Immigrant influx drives Dutch population beyond 18 mln

THE HAGUE, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) — The population of the Netherlands has surpassed 18 million, driven primarily by an influx of immigrants, according to data released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on Thursday.
Since 2015, the country’s population growth has largely depended on immigration, with new arrivals from Ukraine and Syria making up the majority. Despite the number of deaths exceeding births from 2022 through the first half of 2024, the population has continued to grow due to the steady flow of immigrants, the CBS said.
As of early 2024, residents of Ukrainian descent account for 0.7 percent of the Dutch population, while those of Syrian descent make up 0.9 percent. The CBS noted that this migration trend is closely tied to international security situations, including conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, as well as EU expansion and domestic policies in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands continues to experience a decline in birth rates and an increase in the aging population. In 2023, only 164,500 children were born, with the average number of children per woman dropping to 1.43, the lowest figure since the 1980s.
The proportion of residents aged 65 and over has been steadily rising, with the country’s average age has increased from 41.5 years in early 2016 to 42.6 years at the beginning of 2024. ■