Why did the population in the Netherlands grow by almost 120,000 in the past six months?

In the first half of 2022, 119,000 people joined the Netherlands. This is evident from the Thursday published figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The population growth of the first six months is higher this year than in previous years. Five questions and answers about the six-monthly population figures.

1 What is the cause of the increase?

Migration is the main cause of population growth. In the first six months of this year, 195,200 migrants came to the Netherlands, while 72,300 people registered in the Netherlands settled abroad. As a result, migration resulted in an additional 122,900 in the Netherlands, more than four times as many as in the first half of last year. Because more people died (84,200) than were born (81,100), the eventual population growth in the first half of the year amounted to just under 120,000.

2 Where do the migrants come from?

In the first half of the year, more than three times as many immigrants from outside the EU came to the Netherlands as in the same period last year. The main factor for this increase is the war in Ukraine. 55 percent of migrants from outside the EU come from Ukraine. This mainly concerns women and children. More people also came to the Netherlands from other countries. After Ukrainians, Syrians are the second group of newcomers, followed by people from Turkey and India. The top five countries with the most migrants are completed by Poland.

3 Is there a delayed corona effect?

In the past two years, there has been a slight decrease in the number of migrants coming to the Netherlands compared to 2019, when a record number of migrants settled in the Netherlands. The corona pandemic made it more difficult to come to the Netherlands, partly because of stricter entry rules. The institute emphasizes that in the first six months of this year, more migrants came to the Netherlands from countries within and outside the EU than in 2019. This is partly due to the tight labor market, which makes the situation for migrants favorable. Ukrainians could also travel to the Netherlands relatively easily, because neighboring EU countries such as Poland opened their borders after the Russian invasion.

4 When will the Netherlands reach 18 million inhabitants?

The Netherlands currently has more than 17.7 million registered residents. In December last year, CBS calculated that the Netherlands will probably pass the limit of eighteen million inhabitants by 2025. According to the projections, the Netherlands will have 19 million inhabitants in 2036. Growth is expected to level off somewhat in the following decades. The expected year in which the Netherlands would reach 18 million inhabitants has been adjusted several times in recent years. This is partly due to unexpected events that have a strong impact on population figures, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the end of 2022, Statistics Netherlands will adjust the figures again.

5 What are the consequences of population growth?

The expected population growth, in combination with an aging population, will have consequences for all sections of society in the coming years. Minister Karien van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment, CDA) recently commissioned a state commission examine demographic trends up to 2050. The already tight housing market will probably come under further pressure and the aging population will increase the demand for care – a sector that already suffers from high work pressure and staff shortages.

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