Half of the immigrants who came to the Netherlands in 2003 had left the country 10 years later, the national statistics office CBS said on Friday.

In particular, immigrants from Japan, Canada and the US tended to stay for short periods, the CBS said. Over 80% of those who arrived in 2003 have now left, as have 60% of people from the Antillean islands.

By contrast, 30% of immigrants from Turkey, Morocco and Suriname have moved on. Those who stay are less likely to have a paid job than other immigrants, particularly those from western countries.

In 2003, 107,000 newcomers came to the Netherlands. The CBS says most immigrants from western countries come to the Netherlands to work or to study but not to make the country their permanent home.

Most people who came to the Netherlands as refugees also still live here.