MigrantoMigration trends in the Netherlands
Europe
Netherlands takes in more people than it loses: 2.4M immigrants against 631.4K emigrants. Net balance +1.8M — 10% of the country's population
18M
Population
2.4M
Immigrants
631.4K
Emigrants
+1.8M
Inflow
1 in 7 residents of the Netherlands was born abroad — and 1 in 29 people born in the Netherlands lives abroad
#28 in the world by net migration gain
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in the Netherlands
Where people come from
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
1.1M immigrants · 483K emigrants
1995
- Suriname overtook Indonesia as the largest source of new arrivals
- The diaspora passed 500K people
2005
- Turkey overtook Suriname as the largest source of new arrivals
2010
- Belgium replaced Canada as the main destination for those leaving
Today
- Migration accounted for 89% of the country's population growth
- Since 1990: 1.4M more foreign-born residents and 148.4K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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