City · Groningen, Groningen

Meerstad: Migration background and origin

On 1 January 2026, Meerstad had 4,570 residents. 15.9% of them (725 people) have a migration background: they were born abroad or have at least one parent who was. That is lower than the municipality of Groningen (30.0%) and lower than the national average (29.1%). The largest origin groups are other Asia (3.8%), other Europe (3.4%) and Indonesia (1.6%). 39.3% of residents with a migration background were born abroad themselves. Since 2022 the share has risen by 2.2 percentage points.

Residents: 4,570 on 1 January 2026
Migration background: 15.9% 725 people
Born abroad: 39.3% of those with a migration background
Change since 2022: +2.2 pp in share with a migration background

Migration background, share of residents

Share of residents with a migration background per postcode.

Where residents come from

Origin of residents on 1 January 2026, as a share of all residents.

Dutch origin and migration background

84% 16%

Dutch origin 84.1% 3,845
Migration background 15.9% 725

Largest origin groups

Bars show each group’s share of all residents of Meerstad. For comparison, the line marks Municipality of Groningen and the circle the Netherlands.

Other Asia Asia excluding Indonesia and Turkey

3.8% 175 people

Municipality of Groningen 6.6% Netherlands 5.3%
Other Europe Europe excluding the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Poland

3.4% 155 people

Municipality of Groningen 8.0% Netherlands 5.6%
Indonesia

1.6% 75 people

Municipality of Groningen 2.4% Netherlands 1.9%
Germany

1.5% 70 people

Municipality of Groningen 2.4% Netherlands 1.9%
Suriname

1.4% 65 people

Municipality of Groningen 1.4% Netherlands 2.0%
Turkey

1.2% 55 people

Municipality of Groningen 1.0% Netherlands 2.6%
Dutch Caribbean Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

0.77% 35 people

Municipality of Groningen 1.8% Netherlands 1.1%
Other Americas & Oceania Americas and Oceania excluding Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean

0.77% 35 people

Municipality of Groningen 2.4% Netherlands 1.7%
Other Africa Africa excluding Morocco

0.66% 30 people

Municipality of Groningen 2.6% Netherlands 2.3%
Morocco

0.33% 15 people

Municipality of Groningen 0.55% Netherlands 2.4%
Belgium

0.22% 10 people

Municipality of Groningen 0.34% Netherlands 0.76%
Poland

0.11% 5 people

Municipality of Groningen 0.55% Netherlands 1.4%

First and second generation

Residents with a migration background, by whether they were born abroad themselves.

39% 61%

Born abroad (first generation) 39.3% 285
Born in the Netherlands (second generation) 60.7% 440

Men and women

Men: 2,320
Women: 2,250

Compared with all cities

Netherlands 29.1% Meerstad 15.9%

Higher than 68% of all cities in the Netherlands

Trend since 1998

Share of residents with a migration background, compared with larger areas.

Show

Measure % Residents

New CBS classification

15.9%

Meerstad
Municipality of Groningen
Netherlands

Show as table

Year	Meerstad	Municipality of Groningen	Netherlands
1998	–	14.4%	16.7%
1999	–	14.9%	17.1%
2000	–	15.4%	17.5%
2001	–	15.9%	18.0%
2002	–	16.5%	18.4%
2003	–	16.9%	18.8%
2004	–	17.0%	19.0%
2005	–	17.4%	19.2%
2006	–	17.5%	19.3%
2007	–	17.5%	19.4%
2008	–	17.7%	19.6%
2009	–	18.4%	19.9%
2010	–	18.9%	20.3%
2011	0.0%	19.4%	20.6%
2012	14.3%	19.9%	20.9%
2013	14.6%	20.4%	21.1%
2014	14.3%	20.8%	21.4%
2015	11.8%	21.1%	21.7%
2016	10.1%	21.6%	22.1%
2017	11.0%	22.4%	22.6%
2018	11.3%	23.0%	23.1%
2019	12.8%	24.0%	23.6%
2020	12.2%	24.7%	24.2%
2021	12.8%	25.0%	24.6%
2022	13.7%	26.9%	26.0%
2023	14.4%	28.3%	27.1%
2024	15.6%	29.0%	27.9%
2025	15.4%	29.5%	28.5%
2026	15.9%	30.0%	29.1%

In 2022 CBS switched to a new origin classification. Up to 2021 the line shows the old “migration background” figures; the overlap years show a small break (about +0.8 points nationally).

Postcodes in Meerstad

				Largest group
9613 De Zeilen, Meeroevers	15.9%	4,570	+2.2 pp	Other Asia

All figures

Number of residents per origin group on 1 January. Figures up to 2021 use the old CBS classification.

Year	Total residents	Dutch origin	Migration background	Europe	Outside Europe	Turkey	Morocco	Suriname	Indonesia	Dutch Caribbean	Germany	Poland	Belgium	Other Europe	Other Africa	Other Asia	Other Americas & Oceania	Western migration background	Non-Western migration background
2011	10	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
2012	70	60	10	5	5	0	0	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
2013	205	175	30	5	20	5	5	0	5	0	5	0	5	0	0	10	0	10	15
2014	245	210	35	5	30	5	0	5	0	5	0	0	5	0	5	10	0	10	20
2015	340	300	40	10	25	0	0	5	5	0	5	0	0	5	5	5	5	20	15
2016	545	490	55	20	40	0	5	5	5	5	10	5	0	5	0	15	5	35	25
2017	730	650	80	30	50	5	0	10	10	5	10	0	0	20	5	15	0	45	35
2018	840	745	95	40	50	0	5	10	15	5	10	0	0	30	0	10	5	55	35
2019	1,170	1,020	150	50	100	5	0	20	25	15	25	0	0	25	10	20	5	80	75
2020	1,720	1,510	210	75	140	5	5	25	30	20	30	0	0	45	10	35	10	105	110
2021	2,305	2,010	295	105	195	10	10	30	35	20	35	0	5	65	15	55	20	145	150
2022	2,780	2,400	380	125	255	15	10	45	35	25	50	0	10	65	15	95	20	175	190
2023	3,515	3,015	505	155	350	30	20	50	55	30	55	5	10	90	20	120	30	225	265
2024	4,105	3,465	640	200	435	40	20	60	65	30	65	5	10	125	20	165	35	–	–
2025	4,295	3,635	660	210	450	45	20	65	65	30	65	5	10	130	25	165	35	–	–
2026	4,570	3,845	725	245	480	55	15	65	75	35	70	5	10	155	30	175	35	–	–

Definitions and method · CBS 85640NED (2022–2026), 83503NED (1998–2023)