Demographics of the Benelux - Statistics & Facts
The Netherlands is the largest of the three Benelux countries, with a population of over 17.6 million people. Belgium is the second largest country in the region, at roughly 11.6 million, while just over 661,000 live in Luxembourg, the smallest of the Benelux countries.
All three have growing populations and according to recent forecasts, by 2028 Luxemburg will have a population of around 720,000 people; Belgium’s population will increase to almost 12.8 million by 2060 and the Dutch population will amount to 18.1 million.
With regards to the Dutch population, roughly 4.4 million people have a foreign background. Among residents with a non-Western background, the Turkish and Moroccan communities are the largest with 430,000 and 419,000 members respectively. The French form the largest foreign minority in Belgium, at over 170,000 people followed by Dutch at 159,000 thousand and Italian population, at 156,000 residents.
The number of households in Belgium around to over 5.1 million and, not unlike in the Netherlands, Belgian single-person households outnumber the others with approximately 1.8 million households. The most recent numbers available for Luxembourg show that the case here is no different. Of the roughly 209,000 households in Luxembourg, approximately 70,000 are single-person households.
All three have growing populations and according to recent forecasts, by 2028 Luxemburg will have a population of around 720,000 people; Belgium’s population will increase to almost 12.8 million by 2060 and the Dutch population will amount to 18.1 million.
Internationalization of the Benelux
With foreigners from many different nationalities making up roughly half of the population in Luxembourg, the small nation is the most diverse of the three Benelux countries. Of this foreign-born population, Portuguese nationals make up the largest share at over 92,000 inhabitants.With regards to the Dutch population, roughly 4.4 million people have a foreign background. Among residents with a non-Western background, the Turkish and Moroccan communities are the largest with 430,000 and 419,000 members respectively. The French form the largest foreign minority in Belgium, at over 170,000 people followed by Dutch at 159,000 thousand and Italian population, at 156,000 residents.
Are single-person households the norm in the Benelux?
The 17.6 million people living in the Netherlands together form roughly 8.1 million households. Approximately 2.13 people live in an average Dutch household, even though the largest group consists of single-person households.The number of households in Belgium around to over 5.1 million and, not unlike in the Netherlands, Belgian single-person households outnumber the others with approximately 1.8 million households. The most recent numbers available for Luxembourg show that the case here is no different. Of the roughly 209,000 households in Luxembourg, approximately 70,000 are single-person households.
