Immigration up in first half of 2019

Nearly 82 thousand children were born and over 77 thousand people died during the first six months of 2019. Natural population growth therefore stood at nearly 5 thousand. This number was still one thousand in the first half of 2018, when mortality was higher (81 thousand).

In the first half of 2019, the number of immigrants registering with a Dutch municipality stood at nearly 113 thousand, up from more than 101 thousand in the same period last year. The number of emigrants increased less rapidly, from 70 to 72 thousand. On balance, 41 thousand people were added due to external migration. This is 10 thousand more than in the first half of 2018.

Mainly more migrants from Europe

The number of migrants from Europe rose in particular: from over 14 thousand in the first six months of 2018 to nearly 21 thousand in the same period of 2019, on balance. An increase was also seen in migrants with an Asian and American background. The number of African migrants remained more or less the same, namely over 5 thousand. On balance, fewer people from Eritrea and Ethiopia settled in the Netherlands. However, there was an increase in migration from other African countries, such as South Africa and Morocco.

Indian migrants form second largest group

Polish nationals still constitute the largest migrant group. On balance, over 5.5 thousand inhabitants with a Polish background were added during the first six months. Immigration went up from nearly 12.5 thousand in the first half of 2018 to more than 13.5 thousand in the same period of 2019, while emigration rose from over 7.5 thousand to 8 thousand. Indian nationals currently form the second largest group of immigrants. They often come to the Netherlands for the purpose of work, together with their partner and family.

The fastest growing migrant groups have their origin in the former Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and Turkey. The number of British nationals coming to the Netherlands has risen since 2015. Furthermore, more Turkish migrants are settling than leaving while the reverse trend was seen in the period from 2011 up to and including 2016.