Statistics Netherlands | CBS
Source published: 5 November 25
Population grows more slowly than last year
The population in the Netherlands is growing more slowly in 2025 compared to the previous year, mainly due to migration. The number of births is slightly lower than the number of deaths.
The population grew by 77.5 thousand inhabitants in the first three quarters of 2025. That is 7 thousand fewer than last year in the same period. The population grows only through migration. Slightly more people die than are born. At the end of September, the Netherlands had 18.12 million inhabitants. This was reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In the first three quarters, nearly 243 thousand immigrants came to the Netherlands. More than 161 thousand people left for abroad. Net population growth through migration is therefore 81 thousand, 6 thousand less than a year earlier. This is due to lower immigration and slightly higher emigration.
There were 125 thousand children born and 129 thousand people died, about the same as a year earlier. The natural increase (births minus deaths) amounts to nearly -4 thousand inhabitants. In the same period last year, this was -3 thousand.
4th quarter