Population is growing more slowly than last year

People walking in a busy street
© ANP / Nico Garstman
The population of the Netherlands grew by 77.5 thousand in the first three quarters of 2025. That was 7 thousand less than the same period of last year. All of that growth was due to net migration, because the death rate in the Netherlands is higher than the birth rate. At the end of September, the Netherlands had a population of 18.12 million. This is according to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

Nearly 243 thousand immigrants arrived in the Netherlands in the first three quarters of this year. More than 161 thousand people moved away to live in another country. On balance, the population grew by 81 thousand due to migration, 6 thousand less than the same period last year. This slower growth was mainly due to lower immigration and higher emigration.

125 thousand children were born and 129 thousand people died, around the same number as last year. The natural rate of change (i.e. births minus deaths) was negative: -4 thousand. In the same period last year, the natural rate of change was -3 thousand.

Most immigrants from Syria, fewer from Europe once again

Of the 81 thousand additional residents that the Netherlands gained as a result of net migration, 47 thousand came from Asia. This was 2 thousand more than in 2024. Many migrants came from Syria and Iraq in particular, many of whom applied for asylum or were reunited with family members already resident in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the number of (labour) migrants arriving from India has fallen sharply.

Migration from the rest of Europe is also down. Net migration from the rest of Europe was 21 thousand, almost 8 thousand less than the same period last year. Fewer migrants have arrived from the European Union (EU) this year, in particular. Net migration from Russia and Ukraine is also down.

More Polish people are leaving the Netherlands than arriving

In the first nine months of 2025, the Netherlands gained almost 10 thousand residents as a result of migration by EU citizens: over 79 thousand EU citizens came to live in the Netherlands, while over 69 thousand left. Net migration from other EU countries in the same period of 2024 was positive by 16 thousand, and in 2023 it was positive by around 28 thousand.

Specifically, fewer people from Poland, Bulgaria and Romania arrived in the Netherlands. Net migration among people from Poland is now negative: 500 more left the Netherlands than arrived here. Last year, 1,700 people from Poland arrived in the Netherlands. Fewer people are coming to the Netherlands from Bulgaria and Romania, too, and more are leaving. The same applies to migrants from southern Europe, Belgium, Germany and France.

Sources

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