Major Ethnic Groups in the Netherlands (2024)

The Netherlands (pop. ~17.8M) tracks **origin** (migration background) rather than ethnicity per se. CBS (Statistics Netherlands) categories:

Population by Migration Background (2024 est.)

• Dutch background (no migration): ~76% (~13.5M)
• Western migration background: ~11% (~2.0M)
   Germany, Indonesia (historical), Belgium, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, EU.
• Non-Western migration background: ~13% (~2.3M)
   Top origins: Turkey (~420K), Morocco (~410K), Suriname (~210K), Indonesia (~180K), Netherlands Antilles/Aruba (~160K), Poland (~150K), Syria (~130K), Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, China, India.

Key Notes

• "Western" = Europe (ex-Turkey), OECD anglosphere, Indonesia, Japan. "Non-Western" = rest. **Policy classification, not cultural judgment.**
• **2nd generation** (born in NL, ≥1 parent born abroad) = ~2.5M (14%).
• **Diversity concentrated:** Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht — 50%+ non-Dutch background.
• **Integration:** Civic integration law (inburgering), language/civic exams. Debates on segregation, labor market gaps, discrimination.

Indigenous Minority

• Frisians (Friesland) — ~650K identify; ~400K speak West Frisian. Official language status.

The Netherlands is **majority Dutch-origin, significantly diverse, super-diverse in cities** — managing pluralism via civic integration model.