More than 1.5 million foreign nationals reside in the Netherlands

Over 1.5 million people living in the Netherlands are foreign nationals, with nearly half holding the nationality of another European Union member state, according to new data from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.

As of January 1, 2024, 1,523,900 people in the Netherlands, or 8.5 percent of the total population, were non-Dutch nationals. Of these, 745,500 were citizens of other EU member states, while 773,600 held a nationality from outside the EU. The figures, published in a Eurostat analysis of population statistics, highlight the ongoing presence of both European and non-European migrant communities in the Netherlands.

The data shows that the largest foreign communities in the Netherlands include Polish, Ukrainian, Turkish, German, and Syrian nationals. Poland remains the primary country of origin for EU citizens residing in the Netherlands, while Ukrainian, Turkish, and Moroccan nationals are among the most significant groups from outside the EU across Europe.

In total, 2,914,900 people living in the Netherlands—16 percent of the population—were born outside the country. Of these, 2,135,300 were born outside the EU, representing 11.7 percent of the population, while 779,600 were born in another EU member state, making up 4.3 percent of residents.

The Dutch government has prioritized limiting immigration as part of its broader policy strategy. The coalition, which includes right-wing parties, has expressed a desire to impose stricter controls on the number of foreign workers entering the country, including those from other EU nations.

In line with this, economists have argued for a shift in economic strategy to reduce reliance on low-cost, low-skilled labor from abroad. Policymakers are considering new measures aimed at encouraging businesses to rely more on domestic labor and automation, rather than recruiting workers from other EU countries.

The Eurostat data also provides a broader view of migration trends within the European Union. As of early 2024, 6.4 percent of the EU’s total population—29 million people—were non-EU citizens. An additional 14 million were EU nationals residing in another member state.

Germany has the highest number of foreign-born residents, with 16.9 million people, followed by France (9.3 million), Spain (8.8 million), and Italy (6.7 million). In terms of percentage, Luxembourg leads the EU with 51 percent of its population born outside the country, followed by Malta (30.8 percent), Cyprus (26.9 percent), Ireland (22.6 percent), and Austria (22.1 percent).

By contrast, Poland (2.6 percent), Romania (3.1 percent), Bulgaria (3.3 percent), and Slovakia (3.9 percent) have the lowest percentages of foreign-born residents.

The data also indicates an age gap between native and foreign-born populations in the Netherlands. While children account for 16.7 percent of the Dutch-born population, they make up only 6.8 percent of those who were born abroad.