Population; key figures, 1950-2022
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
Key figures on the population of the Netherlands.
The following information is available:
- Population by sex;
- Population by marital status;
- Population by age (groups);
- Population by origin;
- Private households;
- Persons in institutional households;
- Population growth;
- Population density.
Statistics Netherlands will reorganise the tables relating to statistics on population and households. The aim is to reduce the number of tables while striving to preserve (much) needed information. This table will be revised as soon as possible.
CBS is in transition towards a new classification of the population by origin. Greater emphasis is now placed on where a person was born, aside from where that person’s parents were born. The term ‘migration background’ is no longer used in this regard. The main categories western/non-western are being replaced by categories based on continents and a few countries that share a specific migration history with the Netherlands. The new classification is being implemented gradually in tables and publications on population by origin.
Data available from 1950 to 2022.
Status of the figures:
All the figures are final.
Changes as of 26 April 2023:
None, this table was discontinued.
When will new figures be published?
No longer applicable. This table is succeeded by the table Population; key figures. See section 3.
Description topics
- Population by sex
- Data refer to 1 January.
Population:
The total number of people residing in the Netherlands.
In the population statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands the inhabitants of a given area are the people registered in the population register, whose address is located in that area.- Total population
- Males
- Females
- Population by age
- Data refer to 1 January.
Population:
The total number of people residing in the Netherlands.
In the population statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands the inhabitants of a given area are the people registered in the population register, whose address is located in that area.
Age:
The number of whole years that have passed since someone's date of birth and 1 January of the reference year.- Demographic pressure
- The sum of the number of people aged between 0 and 20 and people aged 65 and over, in relation to people aged 20 to 65.
- Total demographic pressure
- Green pressure
- The ratio between the number of people aged 0 to 20 and the number of people aged 20 to 65.
- Grey pressure
- The ratio between the number of people aged 65 or over and the number of people aged 20 to 65.
- Average age
- The arithmetic mean of all ages in the population.
- Total population
- Males
- Females
- Population by migration background
- Population:
The total number of people residing in the Netherlands.
In the population statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands the inhabitants of a given area are the people registered in the population register, whose address is located in that area.
Migration background:
The country with which a person has the closest ties, based on his/her parents' country of birth or his/her own country of birth.
The migration background of a person with a first-generation migration background is defined as his or her country of birth.
The migration background of a person with a second-generation migration background is defined as his or her mother's country of birth, unless the mother's country of birth is the Netherlands. In that case, the migration background is defined as the father's country of birth.
Person with a first generation migration background:
Someone born abroad with at least one parent who was born abroad.
Someone with a second generation foreign background:
Someone born in the Netherlands who has at least one parent born abroad.- Persons with a migration background
- Person with a migration background:
A person of whom at least one parent was born abroad.- Total with migration background
- With migration background
- With migration background, rate
- Total persons with a migration background as a percentage of the total population.
- Private households
- Up to and including 1987 the figures refer to the situation on 31 December, 1988-1994 to the midyear situation, from 1995 onwards to the situation on 1 January.
Break in series
From 2011 onwards a new process has been used for the production of figures on household composition. This new method uses data from the municipal population register (GBA) and tax declarations of cohabiting couples. Although the results based on the new production method are in line with previous results, small shifts have occurred in the number of households by composition in 2011. The largest shift is in the number of 'Other households', that is now smaller. The number of persons in institutional households on 1 January 2011 is 12,000 higher than on 1 January 2010. About half of this increase was the result of improvements in the survey method.
Private household:
A collection of one or more people sharing the same living space, who provide their own everyday needs in a private, non-commercial way.- Total private households
- Population growth
- The increase or decrease of the population.
Break in series external migration
As a result of an improved production process, a small shift has occurred in the figures on external migration.
From 2010 the following changes have been implemented.
- administrative entries preceding emigration are now considered as immigration;
- administrative removals followed by immigration are now considered as emigration.
Population:
The total number of people residing in the Netherlands.
In the population statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands the inhabitants of a given area are the people registered in the population- Total population growth
- Total population growth, rate
- Total population growth per 1,000 of the total population on 1 January.
- Population density
- Inhabitants per km2 land area.
Data refer to 1 January.
Population:
The total number of people residing in the Netherlands.
In the population statistics compiled by Statistics Netherlands the inhabitants of a given area are the people registered in the population register, whose address is located in that area.