Non-western third generation growing steadily

The third generation of people of non-western descent in the Netherlands is increasing steadily. On 1 January 2003 this group numbered around 35 thousand people. In 2000 there were still only 25 thousand.

Non-western third generation, 1 January

First, second and third generations

The growth rate of the third generation is higher than those for the second and the first generation. In terms of numbers, though, the third generation hardly contributes to population growth.

Increase in various population groups between 1 January 2000 and 2003

Between 1 January 2000 and 2003, the non-western second generation grew by 96 thousand (+18 percent), and the first generation by 118 thousand (+13 percent).

Non-western population by generation, 1 January

Third generation mainly Surinamese

The Surinamese third generation accounts for nearly half of the total non-western third generation. Somewhere between 11 thousand and 15 thousand people in the Netherlands have at least one grandparent who was born in Suriname. Between 5 and 7 thousand people have two or more Surinamese-born grandparents.

The Turkish and Moroccan third generations are much smaller, mainly because many young Turks and Moroccans marry people from their home countries. Children of these couples are therefore counted as the second generation as at least one of their parents were born abroad.

Third generation by grandparents’ country of birth, 1 January

Young population group

The non-western third generation is a very young population group: nearly two-thirds are younger than ten. This is true of just under half of the second generation, while 12 percent of the total population of the Netherlands are younger than ten.

Maarten Alders and Ingeborg Keij