Population growth slower in 2023

The population increase last year was entirely due to external migration, as there were more deaths than births. The figures are still subject to revision based on dynamics in the final weeks of 2023.

Fewer immigrants and more emigrants than in 2022

In 2023, immigration was lower than in the previous year. There were mainly fewer immigrants from Ukraine, but also from most other countries (except for the Americas and Oceania). On the other hand, there were more emigrants in all origin groups, except among Dutch nationals. As at December 2023, net migration (immigration minus emigration) stood at 138 thousand, which is 79 thousand less than one year previously.
On balance, most foreign-born migrants came from within Europe (59.3 thousand), with the majority from the former Soviet Union (24.5 thousand). In addition, 16.5 thousand migrants were from Syria; 10.7 thousand from Turkey, 7.6 thousand from India, and 6.6 thousand from Poland.

Reception of Ukrainian refugees around Europe

Up to 1 November 2023, the Netherlands issued 139.6 thousand permits to Ukrainian refugees under the Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine. They did not have to submit an asylum application. 7.8 Ukrainian refugees per thousand inhabitants have been given shelter. This is below the EU average of 9.3 refugees per thousand inhabitants. In total, 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees have received shelter around the European Union. Although Germany accommodates the most refugees (1.2 million) in absolute terms, the number per thousand inhabitants shows different proportions: Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania each received over 25 Ukrainian refugees per thousand inhabitants.

Source: Eurostat

Fewer live births

In 2023, an estimated 165 thousand babies were born, which is nearly 3 thousand less than in 2022. The fertility rate in the Netherlands has declined since 2010 and is estimated to have averaged 1.43 births per woman in 2023. This is slightly below the level of the early 1980s, when the fertility rate fell to a record low. On the other hand, mortality remained relatively high; despite slightly declining excess mortality, the number of deaths is estimated at 169 thousand, which is similar to 2022. According to the estimate, the natural population increase (births minus deaths) was therefore lower by over 4 thousand people.