The Netherlands saw a marked decrease in population growth in 2024, driven solely by net migration. In the first nine months of the year, the country’s population grew by 89,300—a significant decline from the 109,400 increase recorded over the same period in 2023. This slowdown underscores a trend of decreasing EU migration, with arrivals from countries like Poland and Bulgaria dropping by 75% compared to 2022.
For the second year in a row, deaths outnumbered births in the Netherlands, leaving migration as the only growth factor. Interestingly, Dutch emigration outpaced immigration, adding to the changing dynamics in population movement.
Amid these shifts, the Dutch government is reviewing its policies on Syrian refugees as nearly 18,000 asylum seekers from Syria arrived this year, reflecting a notable increase of 4,000 compared to last year.
Countries experiencing the steepest declines in population growth are often grappling with challenges like aging demographics, declining birth rates, and outward migration. Among those seeing the most pronounced decreases are:
Japan: Japan’s population decline is primarily due to its rapidly aging demographic and persistently low birth rates. While the country boasts one of the world’s highest life expectancies, limited births and restricted immigration have contributed to a steady decrease in growth.
Italy: With one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, Italy’s population continues to shrink, driven by its aging populace. The trend is further amplified by young Italians emigrating to other parts of Europe in search of better job opportunities.
Ukraine: Ukraine’s population has experienced a significant drop, largely due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. The war has triggered widespread emigration and displacement, severely impacting the country’s population figures.
