Picture a nation where over a quarter of its adults and nearly a third of its largest city’s residents have roots from elsewhere, a reality illuminated by the Netherlands' record-high immigration of 281,000 people in 2022, which paints a vivid portrait of a country continuously reshaped by global movement.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Netherlands had a total foreign-born population of 2,514,000, representing 14.3% of the total population.
- As of January 2023, 25.2% of the population aged 15-74 in the Netherlands had a migration background, with 13.5% first-generation and 11.7% second-generation.
- In 2021, non-Western migrants made up 9.1% of the Dutch population, totaling approximately 1,600,000 individuals.
- In 2022, the Netherlands saw 281,000 immigrants arrive, a record high increase of 23,000 from 2021.
- Immigration from EU countries to the Netherlands totaled 112,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, 50,000 Ukrainian refugees immigrated to the Netherlands under temporary protection.
- In 2022, 172,000 people emigrated from the Netherlands.
- Emigration to EU countries was 85,000 in 2022.
- 28,000 Dutch nationals emigrated in 2022, up 8%.
- In 2022, 36,540 asylum applications were lodged in the Netherlands.
- Syrians filed 12,000 first asylum applications in 2022.
- Recognition rate for asylum in 2022 was 68% for first applications.
- In 2022, employment rate of non-Western migrants aged 15-74 was 62%, compared to 77% for natives.
- 45,000 naturalizations granted in 2022.
- Unemployment rate for Western migrants: 4.5% in 2022, vs 3.2% natives.
The Netherlands is an increasingly diverse nation due to sustained, high levels of immigration.
Asylum and Protection
- In 2022, 36,540 asylum applications were lodged in the Netherlands.
- Syrians filed 12,000 first asylum applications in 2022.
- Recognition rate for asylum in 2022 was 68% for first applications.
- 51,000 Ukrainians received temporary protection status by end 2022.
- In 2023, 18,000 asylum applications in first half.
- Eritreans: 4,500 asylum apps in 2022.
- 15,000 family reunifications for refugees in 2022.
- Turkish asylum seekers: 3,200 in 2022.
- In 2021, 36,800 asylum applications processed.
- Afghan asylum apps surged to 2,500 in 2022.
- Stateless persons: 1,200 asylum claims in 2022.
- Average processing time for asylum: 84 weeks in 2022.
- 8,000 positive decisions on asylum in 2022.
- Somalis: 1,800 asylum applications in 2022.
- In 2023 Q1-Q2, 10,200 first-time asylum apps.
- Iranian asylum seekers: 1,500 in 2022.
- Subsidiary protection granted to 2,000 in 2022.
- Iraqi asylum apps: 2,000 in 2022.
- 4,500 appeals on asylum rejections in 2022.
- Palestinian asylum claims: 800 in 2022.
- Humanitarian status granted outside asylum: 5,000 in 2022.
- Yemenis: 400 asylum applications in 2022.
- Rejection rate for first asylum apps: 32% in 2022.
Asylum and Protection Interpretation
In 2022, the Netherlands, while generously opening its doors to tens of thousands fleeing conflict, found itself in a bittersweet administrative tango, approving most asylum pleas but leaving applicants in a painfully slow, 84-week limbo as the paperwork piled up.
Emigration and Return Migration
- In 2022, 172,000 people emigrated from the Netherlands.
- Emigration to EU countries was 85,000 in 2022.
- 28,000 Dutch nationals emigrated in 2022, up 8%.
- Return migration from non-Western countries: 12,000 in 2022.
- Emigration to Belgium: 15,000 in 2022.
- In 2021, emigration totaled 158,000.
- Polish nationals emigrating: 10,000 in 2022.
- Emigration to Germany: 20,000 in 2022.
- Youth emigration (under 20): 12,000 in 2022.
- In first half 2023, emigration was 85,000, up 6%.
- Return of Surinamese: 2,000 in 2022.
- Emigration to the UK: 5,000 in 2022.
- Turkish nationals emigrating: 8,000 in 2022.
- Emigration for study abroad: 3,000 Dutch students in 2022.
- Moroccan return migration: 1,500 in 2022.
- Emigration to Spain: 4,000 in 2022.
- Syrian returnees: 500 in 2022.
- Emigration of retirees: 6,000 over 65 in 2022.
- Intra-EU emigration of non-Dutch: 40,000 in 2022.
- Emigration to the US: 3,000 in 2022.
- Antillean return migration: 1,000 in 2022.
- Emigration to France: 3,500 in 2022.
Emigration and Return Migration Interpretation
While 2022 saw a notable rise in Dutch nationals and youth seeking opportunities abroad, the figures equally reveal a predictable European shuffle and the sobering, modest scale of return migration from non-Western backgrounds.
Immigration Flows
- In 2022, the Netherlands saw 281,000 immigrants arrive, a record high increase of 23,000 from 2021.
- Immigration from EU countries to the Netherlands totaled 112,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, 50,000 Ukrainian refugees immigrated to the Netherlands under temporary protection.
- Non-EU immigration reached 168,000 in 2022, up 14% from previous year.
- Family migration accounted for 72,000 inflows in 2022.
- Labor migration to the Netherlands was 45,000 in 2022, mainly from India and Turkey.
- Study-related immigration totaled 38,000 in 2022, with 20,000 from China.
- In 2021, 258,000 people immigrated to the Netherlands.
- Immigration from Poland dropped to 15,000 in 2022 from 22,000 in 2021.
- 28,000 people immigrated for asylum reasons in 2022.
- In 2023 first half, immigration reached 156,000, up 18% from 2022 same period.
- Family reunification visas issued: 35,000 in 2022.
- Highly skilled migrant inflows: 30,000 in 2022 under knowledge worker scheme.
- Immigration from India surged 80% to 25,000 in 2022.
- Syrian immigrants numbered 18,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, 12,000 Turks immigrated to the Netherlands.
- Student inflows from Germany: 5,000 in 2022.
- Intra-EU family migration: 20,000 in 2022.
- Immigration from the US: 8,000 in 2022.
- Other humanitarian immigration (not asylum): 10,000 in 2022.
- Immigration from Romania: 18,000 in 2022.
- Au pair and working holiday visas: 4,000 issued in 2022.
- Immigration from the UK post-Brexit: 7,000 in 2022.
- Moroccan immigrants: 15,000 in 2022.
Immigration Flows Interpretation
The Netherlands' record-breaking immigration portrait in 2022 paints a picture of a nation responding to a Ukrainian crisis and a global brain race, with family bonds and European mobility still forming the enduring backbone of its demographic evolution.
Integration and Naturalization
- In 2022, employment rate of non-Western migrants aged 15-74 was 62%, compared to 77% for natives.
- 45,000 naturalizations granted in 2022.
- Unemployment rate for Western migrants: 4.5% in 2022, vs 3.2% natives.
- In 2022, 65% of non-EU labor migrants found jobs within 6 months.
- Language proficiency: 75% of first-gen non-Western migrants speak Dutch well in 2022.
- Naturalization rate: 2.5% of foreign population in 2022.
- Second-gen non-Western youth employment: 70% in 2022.
- In 2021, 42,000 naturalizations occurred.
- Poverty risk for non-Western households: 28% in 2022.
- 55% of Syrian refugees employed after 3 years in 2022.
- Civic integration exam pass rate: 60% in first attempt 2022.
- Educational attainment: 40% of first-gen migrants have higher education in 2022.
- In 2022, 30% of non-Western migrants received social benefits.
- Dual citizenship allowed for 10,000 naturalizations in 2022.
- Youth with migration background NEET rate: 8% in 2022.
- Housing: 15% of non-Western migrants in temporary accommodation 2022.
- Entrepreneurship rate among migrants: 12% in 2022.
- In 2023, 80% of long-term residents integrated via inburgering.
- Wage gap: Non-Western migrants earn 20% less than natives in 2022.
- Naturalizations from Syria: 5,000 in 2022.
- Overqualification rate for migrants: 35% in 2022.
- Civic integration debt: 25,000 cases in 2022.
- Second-gen educational success: 50% higher ed in 2022.
- Remittances sent by migrants: €2.5 billion in 2022.
- Discrimination reports in employment: 10,000 migrant cases 2022.
- In 2022, Turks naturalized: 8,000.
Integration and Naturalization Interpretation
The Netherlands' integration story reads like a cautiously optimistic spreadsheet: while newcomers are learning the language, earning citizenship, and often over-qualifying for their jobs, the persistent gaps in employment, pay, and poverty risk show the journey from immigrant to equal participant is a marathon, not a sprint.
Population and Demographics
- In 2022, the Netherlands had a total foreign-born population of 2,514,000, representing 14.3% of the total population.
- As of January 2023, 25.2% of the population aged 15-74 in the Netherlands had a migration background, with 13.5% first-generation and 11.7% second-generation.
- In 2021, non-Western migrants made up 9.1% of the Dutch population, totaling approximately 1,600,000 individuals.
- The largest group of immigrants by country of birth in 2023 was from Turkey, with 2.4% of the total population.
- In 2022, 23% of births in the Netherlands were to mothers with a migration background.
- As of 2023, Moroccans form the second-largest non-Western migrant group, comprising 2.3% of the population.
- In 2021, the Surinamese population in the Netherlands totaled 360,000, or 2.1% of the total population.
- Poles were the largest EU-born group in 2022, with 225,000 residents aged 15 and over.
- In 2023, 8.5% of the Dutch population had an Indonesian migration background.
- The median age of first-generation migrants in the Netherlands in 2022 was 45 years, compared to 44 for natives.
- In 2022, women accounted for 52% of the foreign-born population in the Netherlands.
- As of 2021, 1.2 million people with a migration background lived in the four largest cities, 40% of their population.
- In 2023, Syrians were the largest recent non-Western migrant group, with 110,000 first-generation migrants.
- The proportion of people with a Western migration background in rural areas was 11% in 2022.
- In 2021, 6.8% of the population had a German migration background.
- Children with a non-Western migration background made up 28% of 0-17 year olds in 2022.
- In 2023, the Indian population in the Netherlands reached 50,000.
- 15% of the working-age population (15-75) in 2022 had a non-Western migration background.
- As of 2021, Belgians numbered 110,000 in the Netherlands, 0.6% of population.
- In 2022, 4.1% of the population had a Chinese migration background.
- The foreign-born population grew by 4.2% from 2021 to 2022.
- In 2023, 32% of Amsterdam's population had a non-Western migration background.
- Antilleans and Arubans totaled 190,000 in 2021, 1.1% of population.
- In 2022, 9% of Rotterdam residents had no migration background.
- Iraqis numbered 80,000 in the Netherlands in 2023.
- 55% of people with migration background lived in urban areas in 2022.
- In 2021, Iranians had a population of 45,000 in the Netherlands.
- The share of second-generation migrants with non-Western background was 6.5% in 2022.
- In 2023, Romanians were the second-largest EU migrant group with 130,000.
- Cape Verdeans and Somalis each had around 40,000 residents in 2021.
Population and Demographics Interpretation
The Netherlands paints a vivid and evolving portrait of diversity, where over a quarter of its people trace their roots elsewhere, creating a demographic tapestry woven from Turkish, Moroccan, Polish, and Syrian threads, among many others, and whose future is literally being born, with nearly a quarter of new babies entering this culturally rich and complex blend.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 2OPENDATAopendata.cbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 3INDind.nlVisit source
- Reference 4LONGREADSlongreads.cbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 5ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 6ASYLUMINEUROPEasylumineurope.orgVisit source
- Reference 7UNHCRunhcr.orgVisit source
- Reference 8OECDoecd.orgVisit source