Dutch statistics agency CBS says the population of the Netherlands grew to 17.6 million in 2021, an increase of 118,000 on 2020, mostly due to immigration. That’s more than double the growth of 2020 and in line with 2019 levels.

Despite a higher than usual death rate, attributed to deaths from Covid-19, the birth rate in the country exceeded the death rate. Around 180,000 children were born in the Netherlands during the year, though this number may still be adjusted. The death rate of 168,000 people was on par with the 2020 rate but jumped more than 15,000 people when compared to 2019.

More than 245,000 people moved to the Netherlands last year, with more than half coming from other European countries. The second largest group comes from Asia. At the same time, 139,000 people living in the Netherlands moved abroad, so the net impact of immigration was just over 100,000 people.

Emigration and immigration numbers dropped dramatically during 2020. Only 68,000 people moved to the country during the first part of the coronavirus pandemic.

Growth in big cities stagnated as people, now working more from home, moved to places with more space and a lower cost of living. The province of Flevoland grew more than any other province, adding 6,000 new residents or a 15% increase.