The population of Amsterdam grew by just 2,626 last year, a quarter of its average growth over the past few years, according to the capital’s statistics agency O&S.

The city’s population has grown by around 10,000 a year since 2008 and has now reached some 934,000 – a rise of 28% on 2000. The figures are contained in a new report, De Staat van de Stad (the state of the city), which looks at the development of Amsterdam over two years, in terms of population, housing, work and attitudes.

In particular, the number of foreigners – international workers and refugees – moving to Amsterdam is down 7,100 on 2023, O&S said. The city’s foreign population fell by 9,400 as more people moved to Amstelveen or returned to Russia, India, Turkey and Ukraine.

Born Amsterdammers now account for 62% of the city’s population, 13% were born in other EU countries and 25% outside the EU.

The report, published every two years, also shows number of births is at its lowest level since 1997. In total, 9,655 babies were born in Amsterdam last year, but since 1997 the number has consistently been over 10,000.

Fewer people have also moved to the capital from other parts of the country, largely due to the shortage of housing for young adults – both students and those starting their careers, O&S said.

O&S found that 6,000 new homes were added to the city’s housing stock in 2024, well below the city council’s target of 7,500.

At the same time, the social housing sector (with rents below €900 per month) accounts for 47% of the city’s housing stock. A further 37% of homes are privately owned and 24% classed as “free sector,” although many of those apartments will now fall under rent control rules.

The figures also show 66% of Amsterdammers consider themselves to be happy, 18% feel isolated from the rest of society and 4% feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.

Almost one in five say they experienced discrimination last year, compared with 13% in 2020, and 25% own a car.