In the first half of 2012 the Dutch population increased by 14,7 thousand people, less than half of the increase over the same period last year. Because migration was essentially zero, the increase was due entirely to the difference between births and deaths, according to new data from Statistics Netherlands.

During the first half of 2012, the number of deaths in the Netherlands increased significantly for the first time in years. Around 72.000 people died, about 4.000 more than in the same period in 2011.

The number of deaths had remained stable in spite of the rapidly aging Dutch population, but this year the number of deaths among men over the age of 80 and women over the age of 90 in particular increased significantly, mostly due to the cold snap in February and to a lesser extent to the flu.

About 87.000 children were born in the first half of this year, a decrease of nearly 2.000 compared to the same period last year. The number of births has been declining since 2010, due in part to a drop in the number of women aged 30 to 45 years, and also probably to the crisis since the number of births typically declines during economically difficult times.

In the first half of 2012 emigration increased and immigration decreased. Almost 65.000 people left the Netherlands, more than 6.000 more than during the same period last year. Of those who left the Netherlands, one third were born here. Since 2010, the number of people leaving the Netherlands has been rising.

Meanwhile 65.000 people immigrated to the Netherlands in the first half of 2012, a decrease of 1.600 people compared to the same period last year. As such, immigration was essentially balanced by emigration.