The growth rate of the Dutch population is rising, with 15,000 new inhabitants in the first six months of this year compared to fewer than 3,000 in the first six months of 2006, according to figures published by the government statistics office CBS on Friday.

A fall in emigration and a rise in immigration are the main causes for the increase said the CBS. In the first half of this year 55,000 people left the Netherlands, 7,000 fewer than the same period last year. The number of immigrants was up by 6,000 to 50,000.