Development of population 2015 - 1st half of 2026

​*The figures for the first half of 2026 are provisional

*The figures for 2025 have been adjusted based on registrations in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen), which the Municipality of Amsterdam carried out in 2025 on behalf of other municipalities to catch up on the registration backlog of approximately 11,500 people. These individuals are people from abroad, often asylum seekers and status holders, who have been residing in the Netherlands for longer than 6 months. Shortly after registering in Amsterdam, they were deregistered and returned to the municipality where they actually reside.

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The inflow and outflow of residents in Amsterdam 2015 - 1st half of 2025

Number of new residents in Amsterdam

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Number of departures from Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

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National migration balance (settlers – leavers)

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International migration balance (settlers – leavers)

 

 

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Total migration balance

 

 

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Natural increase (birth - death)

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Total number of inhabitants (on January 1 of the relevant year)

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Findings from figures for the first half of 2026

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• ​Based on the figures for the first half of 2026, the growth in the number of inhabitants in 2026 would be approximately equal to that in 2025: about 8,000
   

• Half due to the birth surplus, and half due to the net migration surplus. Both have remained approximately the same
   

• The number of new residents and departures appears to end up at approximately the same level as in 2025. 
   

• Inflow is often highest in the third quarter (start of the academic year); this leads to a forecast of over 80,000 new residents and around 75,000 departures.​​

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Most noticeable in 2025

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• We corrected the figures for 2025 in September 2026. This was necessary because the Municipality of Amsterdam carried out registrations in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen) for other municipalities in 2025 to catch up on the registration backlog of approximately 11,500 people. These individuals are people from abroad, often asylum seekers and status holders, who have been staying in the Netherlands for longer than 6 months. Shortly after registering in Amsterdam, they were deregistered and returned to the municipality where they actually reside. Consequently, these individuals have never lived in Amsterdam and therefore do not belong in an overview of people settling in and leaving Amsterdam. 
   

• In 2025, Amsterdam once again had a positive net migration; more people settled than left. Approximately 4,000 people. In 2024, Amsterdam had a negative net migration. 
   

• The domestic migration balance of over -10,000 was the lowest since 2017. 
   

• The number of births is still declining; very slightly, but steadily. 
  Because the number of deaths is fairly stable, the birth surplus (births minus deaths) decreases slightly: from 3,667 in 2024 to 3,562 in 2025. 
   

• Growth in the number of inhabitants. Net migration (approximately 4,000) and birth surplus (approximately 3,500) together lead to an increase in the number of inhabitants in 2025 of over 7,500.

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Comments on 2024

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• 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):

 

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Conclusion from the departure by age​​

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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: 

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• 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

 

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Conclusion

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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).

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Sources:

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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, September 4, 2026