2024
2023
2022
Statistics Netherlands | CBS
Source published: 2 February 26
Population growth slows for the third consecutive year
In 2025, the Dutch population grew more slowly than in previous years, mainly due to changes in migration patterns.
In 2025, nearly 307 thousand people immigrated and 212 thousand emigrated. Net migration thus added 95 thousand people, compared to 108 thousand a year earlier. Besides migration, births and deaths influence population development. Since 2022, more people have died annually than were born, resulting in natural decline. In 2025, there were 7.5 thousand more deaths than births.
Due to these developments, the population continued to grow, but this growth has now slowed for the third consecutive year. Growth peaked in 2022, partly due to the large influx of Ukrainian refugees that year. In 2023, a total of 132 thousand inhabitants were added, and in 2024, 101 thousand.
In 2025, net migration (immigration minus emigration) again decreased for migrants with a European origin. Immigration fell from 149 thousand to 141 thousand, while emigration slightly decreased (from 115 thousand to 114 thousand). The population grew by 27 thousand people due to European migration (excluding the Netherlands), less than in the two previous years. Especially fewer people of Polish origin came to the Netherlands: in 2025, more Poles left than arrived (-1.1 thousand). There were also many fewer European migrants from Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and British origins.
The number of migrants from Asia also decreased, from 60 thousand to 55 thousand. This is because immigration slightly decreased and emigration slightly increased. Mainly fewer migrants of Chinese origin arrived, followed by people from India and Iran.
The number of migrants from African countries increased slightly, from 15 to 16 thousand.
Syrian migrants formed the largest group, as in 2024, but their number did not grow. Among Syrians, it mainly concerned refugees seeking asylum.
In 2025, over 23 thousand Syrians arrived, slightly fewer than in 2024. This is because more Syrians left while immigration numbers remained stable.
After Syrians, Ukrainians formed the second largest group. Net migration added 13 thousand Ukrainian refugees: 28 thousand Ukrainians settled in the Netherlands and 15 thousand left. In 2022, the year the Russian invasion began, 83 thousand Ukrainian refugees arrived.
Nearly 166 thousand babies were born, about the same as in 2024. The average number of children per woman remained low at 1.42, comparable to 2024 (1.43). Over 173 thousand people died, one thousand more than in 2024. This was mainly due to an increasing elderly population.