Population; households and population dynamics; from 1899
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
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- The underlying topic folders regarding 'migration background' have been replaced by 'Born in the Netherlands' and 'Born abroad';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 sex
- Data concerning the years 1900, 1910, 1921 and 1931 are based on the results of the censuses held on 31 December 1899, 1909, 1921 and 1930.
- Total population
- Males
- Females
- Population by age
- Data concerning the years 1900, 1910, 1921 and 1931 are based on the results of the censuses held on 31 December 1899, 1909, 1921 and 1930.
Age:
Age on 1 January of the year of observation.
The number of whole years that have passed between someone's date of birth and 1 January of the reference year, calculated as the reference year minus 1, minus the year of birth.- Total population
- Younger than 20 years
- Persons younger than 20 years.
- 20 to 44 years
- Persons of 20 to 44 years.
- 45 to 64 years
- Persons of 45 to 64 years.
- 65 to 79 years
- Persons of 65 to 79 years.
- 80 years or older
- Persons of 80 years or over.
- Demographic pressure
- Data concerning the years 1900, 1910, 1921 and 1931 are based on the results of the censuses held on 31 December 1899, 1909, 1921 and 1930.
Demographic pressure:
The sum of the number of people aged between 0 and 20 and people aged 65 and over, in relation to people aged 20 to 64.- Green pressure
- The ratio between the number of people aged 0 to 19 and the number of people aged 20 to 64.
- Grey pressure
- The ratio between the number of people aged 65 or over and the number of people aged 20 to 64.
- Population by marital status
- Data concerning the years 1900, 1910, 1921 and 1931 are based on the results of the censuses held on 31 December 1899, 1909, 1921 and 1930.
Break in series marital status
From 2010 onwards a small shift has occurred between a number of marital statuses (fewer never married and more divorced and widowed respectively). Because information on some marital statuses was lacking for the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, 'divorced after partnership' and 'widowed after partnership' were not included in these statistics for this period. For these statistics, the marital status before the partnership was used instead, which was mostly 'never married'. From 2010 all marital statuses are available.
Marital status:
Legal status involving someone's rights and competences as determined by legal marriage and registered partnership.
Marriage:
Legal, formally sanctioned living arrangement between two people. Since 1 April 2001, it is legally possible for people in the Netherlands to marry a person of the same sex.
Registered partnership:
A marriage-like relationship between two people of the opposite or same sex, registered at the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Registered partnership was introduced in The Netherlands on 1 January 1998.- Total population
- Never married
- From 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership.
1998 until 2010: marital status indicating that someone was never married or never in a registered partnership.
Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, 'widowed after partnership' and 'divorces after partnership' were not included in this period in these statistics. For these statistics this means that the marital status before the partnership was used, which was mostly unmarried.
Until 1998: marital status indicating that someone was never married.
- Married
- From 1998: legally married and partnership.
Until 1998: legally married.
Legally married:
Marital status resulting from having married legally. Including judicial separations which are included in the category married.
Partnership:
Marital status resulting from entering into a registered partnership.
- Widowed
- From 2010: widowed after a legal marriage and widowed after a partnership.
Until 2010: widowed after a legal marriage.
Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, widowed after a partnership is not included in this period in these statistics.
Widowed after a legal marriage:
Marital status resulting from death ending a legal marriage.
Widowed after a partnership:
Marital status resulting from death ending a registered partnership.
- Divorced
- From 2010: divorced after legal marriage and divorced after partnership.
Until 2010: divorced after legal marriage.
Because information was lacking on some marital statuses in the period 1998 to 2010 in data used by Statistics Netherlands, divorced after partnership is not included in this period in these statistics.
Divorced after a legal marriage
Marital status resulting from ending a legal marriage by divorce.
Excluding judicial separations which are included in the category married.
Divorced after a partnership
Marital status resulting from ending a registered partnership other than by the death of the partner.
- Population by part of the country
- Total population
- Including a tiny fraction of the Dutch population in the range of 0.0 to 0.8 % entered in the central population register kept from 1936 until October 1994 which included persons belonging to the 'de jure' population without fixed abodes. From October 1994 these are entered in the municipal population register of The Hague. Including 'the Noordoostpolder' (1943-1962), 'the Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders' (since 1956) and the municipalities of Dronten (1972-1985), Lelystad (1980-1985), Almere and Zeewolde (1984-1985).
- 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.
- Municipalities by size class
- Municipalities are categorized by their number of residents.
For the period 1900-1909 municipalities are classified by the population on 31 December 1899, for the period 1910-1920 by the population on 31 December 1919, for the period 1921-1930 by the population on 31 December 1920 and for the period 1931-1940 by the population on 31 December 1930. All other years are classified by the number of residents in the year under review.- Population
- Total population
- Total population in the Netherlands.
Including a tiny fraction of the Dutch population in the range of 0.0 to 0.8 % entered in the central population register kept from 1936 until October 1994 which included persons belonging to the 'de jure' population without fixed abodes. From October 1994 these are entered in the municipal population register of The Hague. Including 'the Noordoostpolder' (1943-1962), 'the Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders' (since 1956) and the municipalities of Dronten (1972-1985), Lelystad (1980-1985), Almere and Zeewolde (1984-1985).
- Less than 5,000 inhabitants
- Population in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants.
- 5,000 to 19.999 inhabitants
- Population in municipalities with 5,000 to 19.999 inhabitants.
- 20,000 to 49.999 inhabitants
- Population in municipalities with 20,000 to 49.999 inhabitants.
For the period 1901-1909, the population figures are calculated on the basis of the data for the year 1900.
- 50,000 to 99.999 inhabitants
- Population in municipalities with 50,000 to 99.999 inhabitants.
For the period 1901-1909, the population figures are calculated on the basis of the data for the year 1900.
- 100,000 inhabitants or more
- Population in municipalities with 100,000 or more inhabitants.
- Number of municipalities
- Total number of municipalities
- Total number of municipalities in the Netherlands.
- Less than 5,000 inhabitants
- Number of municipalities in the Netherlands with less than 5,000 inhabitants.
- 5,000 to 19,999 inhabitants
- Number of municipalities in the Netherlands with 5,000 to 19.999 inhabitants.
- 20,000 to 49,999 inhabitants
- Number of municipalities in the Netherlands with 20,000 to 49.999 inhabitants.
- 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants
- Number of municipalities in the Netherlands with 50,000 to 99.999 inhabitants.
- 100,000 inhabitants or more
- Number of municipalities in the Netherlands with 100,000 or more inhabitants.
- Population by nationality
- Data on 1900, 1910, 1921 and 1931 are based on the results of the censuses held on 31 December 1899, 1909, 1920 and 1930. Population data on 1947 are based on the census of 31 May 1947. Data on the period 1969-1972 are partly estimates and data on the periods 1956-1968 and 1973-1975 are provided by the Ministry of Justice.
Nationality:
Being the legal subject of a particular nation (citizenship).
The category non-Dutch subjects includes persons who neither have the Dutch nationality nor a double nationality of which one is Dutch.
Diplomats and persons belonging to the NATO military, for instance, do not fall into this category.- Total foreign nationalities
- Total persons with a foreign nationality residing in the Netherlands.
- American
- Americans residing in the Netherlands.
- Belgian
- Belgians residing in the Netherlands.
- British
- British residing in the Netherlands.
- German
- Germans residing in the Netherlands.
From 1991 including the former German Democratic Republic.
- Italian
- Italians residing in the Netherlands.
- Former Yugoslavian
- Former Yugoslavians residing in the Netherlands.
Former Yugoslavia:
Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia.
- Moroccan
- Moroccans residing in the Netherlands.
- Spanish
- Spaniards residing in the Netherlands.
- Turkish
- Turks residing in the Netherlands.
- 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.
- Born abroad
- Person born abroad.
- Total born abroad
- 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.- Live born children
- Live born child:
A baby showing some sign of life after birth, regardless of the duration of pregnancy.
For the period 1900-1924 excluding children born alive who died before the birth was registered.
Lesbian parenthood
The law on lesbian parenthood came into effect on 1 April 2014. From April 2014 onwards the female partner of the biological mother may become the legal parent of the child without a legal adoption procedure. The same data for both mothers are available in the municipal population register.
Statistics Netherlands does not have information about which of the mothers is the biological mother. To obtain data about, for example, the age, number of children and origin of the mother, Statistics Netherlands selects one of the mothers at random.
Lesbian parenthood occurs in less than 0.5% of all births.
- Deaths
- Death:
Person declared dead by an authorized doctor.
For the period 1900-1924 excluding children born alive who died before the birth was registered.
For the period 1940-1945 excluding deaths among approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employees and soldiers of the German military.
- Natural increase
- The number of live births minus the number of deaths within a given period.
Live born child:
A baby showing some sign of life after birth, regardless of the duration of pregnancy.
For the period 1900-1924 excluding children born alive who died before the birth was registered.
Death:
Person declared dead by an authorized doctor.
For the period 1900-1924 excluding children born alive who died before the birth was registered.
For the period 1940-1945 excluding deaths among approximately 104 thousand deported Jews and 39 thousand deported political prisoners, employees and soldiers of the German military.
- 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.
- Total growth
- Population growth:
The increase or decrease of the population.
In the years 1920 and 1930 excluding corrections (- 61 thousand and -17 thousand respectively) based on the censuses on 31 December. These numbers can be considered as the balance of non-registered foreign migration since the preceding census.
For the period 1946-1948, including corrections due to revision of the population registers after the second world war and the results of the census of 31 May 1947.
For 1949 including the absorption of 10 thousand persons due to border adjustments with Germany on 23 April.
For 1958 including 18 thousand Moluccans entered into the municipal population registers during the last two months of 1958.
For 1960 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 31 May 1960.
For 1963 after deduction of 10 thousand persons who became German subjects as a result of the border treaty between the Netherlands and Germany.
For 1971 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 28 February 1971.
Administrative correction:
All entries in and removals from the municipal population register for reasons other than birth, death, arrival, departure or municipal boundary change.
Other corrections:
Differences in the size and composition of the population between two consecutive years that cannot be explained by the changes in the population registers made by the municipalities during the year.
- Total growth, relative
- Total population growth per 100 inhabitants on 1 January.
Including administrative corrections and other corrections.
Population growth:
The increase or decrease of the population.
In the years 1920 and 1930 excluding corrections (- 61 thousand and -17 thousand respectively) based on the censuses on 31 December. These numbers can be considered as the balance of non-registered foreign migration since the preceding census.
For the period 1946-1948, including corrections due to revision of the population registers after the second world war and the results of the census of 31 May 1947.
For 1949 including the absorption of 10 thousand persons due to border adjustments with Germany on 23 April.
For 1958 including 18 thousand Moluccans entered into the municipal population registers during the last two months of 1958.
For 1960 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 31 May 1960.
For 1963 after deduction of 10 thousand persons who became German subjects as a result of the border treaty between the Netherlands and Germany.
For 1971 including corrections based on verification of the registers of the census of 28 February 1971.
Administrative correction:
All entries in and removals from the municipal population register for reasons other than birth, death, arrival, departure or municipal boundary change.
Other corrections:
Differences in the size and composition of the population between two consecutive years that cannot be explained by the changes in the population registers made by the municipalities during the year.