Population; households and population dynamics; from 1899
Explanation of symbols
Dataset is not available.
The most important key figures about population, households, population growth, births, deaths, migration, 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
Status of the figures:
All data in this publication are final data.
Changes as of 15 December 2023:
None, this is a new table. This table succeeds the table Population; households and population dynamics; 1899-2019. See section 3.
The following changes have been made:
- The underlying topic folders regarding 'migration background' have been replaced by 'Born in the Netherlands' and 'Born abroad';
- The origin countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey have been assigned to the continent of Asia (previously Europe).
When will the new figures be published?
The figures for the population development in 2023 and the population on 1 January 2024 will be published in the second quarter of 2024.
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.
- Born in the Netherlands
- Person born in the Netherlands.
- Total born in the Netherlands
- Country of origin: the Netherlands
- Country of origin: Europe excl the Ne...
- Country of origin: Europe excluding the Netherlands
The countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey fall within this classification under Asia.
- Country of origin: Dutch Caribbean
- The designation 'Dutch Caribbean' replaces the term '(former) Netherlands Antilles and Aruba'.
Aggregate of countries belonging to the territory of the Netherlands Antilles prior to 10 October 2010 plus Aruba. These islands are Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten and Aruba.
The Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist on 10 October 2010, as all the islands now have a new status. From 10 October the Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten. Curaçao and St Maarten are new countries within the Kingdom; they are autonomous countries with a special status (status aparte) within the Kingdom. The countries have autonomous government and are now no longer dependent on the Netherlands.The public bodies of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, also called the Caribbean Netherlands, have a closer relationship with the Netherlands and function as 'special municipalities'.
On 1 January 1986 Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles and became a new autonomous country with a special status (status aparte) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba has an autonomous government and is now no longer dependent on the Netherlands.
- Country of origin: Indonesia
- Until 20-05-2002: Indonesia, Dutch East-Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Portuguese Timor.
From 20-05-2005: Indonesia, Dutch East-Indies, Dutch New Guinea.
Until May 20, 2002: Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Dutch New Guinea and Portuguese Timor.
From 20 May 2002: Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Dutch New Guinea.
Portuguese Timor exists as an independent country on 20 May 2002 under the name Timor Leste
- Country of origin: Morocco
- Morocco, Ifni, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara.
- Country of origin: Suriname
- Country of origin: Turkey
- Country of origin: Other Africa
- Country of origin: Other America and ...
- Country of origin: Other America and Oceania
- Country of origin: Other Asia
- The countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey fall within this classification under Asia.
- Population growth
- The increase or decrease of the population.
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.- 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.People moving to the Netherlands from another country.
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
- 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.
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
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.
- Net migration
- The number of people moving in minus the number of people moving out.
The figures are excluding net administrative corrections.
Data on net migration including net administrative corrections give a better impression of the true level of net migration than data on net migration excluding net administrative corrections.
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
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.