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No longer applicable.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.- Demographic pressure
- Data concerning the years 1900, 1910, 1921 and 1931 are based on the results of the censuses held on 31 December 1899, 1909, 1921 and 1930.
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 64.- Green pressure
- The ratio between the number of people aged 0 to 19 and the number of people aged 20 to 64.
- Population by part of the country
- Total population
- Including a tiny fraction of the Dutch population in the range of 0.0 to 0.8 % entered in the central population register kept from 1936 until October 1994 which included persons belonging to the 'de jure' population without fixed abodes. From October 1994 these are entered in the municipal population register of The Hague. Including 'the Noordoostpolder' (1943-1962), 'the Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders' (since 1956) and the municipalities of Dronten (1972-1985), Lelystad (1980-1985), Almere and Zeewolde (1984-1985).
- 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.
- Population growth
- The increase or decrease of the population.
- 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.
- Deaths
- Death:
Person declared dead by an authorized doctor.
For the period 1900-1924 excluding children born alive who died before the birth was registered.
For the period 1940-1945 excluding deaths among approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employees and soldiers of the German military.
- Natural increase
- The number of live births minus the number of deaths within a given period.
- Immigration
- People moving to the Netherlands from another country.
- Emigration including administrative c...
- People leaving for another country, excluding net administrative corrections.
For the period 1940-1945 including deaths among approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employees and soldiers of the German military.
- Net migration
- The number of people moving in minus the number of people moving out.
The figures are excluding net administrative corrections.
- Total growth
- Population growth:
The increase or decrease of the population.
In the years 1920 and 1930 excluding corrections (- 61 thousand and -17 thousand respectively) based on the censuses on 31 December. These numbers can be considered as the balance of non-registered foreign migration since the preceding census.
For the period 1946-1948, including corrections due to revision of the population registers after the second world war and the results of the census of 31 May 1947.
For 1949 including the absorption of 10 thousand persons due to border adjustments with Germany on 23 April.
For 1958 including 18 thousand Moluccans entered into the municipal population registers during the last two months of 1958.
For 1960 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 31 May 1960.
For 1963 after deduction of 10 thousand persons who became German subjects as a result of the border treaty between the Netherlands and Germany.
For 1971 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 28 February 1971.
- Total growth (relative)
- Total population growth per 100 inhabitants on 1 January.
Including administrative corrections and other corrections.
Population growth:
The increase or decrease of the population.
In the years 1920 and 1930 excluding corrections (- 61 thousand and -17 thousand respectively) based on the censuses on 31 December. These numbers can be considered as the balance of non-registered foreign migration since the preceding census.
For the period 1946-1948, including corrections due to revision of the population registers after the second world war and the results of the census of 31 May 1947.
For 1949 including the absorption of 10 thousand persons due to border adjustments with Germany on 23 April.
For 1958 including 18 thousand Moluccans entered into the municipal population registers during the last two months of 1958.
For 1960 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 31 May 1960.
For 1963 after deduction of 10 thousand persons who became German subjects as a result of the border treaty between the Netherlands and Germany.
For 1971 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 28 February 1971.
Administrative correction:
All entries in and removals from the municipal population register for reasons other than birth, death, arrival, departure or municipal boundary change.
Other corrections:
Differences in the size and composition of the population between two consecutive years that cannot be explained by the changes in the population registers made by the municipalities during the year.