Jaap Draaisma
Lecturer
Metropolitan Issues
Development of population 2015 - 1st half of 2025
*The figures for the first half of 2025 are provisional
The inflow and outflow of residents in Amsterdam 2015 - 1st half of 2025
Number of new residents in Amsterdam
Number of departures from Amsterdam
National migration balance (settlers – leavers)
International migration balance (settlers – leavers)
Total migration balance
Natural increase (birth - death)
Total number of inhabitants (on January 1 of the relevant year)
Most noticeable in 2025
-
Massive influx from abroad, a record.
For the first time, the number of foreigners settling in Amsterdam has exceeded 50,000, namely 50,447. This is in stark contrast to the influx from abroad that had actually fallen sharply in 2024, reaching around 40,000.
-
The number of settlers from the interior was also high; well over 41,000. Almost a record; only in 2023 was this higher.
-
With this, for the first time in Amsterdam's history, the number of new residents has exceeded 90,000 in a single year; well over 91,000.
-
More than 62,000 departures from Amsterdam to the rest of the Netherlands in 2025 is also unprecedented; the highest number of departures was over 55,000 in 2022.
-
With just under 25,000 departures to abroad (this was higher in 2023 and 2024), the total number of departures has also reached a new record: over 87,000.
-
In 2025, Amsterdam once again had a positive net migration; more people settled there than left. Approximately 4,500 people. In 2024, Amsterdam had a negative net migration.
-
Amsterdam 2025: the number of people settling in and leaving is breaking all records. The city is increasingly becoming a transit hub, a city of coming and going. Enormous dynamism, but also very volatile.
-
The number of births is still decreasing; very slightly, but steady.
Because the number of deaths is fairly stable, the birth surplus (births minus deaths) is falling slightly: from 3,667 in 2024 to 3,562 in 2025.
-
Growth in the number of inhabitants.
Net migration (approximately 4,500) and net births (approximately 3,500) together lead to an increase in the number of inhabitants in 2025 of nearly 8,000.
Comments on 2024
-
Establishment surplus growth has almost stopped: from +11,000 in 2022, +13,000 in 2023 to + 760 in 2024
-
Main cause: large decrease in foreign migration
In 2024, 10,000 fewer people settled in Amsterdam: migration from abroad -7,000; from within the country -3,000
-
Hardly any growth due to total migration balance (+760)
Outcome of:
Migration balance with abroad: almost +14,000
Migration balance with within the country: more than -13,000
Positive migration balance with abroad has decreased drastically:
2022: + 27,000; 2023: + 23,000; 2024: + 14,000
Negative migration balance with within the country has increased slightly:
2022: - 16,000; 2023: -10,000; 2024: - 13,000
-
The newspaper reports (Parool, AD) emphasize the positive migration balance with foreign countries; this would be the main cause of population growth. In principle, this is correct. However, if you look at the total migration balance (foreign and domestic), the birth surplus is greater.
-
The growth in the population is largely due to the birth surplus
See above
-
For the first time in 10 years, the number of births has increased in 2024
Since 2015, we have seen a slight decrease in the number of births in Amsterdam. From 11,103 in 2015 to 9,673 in 2023. In 2024, it has risen (slightly) for the first time: to 9,724.
The decline in the number of births was attributed by me mainly to the city becoming more expensive and exclusive, making it increasingly difficult for young people to stay in the city; they are forced or feel forced to leave the city even before they have children. See the conclusion from my research (17 September 2024):
Conclusion from the departure by age
Since 2008, significantly more twenty-somethings have left the city than thirty-somethings. Young people are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in the city and nowadays often leave Amsterdam before they can start forming a family
From:
-
Research question: what is the background to this?
Whether this is a trend break; we can only see in a few years.
Additional
-
Research question: has the number of foreign settlements around Amsterdam increased (significantly) in 2024? In other words: are people now ending up there?
The figures that have now been published concern the so-called corop regions. Amsterdam is part of Greater Amsterdam, just like Aalsmeer, Amstelveen, Diemen, Haarlemmermeer, Ouder Amstel and Uithoorn, together around 1.5 million inhabitants. Considerably smaller than the MRA, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, with 30 municipalities and around 2.5 million inhabitants.
Figures Metropole region Amsterdam as of January 1 (provisional)
2022 2023 2024 2025
Number of inhabitants 1,411,057 1,456,187 1,472,793 1,482,765
Development + 45,130 + 16,606 +9,972
Of which Amsterdam + 35,484 +13,181 +4,495
Settlement from abroad
Number 47,412 67,313 59,217 50,773
Of which Amsterdam 37,114 49,516 45,956 39,533
Conclusion
The figures for Greater Amsterdam do not provide clear reason for the assumption that the growth in the number of inhabitants and the inflow from abroad has shifted from Amsterdam to the surrounding municipalities of Greater Amsterdam. The number of settlements from abroad will have fallen faster in Greater Amsterdam than in Amsterdam in 2024.
Further research should show whether this also applies to other parts of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (Haarlem, IJmond, Gooi, Zaanstreek-Purmerend, Almere Lelystad).
Sources:
https://onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/interactief/corona-en-de-bevolkingsontwikkeling-in-amsterdam Aangevuld met OIS Jaarboek 2020 hoofdstuk 2.21
https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230ned/table?ts=1675329834989
Amsterdam, February 20, 2025
