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Immigration 2024257,7147th in the EU-27
Net migration 2024+117,627immigration − emigration
First-time asylum claims 202524,1157th in the EU-27 · 3.6% UE
New citizenships 202458,9997th in the EU-27

The Netherlands ranks 7th in the EU-27 for regular immigration: in 2024 it registered 257,714 arrivals and 140,087 departures, for a net balance of +117,627. In 2025 first-time asylum applications came to 24,115, 3.6% of the EU total; citizenship acquisitions in 2024 numbered 58,999.

Regular migration

The series includes all citizenships — EU citizens moving between member states and returning nationals included — and counts those moving their usual residence for at least 12 months. Compared with 2019, immigration is up 19%.

Immigration Emigration

Regular migration, Netherlands, by year · Eurostat
YearImmigrationEmigrationNet
2024257,714140,087+117,627
2023274,597123,574+151,023
2022326,798109,616+217,182
2021214,105110,342+103,763
2020182,244102,502+79,742
2019215,756107,906+107,850
2018194,306109,635+84,671
2017189,646108,231+81,415
2016189,232111,477+77,755
2015166,872112,330+54,542
2014145,323112,900+32,423
2013129,428112,625+16,803
2012124,566110,431+14,135
2011130,118104,201+25,917
2010126,77695,970+30,806
2009122,91792,825+30,092
2008143,51690,067+53,449

Asylum applications

First-time applications for international protection lodged in the Netherlands in 2025 came to 24,115 (the 7th-highest in the EU). The series peak remains 2015, with 43,035 applications.

First-time asylum applications, Netherlands, by year · Eurostat
YearFirst-time claims
202524,115
202431,995
202338,360
202235,535
202124,750
202013,730
201922,540
201820,470
201716,090
201619,290
201543,035
201421,775
20139,820
20129,665
201111,560
201013,295
200914,870
200813,370

New citizenships

In 2024 citizenship acquisitions came to 58,999, the 7th-highest in the EU-27. It is a lagging indicator: today's new citizens typically immigrated several years ago. The main previous citizenships of new citizens (2024): Syria (9,586), Türkiye (6,473), India (4,519), Morocco (2,677), Russia (1,594).

Citizenship acquisitions, Netherlands, by year · Eurostat
YearAcquisitions
202458,999
202356,900
202253,678
202162,959
202055,943
201934,191
201827,852
201727,663
201628,534
201527,877
201432,675
201325,882
201230,955
201128,598
201026,275
200929,754
200828,229

Who leaves

In 2024, 48,656 of the country's own citizens moved abroad (the 7th-highest in the EU). The true number is almost certainly higher: emigration is measured through de-registrations, and people who leave do not always deregister.

How to read these numbers. Regular migration follows the UN definition (residence ≥ 12 months) and also includes EU citizens and returning nationals. “First-time applications” exclude repeat claims in the same country. Emigration, based on de-registrations, is generally undercounted. Definitions in the glossary, sources and limits in the methodology.

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