Household population growing in and around major cities

The household population in the Greater Amsterdam region grew by 16 percent, Greater Rijnmond and the region Utrecht both accounted for nearly 9 percent. Including the region around The Hague, the number of households increased by 40 percent.

At the beginning of 2016, the household population in the Greater Amsterdam region was 1.4 percent up from one year previously, making in the fastest growing region. In the other three regions around major cities, growth was also above the nationwide average of 0.7 percent. 

Noord-Holland shows highest growth rate

In view of population developments in and around Amsterdam, it is not surprising that the number of households grew most rapidly in the province of Noord-Holland; the household population increased by 13 thousand (+ 1 percent). In the three provinces in the north of the country, the growth rate was 0.3 percent.

Household population also growing in regions facing population decline

The household population also grew in regions in the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, Limburg and Zeeland, although the overall population declined or remained stable. This is mainly due to an increase in the number of single households, e.g. widows and widowers, divorced and young people.

With 0.7 percent, the growth rate of the household population in the Netherlands in 2015 was above the nationwide population growth rate (0.5 percent), thus reflecting the long-term shift from multi to single-person households. Relative to 2000, the household population increased by 14 percent, while the overall population growth rate was 7 percent. The number of single-person households grew by a whopping 28 percent, het number of multi-person households by 6 percent.