The latest population data released by Statistics Netherlands show that the population of the Netherlands increased by more than 70.000 in 2011, of which 26.000 were the result of net migration. By January 1, 2012, there were more than 16,7 million people living in the Netherlands.

Immigration grew by 6.000 to 160.000 in 2011, with EU countries providing 40 percent of the total. 19.000 immigrants arrived from Poland alone, and immigration increased markedly from financial crisis-hit countries in Southern Europe, such as Spain and Italy. Immigration from Africa declined and grew slightly from Asia.

Emigration from the Netherlands also grew, by 13.000 to 134.000 in 2011. One in three were Dutch, and 39.000 thousand came from another EU country.