# Netherlands now grows only through migration, as deaths top births

> The Netherlands had 18.19 million inhabitants at the end of September. The population is now growing only through migration, which is also falling, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) says.

Migration · published 2026-10-30 05:50 · https://nlnow.nl/a/dutch-population-growth-slows-to-62-000-lowest-since-2020/

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) says the population grew by just over 62,000 in the first nine months of 2026, against just over 78,000 in the same period of 2025. Growth has fallen every year since 2022, when it peaked at 191,000, mainly because of Ukrainian refugees. The latest figures are provisional.

More people died than were born: 131,000 deaths (1,400 more than a year earlier) against 127,000 births (900 more). Immigration therefore accounts for all the growth.

**Population growth is the lowest for the period since 2020** (thousand people, January to September; source: CBS (2026 provisional))

- 2010: 63.8
- 2011: 63.3
- 2012: 42.3
- 2013: 40.5
- 2014: 58.2
- 2015: 56.8
- 2016: 83.4
- 2017: 80.8
- 2018: 78.7
- 2019: 103.2
- 2020: 57.7
- 2021: 92.9
- 2022: 190.8
- 2023: 108.9
- 2024: 84.3
- 2025: 78.4
- 2026: 62.5

In the nine months, 226,000 people immigrated and 160,000 emigrated. The net gain of just over 66,000 is 15,000 fewer than in the same period of 2025, and lower than in the same period of 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Fewer Syrians came. Almost 14,000 registered with a municipality (gemeente), against just over 21,000 a year earlier. The fall is partly because Syrians no longer automatically get leave to remain, as the security situation in Syria is seen as less serious, according to the State of Migration 2026 report. Almost 2,000 Syrians left, so the net increase was almost 12,000.

Ukrainians remain the second-largest immigrant group, with a net addition of almost 10,000 refugees. Net migration from Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Yemen was lower than in 2025, while more people came from Eritrea.

Immigration from other EU countries stayed at 79,000, while fewer EU migrants left the Netherlands.

## Background

- **CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)**: Statistics Netherlands, the independent government body that produces the official statistics on the Dutch economy and society.

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