Timeline 125 years of population censuses

One of the most fascinating and longstanding CBS statistics is the population census of the Netherlands. The growth of the Dutch population has been as impressive as the evolution of CBS itself: whereas in 1899, we counted the 5 million people by hand with enumerators going from door to door taking notes, as of 2024 the decennial census is a completely digitised and fully automated process. Below is a timeline of Dutch censuses starting from 1899 right up to this year, when we will count the 18 millionth inhabitant. This timeline shows how counting was done over the years.
1899
Population: 5.1 million

CBS founded on 9 January, first census with door-to-door enumerators

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1909
Population: 5.8 million

Introduction of general mortality rate

Read more on the second census
1920
Population: 6.8 million

Start of mechanisation: introduction of the ‘classi-compteur’

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1930
Population: 7.8 million

Punch card machines used to process census response

Read more on the precursor to the computer
1947
Population: 9.5 million

Questionnaires anonymised for the first time

Read more on the strip protecting the privacy of citizens
1960
Population: 11.4 million

Data processed with a ‘real’ computer , the IBM 101 Electronic

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1971
Population: 13.1 million

Last traditional door-to-door census, public concern about privacy protection

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1981
Population: 14.2 million

First virtual census based on the population register

Read more on an unprecedented development
1991
Population: 15.0 million

15 millionth inhabitant counted using population register and sample survey data

Read more on why high nonresponse was welcome
2001
Population: 16.0 million

16 millionth inhabitant counted in virtual census, no more need to approach people

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2011
Population: 16.7 million

First census based almost entirely on official registers

Read more on the census becoming more European
2021
Population: 17.5 million

First delivery of data at grid level

Read more on the most recent census operation
2024
Population: 18.0 million

125th anniversary of CBS, the Netherlands’ leading source of reliable, independent statistics

Read more on CBS' anniversary and a glimpse of the future