10.25.34.9
Vught16.08.47.7
Waadhoeke11.37.04.3
Waalre22.112.59.6
Waalwijk22.914.18.8
Waddinxveen22.011.410.6
Wageningen32.923.99.1
Wassenaar39.827.012.8
Waterland17.49.38.1
Weert25.214.210.9
West Betuwe12.47.35.1
West Maas en Waal11.66.64.9
Westerkwartier9.55.34.2
Westerveld8.94.94.0
Westervoort21.810.611.2
Westerwolde16.511.74.8
Westland19.512.07.5
Weststellingwerf9.85.34.5
Wierden8.94.64.3
Wijchen14.87.57.3
Wijdemeren17.08.88.2
Wijk bij Duurstede14.06.97.1
Winterswijk17.39.67.7
Woensdrecht27.218.09.2
Woerden18.910.18.8
De Wolden7.14.13.0
Wormerland17.08.68.4
Woudenberg14.58.16.3
Zaanstad38.220.817.5
Zaltbommel17.210.96.3
Zandvoort27.115.511.7
Zeewolde21.813.48.4
Zeist26.813.912.9
Zevenaar17.18.09.0
Zoetermeer36.618.917.7
Zoeterwoude16.18.67.5
Zuidplas21.210.310.9
Zundert18.211.07.1
Zutphen19.99.910.0
Zwartewaterland8.85.92.9
Zwijndrecht26.913.713.2
Zwolle20.411.09.4

How is a person’s origin or background determined?

The classification of the population by origin involves two variables: ‘born in the Netherlands’ and ‘country of origin’. The country of origin is classified by world region, but countries from which many immigrants have come to the Netherlands are also identified individually.

  1. Born in the Netherlands: The ‘born in the Netherlands’ variable concerns whether a resident was born in the Netherlands or elsewhere, but also where their parents were born.
  2. Country of origin: As well as ‘born in the Netherlands’, residents of the Netherlands are also classified by country of origin. For people born outside the Netherlands, the country of origin is simply the country in which they were born. For people born in the Netherlands, the country of origin is their mother's country of birth; if their mother was born in the Netherlands, it is their father’s country of birth.

Terminology in classification Born in the Netherlands or born abroadTerminology in classification Born in the Netherlands or born abroad Terminology in classification Born in the Netherlands or born abroad Yes No No Yes Country of origin: the Netherlands Child of migrant(s) Migrant One parent born abroad Both parents born abroad One parent born abroad Both parents born abroad Both parents born in the Netherlands

Classification of country of originClassification of country of origin Legend 1 Netherlands 2 Europe (excl. NL) 3 Outside Europe 3.1 Turkey 3.2 Morocco 3.3 Suriname 3.4 Dutch Caribbean 3.5 Indonesia 3.6 Other – Outside Europe 3.6.1 Other – Africa 3.6.2 Other – Asia 3.6.3 Other – Americas and Oceania Classification of country of origin 1 Netherlands 2 Europe (excl. NL) 3 Outside Europe 3.1 Turkey 3.2 Morocco 3.3 Suriname 3.4 Dutch Caribbean 3.5 Indonesia 3.6 Other – Outside Europe 3.6.1 Other – Africa 3.6.2 Other – Asia 3.6.3 Other – Americas and Oceania 1 Netherlands 2 Europe (excl. NL) 3 Outside Europe 3.1 Turkey 3.2 Morocco 3.3 Suriname 3.4 Dutch Caribbean 3.5 Indonesia 3.6 Other – Outside Europe 3.6.1 Other – Africa 3.6.2 Other – Asia 3.6.3 Other – Americas and Oceania Legend