Population; key figures, 1950-2022
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
Key figures on the population of the Netherlands.
The following information is available:
- Population by sex;
- Population by marital status;
- Population by age (groups);
- Population by origin;
- Private households;
- Persons in institutional households;
- Population growth;
- Population density.
Statistics Netherlands will reorganise the tables relating to statistics on population and households. The aim is to reduce the number of tables while striving to preserve (much) needed information. This table will be revised as soon as possible.
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 1950 to 2022.
Status of the figures:
All the figures are final.
Changes as of 26 April 2023:
None, this table was discontinued.
When will new figures be published?
No longer applicable. This table is succeeded by the table Population; key figures. See section 3.
Description topics
- Population by migration background
- Population:
The total number of people residing in the Netherlands.
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.
Migration background:
The country with which a person has the closest ties, based on his/her parents' country of birth or his/her own country of birth.
The migration background of a person with a first-generation migration background is defined as his or her country of birth.
The migration background of a person with a second-generation migration background is defined as his or her mother's country of birth, unless the mother's country of birth is the Netherlands. In that case, the migration background is defined as the father's country of birth.
Person with a first generation migration background:
Someone born abroad with at least one parent who was born abroad.
Someone with a second generation foreign background:
Someone born in the Netherlands who has at least one parent born abroad.- Persons with a migration background
- Person with a migration background:
A person of whom at least one parent was born abroad.- Total with migration background
- Western migration background
- Person with a western migration background:
Person originating from a country in Europe (excluding Turkey), North America, Oceania, Indonesia or Japan.
Due to their socioeconomic and cultural position, people from Indonesia and Japan residing in the Netherlands are considered as having a 'western' migration background. These are mainly people born in the former Dutch East Indies and expatriates employed by Japanese companies with their families.- Middle and Eastern European EU countries
- Middle and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union. The year in which they joined is shown between brackets: Bulgaria (2007), Croatia (2013), Czech Republic (2004), Estonia (2004), Hungary (2004), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), Poland (2004), Romania (2007), Slovakia (2004) and Slovenia (2004). European Union: Convention of European countries (excluding the Netherlands) created in 1993 in the Treaty of Maastricht, but the first activities date back to the early 1950s. They share common goals in the political, economic and legal sphere, e.g. free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the union. Individual member states have transferred many powers to the EU, but individual member states have also retained autonomy in many areas, which means that decisions can only be made unanimously.
- Non-western migration background
- Person with a non-western migration background:
Person originating from a country in Africa, South America or Asia (excluding Indonesia and Japan) or Turkey.
Due to their socioeconomic and cultural position, people from Indonesia and Japan residing in the Netherlands are considered as having a 'western' migration background. These are mainly people born in the former Dutch East Indies and expatriates employed by Japanese companies with their families.- (former) Neth. Antilles and Aruba
- Aggregate of the countries belonging to the territory of the Netherlands Antilles up to 10 October 2010 and Aruba.
These countries are Bonaire, Curacao, 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, Curacao and St Maarten. Curacao 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 Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, also called the Dutch Caribbean, are more closely connected 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 autonomous government, and is now no longer dependent on the Netherlands.
- First generation migration background
- Person with a first generation migration background:
Someone born abroad with at least one parent who was born abroad.- Western first generation
- Total persons with a western background of the first generation.
Person with a western migration background:
Person originating from a country in Europe (excluding Turkey), North America, Oceania, Indonesia or Japan.
Due to their socioeconomic and cultural position, people from Indonesia and Japan residing in the Netherlands are considered as having a 'western' migration background. These are mainly people born in the former Dutch East Indies and expatriates employed by Japanese companies with their familie- Middle and Eastern European EU countries
- Middle and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union. The year in which they joined is shown between brackets: Bulgaria (2007), Croatia (2013), Czech Republic (2004), Estonia (2004), Hungary (2004), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), Poland (2004), Romania (2007), Slovakia (2004) and Slovenia (2004). European Union: Convention of European countries (excluding the Netherlands) created in 1993 in the Treaty of Maastricht, but the first activities date back to the early 1950s. They share common goals in the political, economic and legal sphere, e.g. free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the union. Individual member states have transferred many powers to the EU, but individual member states have also retained autonomy in many areas, which means that decisions can only be made unanimously.
- Non-western first generation
- Person with a non-western migration background:
Person originating from a country in Africa, South America or Asia (excluding Indonesia and Japan) or Turkey.
Due to their socioeconomic and cultural position, people from Indonesia and Japan residing in the Netherlands are considered as having a 'western' migration background. These are mainly people born in the former Dutch East Indies and expatriates employed by Japanese companies with their families.- (former) Neth. Antilles and Aruba
- Aggregate of the countries belonging to the territory of the Netherlands Antilles up to 10 October 2010 and Aruba. These countries are Bonaire, Curacao, 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, Curacao and St Maarten. Curacao 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 Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, also called the Dutch Caribbean, are more closely connected 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 autonomous government, and is now no longer dependent on the Netherlands.
- Second generation migration background
- Person with a second-generation migration background:
Person born in the Netherlands who has at least one parent who was born abroad.- Western second generation
- Total persons with a western background of the second generation.
Person with a western migration background:
Person originating from a country in Europe (excluding Turkey), North America, Oceania, Indonesia or Japan.
Due to their socioeconomic and cultural position, people from Indonesia and Japan residing in the Netherlands are considered as having a 'western' migration background. These are mainly people born in the former Dutch East Indies and expatriates employed by Japanese companies with their familie- Middle and Eastern European EU countries
- Middle and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union. The year in which they joined is shown between brackets: Bulgaria (2007), Croatia (2013), Czech Republic (2004), Estonia (2004), Hungary (2004), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), Poland (2004), Romania (2007), Slovakia (2004) and Slovenia (2004). European Union: Convention of European countries (excluding the Netherlands) created in 1993 in the Treaty of Maastricht, but the first activities date back to the early 1950s. They share common goals in the political, economic and legal sphere, e.g. free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the union. Individual member states have transferred many powers to the EU, but individual member states have also retained autonomy in many areas, which means that decisions can only be made unanimously.
- Non-western second generation
- Person with a non-western migration background:
Person originating from a country in Africa, South America or Asia (excluding Indonesia and Japan) or Turkey.
Due to their socioeconomic and cultural position, people from Indonesia and Japan residing in the Netherlands are considered as having a 'western' migration background. These are mainly people born in the former Dutch East Indies and expatriates employed by Japanese companies with their families.- (former) Neth. Antilles and Aruba
- Aggregate of the countries belonging to the territory of the Netherlands Antilles up to 10 October 2010 and Aruba. These countries are Bonaire, Curacao, 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, Curacao and St Maarten. Curacao 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 Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, also called the Dutch Caribbean, are more closely connected 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 autonomous government, and is now no longer dependent on the Netherlands.