Population, households and population dynamics; 1899-2019
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
The most important key figures about population, households, birth, mortality, changes of residence, marriages, marriage dissolutions and change of nationality of the Dutch population.
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 1899 to 2019.
Status of the figures:
All data in this publication are final data.
Changes as of 15 December 2023:
None, this table was discontinued.
When will the new figures be published?
No longer applicable. This table is succeeded by the table 'Population, households and population dynamics; from 1899'. See section 3.
Description topics
- Population on 1 January
- Population:
The total number of people residing in a given area.
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.- Population by part of the country
- North Netherlands
- Comprises the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe.
- East Netherlands
- Comprises the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland and the province of Flevoland. Excluding 'the Noordoostelijke polder' (1943-1962), 'de Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders' (since 1956) and the municipalities of Dronten (1972-1985), Lelystad (1980-1985), Almere and Zeewolde (1984-1985).
- West Netherlands
- Comprises the provinces of Utrecht, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Zeeland.
- South Netherlands
- Comprises the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg.
- Private Households
- A collection of one or more people sharing the same living space, who provide their own everyday needs in a private, non-commercial way.
For 1960-1987 the figures refer to the situation on 31 December, for 1988-1994 to the midyear situation, from 1995 onwards to the situation on 1 January.
Break in series households
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.- One-person households
- Private household consisting of one person.
- Males and females
- Live born children
- Live born child:
A baby showing some sign of life after birth, regardless of the duration of pregnancy.
For the period 1900-1924 excluding children born alive who died before the birth was registered.
Break in series of late reports
From 2010 onwards more late reports received in the year of publication will be included in the figures for the year under review.
Lesbian parenthood:
The law on lesbian parenthood came into effect on 1 April 2014. From April 2014 onwards the female partner of the biological mother may become the legal parent of the child without a legal adoption procedure. The same data for both mothers are available in the municipal population register.
Statistics Netherlands does not have information about which of the mothers is the biological mother. To obtain data about, for example, the age, number of children and ethnic background of the mother, Statistics Netherlands selects one of the mothers at random.
Lesbian parenthood occurs in less than 0.2% of all births.- Birth order form the mother, relative
- Live born children by birth order from the mother per 100 live born children.
For the period 1939-1949 birth order refers to the birth order in the marriage.
Birth order from the mother:
The position of the child in the ranking of live births from a mother.- 4th and subsequent children
- Live born fourth and subsequent children from the mother per hundred live born children.
- Migration
- A move between two geographic entities resulting in a change of municipality or country.
Break in series of late reports
Up to 2010 reports of events in a certain year received at Statistics Netherlands after 15 February of the following year - the so-called late reports - were ignored. As a result of an improvement in the production method, late reports received in the year of publication will be included in the figures for the year of publication.- External migration
- People moving to the Netherlands from another country (immigration) or People leaving for another country (emigration).
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.
- previously missed reports are now included;
- administrative entries preceding emigration are now considered as immigration
- administrative removals followed by immigration are now considered as emigration- By nationality
- External migration by nationality.
Nationality
Being the legal subject of a particular nation (citizenship).
All residents who do not (also) have the Dutch nationality are considered foreigners excluding those employed in a number of foreign or international organizations, diplomats and persons belonging to the NATO military.
NATO:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.- Immigration
- People moving to the Netherlands from another country.
In order to be counted as immigrants, these persons must be registered in the municipal population registers.
Up to and including September 1994: with the exception of a number of special cases, a person with the Dutch nationality was registered if they expected to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 30 days and for a person with a non-Dutch nationality if the expected duration of stay was more then 180 days.
From October 1994: people are registered if they expect to stay in the Netherlands for at least four months.- Dutch
- Immigration of persons with the Dutch nationality.
- Total non-Dutch
- Immigration of persons with non-Dutch nationalities (including nationality unknown).
Non-Dutch:
Everyone who does not posses the Dutch nationality and is not to be treated as a Dutch citizen on the basis of a legal clause.
All residents who do not (also) have the Dutch nationality are considered foreigners excluding those employed in a number of foreign or international organizations, diplomats and persons belonging to the NATO military.
NATO:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- European Union (excluding Dutch)
- Immigration of persons with a nationality of an European Union member state (excluding The Netherlands).
European Union
Cooperation of European states, established under this name by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, but with predecessors in the 1950s, aimed at achieving common goals in the political, economic and legal field. An important goal is the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the partnership In many areas, Member States have delegated powers to the partnership, and there are areas where Member States' right to self-determination is maintained and decisions can only be taken by unanimity.
Composition of the European Union (excluding the Netherlands):
From 1-1-1958: Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy and Luxembourg.
Joined 1-1 January 1973: Denmark, Ireland and United Kingdom.
Joined 1-1-1981: Greece.
Joined 1-1 January86: Portugal and Spain.
Joined 1-1-1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden.
Joined 1-5-05: Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
Joined 1-1 January 2007: Bulgaria, Romania.
Joined 1-7-2013: Croatia.
Leaving on January 31, 2020: United Kingdom.
- Emigration including administrative c...
- Emigration including administrative corrections.
People leaving for another country plus people removed on administrative grounds, minus people entered on administrative grounds.
Data on emigration including net administrative corrections give a better impression of the true level of emigration than data on emigration excluding net administrative corrections.
Emigration:
People leaving for another country.
Up to and including September 1994, people were removed from the population register if they were expected to leave the Netherlands for more than 360 days.
From October 1994, the expected duration of stay abroad is at least eight months. This always concerns emigration reported to the municipality.
For the period 1940 to 1946: including approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and approximately 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employed persons and soldiers in German military service who died abroad during the said period.
Administrative correction
Entries in and removals from the municipal population register for reasons other than birth, death, arrival, departure or municipal boundary change.
The greater part of these corrections relates to the processing of either the departures of persons who did not notify the local authorities or the subsequent arrivals.- Dutch
- Emigration including administrative corrections of Dutch nationals.
Dutch national:
Someone with the Dutch nationality. Including 'considered Dutch citizen', e.g. Moluccans who are treated as Dutch citizens if they do not have the Dutch nationality (if they are stateless or have the Indonesian nationality). They are neither foreign nor Dutch, but are eligible for a Dutch passport.
- Total non-Dutch
- Emigration including administrative corrections of persons with non-Dutch nationalities (including nationality unknown).
Non-Dutch:
Everyone who does not posses the Dutch nationality and is not to be treated as a Dutch citizen on the basis of a legal clause.
All residents who do not (also) have the Dutch nationality are considered foreigners excluding those employed in a number of foreign or international organizations, diplomats and persons belonging to the NATO military.
NATO:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- European Union (excluding Dutch)
- Emigration including administrative corrections of persons with a nationality of an European Union member state (excluding The Netherlands).
European Union
Cooperation of European states, established under this name by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, but with predecessors in the 1950s, aimed at achieving common goals in the political, economic and legal field. An important goal is the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the partnership In many areas, Member States have delegated powers to the partnership, and there are areas where Member States' right to self-determination is maintained and decisions can only be taken by unanimity.
Composition of the European Union (excluding the Netherlands):
From 1-1-1958: Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy and Luxembourg.
Joined 1-1 January 1973: Denmark, Ireland and United Kingdom.
Joined 1-1-1981: Greece.
Joined 1-1 January86: Portugal and Spain.
Joined 1-1-1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden.
Joined 1-5-05: Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
Joined 1-1 January 2007: Bulgaria, Romania.
Joined 1-7-2013: Croatia.
Leaving on January 31, 2020: United Kingdom.
- Emigration excluding administrative c...
- Emigration excluding administrative corrections.
Data on emigration including net administrative corrections give a better impression of the true level of emigration than data on emigration excluding net administrative corrections.
Emigration:
People leaving for another country.
Up to and including September 1994, people were removed from the population register if they were expected to leave the Netherlands for more than 360 days.
From October 1994, the expected duration of stay abroad is at least eight months. This always concerns emigration reported to the municipality.
For the period 1940 to 1946: including approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and approximately 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employed persons and soldiers in German military service who died abroad during the said period.
Administrative correction
Entries in and removals from the municipal population register for reasons other than birth, death, arrival, departure or municipal boundary change.
The greater part of these corrections relates to the processing of either the departures of persons who did not notify the local authorities or the subsequent arrivals.- Dutch
- Emigration excluding administrative corrections of persons with a Dutch nationality.
Including 'considered Dutch citizen', e.g. Moluccans who are treated as Dutch citizens if they do not have the Dutch nationality (if they are stateless or have the Indonesian nationality). They are neither foreign nor Dutch, but are eligible for a Dutch passport.
- Total non-Dutch
- Emigration excluding administrative corrections of non-Dutch nationals (including nationality unknown).
Non-Dutch:
Everyone who does not posses the Dutch nationality and is not to be treated as a Dutch citizen on the basis of a legal clause.
All residents who do not (also) have the Dutch nationality are considered foreigners excluding those employed in a number of foreign or international organizations, diplomats and persons belonging to the NATO military.
NATO:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- European Union (excluding Dutch)
- Emigration excluding administrative corrections of persons with a nationality of an European Union member state (excluding The Netherlands).
European Union
Cooperation of European states, established under this name by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, but with predecessors in the 1950s, aimed at achieving common goals in the political, economic and legal field. An important goal is the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the partnership In many areas, Member States have delegated powers to the partnership, and there are areas where Member States' right to self-determination is maintained and decisions can only be taken by unanimity.
Composition of the European Union (excluding the Netherlands):
From 1-1-1958: Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy and Luxembourg.
Joined 1-1 January 1973: Denmark, Ireland and United Kingdom.
Joined 1-1-1981: Greece.
Joined 1-1 January86: Portugal and Spain.
Joined 1-1-1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden.
Joined 1-5-05: Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
Joined 1-1 January 2007: Bulgaria, Romania.
Joined 1-7-2013: Croatia.
Leaving on January 31, 2020: United Kingdom.
- By country of birth
- International migration by country of birth
- Immigration
- People moving to the Netherlands from another country.
All persons who enter the Netherlands with the intention of staying in
the country for a certain period of time. For people arriving in the
Netherlands, registration is obligatory if they stay in the country for
at least four months during the first six months following registration.
In order to be counted as immigrants, these persons must be registered in the municipal population registers.
Up to and including September 1994: with the exception of a number of special cases, a person with the Dutch nationality was registered if they expected to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 30 days and for a person with a non-Dutch nationality if the expected duration of stay was more then 180 days.
From October 1994: people are registered if they expect to stay in the Netherlands for at least four months.- The Netherlands
- Immigration of persons born in the Netherlands.
- Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles
- Immigration of persons born in Suriname or the (former) Netherlands Antilles.
From 1986 including Aruba.
(former) Netherlands Antilles:
Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Saint Eustatius and Saint Maarten.
- The (former) Netherlands Antilles
- Immigration of persons born in the (former) Netherlands Antilles.
From 1986 including Aruba.
(former) Netherlands Antilles:
Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Saint Eustatius and Saint Maarten.
- Emigration including administrative c...
- Emigration including administrative corrections.
People leaving for another country plus people removed on administrative grounds, minus people entered on administrative grounds.
Data on emigration including net administrative corrections give a better impression of the true level of emigration than data on emigration excluding net administrative corrections.
Emigration:
People leaving for another country.
Up to and including September 1994, people were removed from the population register if they were expected to leave the Netherlands for more than 360 days.
From October 1994, the expected duration of stay abroad is at least eight months. This always concerns emigration reported to the municipality.
For the period 1940 to 1946: including approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and approximately 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employed persons and soldiers in German military service who died abroad during the said period.
Administrative correction
Entries in and removals from the municipal population register for reasons other than birth, death, arrival, departure or municipal boundary change.
The greater part of these corrections relates to the processing of either the departures of persons who did not notify the local authorities or the subsequent arrivals.- The Netherlands
- Emigration including administrative corrections of persons born in the Netherlands.
- Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles
- Emigration including administrative corrections of persons born in Suriname or the (former) Netherlands Antilles.
From 1986 including Aruba.
Netherlands Antilles:
The islands of Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten.