Dutch population shrinks as immigration grows in the Netherlands

The Dutch population grew less strongly in the first half of this year than in the same period last year. The population grew by a total of 22 thousand people in the first half of 2015. This is mostly due to more deaths, fewer births and relatively high immigration. This is according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands on Thursday. The natural growth of the Dutch population - the difference between death and birth - was quite low. A relatively high number - 77 thousand - people passed away and fewer children were born - 82 thousand, compared to 85 thousand in the first half of 2014. In the first quarter there was even a few weeks where more people died than were born. On balance, the Dutch population grew by 5 thousand people in the first half of 2015, compared to 16 thousand in the same period last year. The number of immigrants coming to live in the Netherlands was also higher in the first half of this year than in the same period last year. A total of 82 thousand people settled in the Netherlands in the first 6 months of this year - 6 thousand more than last year. Emigration also increased slightly - more than 65 thousand people left the Netherlands. On balance, the population increased by 17 thousand people by foreign migration - 4 thousand more than in the same period last year.