Population & governance

Utrecht has grown to over 378,000 residents, but growth is lower than expected

In recent years, Utrecht’s population has grown mainly through international migration and natural increase. Over the past two years, however, the city’s growth has been lower than expected, largely due to a rise in the number of residents moving to other municipalities.

• In 2025, Utrecht grew by 1,405 residents, reaching a population of 378,140 on 1 January 2026. This is a historically low increase. Between 2001 and 2023, Utrecht grew by an average of around 5,000 residents per year.
• Those leaving the city are relatively often families with young children.
• If current construction plans are implemented, Utrecht is expected to continue growing. The city is projected to surpass 400,000 residents in 2029.
• Utrecht is a young city with a large student population. By 2045, the number of residents aged 65 and over is expected to increase from 43,000 to 68,000. However, the relative size of this group will remain small. Compared with the national average and other major cities, Utrecht has a relatively high share of young children and a lower share of older residents.
• Utrecht has a diverse population, with 172 different nationalities. Of the city’s 378,000 residents, 42% have a migration background, and this share continues to grow. Many of the migrants who have moved to Utrecht in recent years come from Europe, India, and, since 2022, Ukraine.

Population development in 2025

Trust in local government is relatively high; trust in national government has greatly decreased

Trust among Utrecht residents in the local government has increased over the past two years and is considerably higher than trust in the national government. Trust in local government has returned to the 2021 level.

• By the end of 2025, 57% of residents had fairly high to high trust in the local government.
• This figure combines trust in the municipal executive (59%), the municipal council (54%), and civil servants (58%).
• Trust in the national government, by contrast, has declined sharply. The decline in trust in the national government is also evident across the Netherlands.
• By the end of 2025, only one in five Utrecht residents still trusted the national government and the House of Representatives. This was 34% in 2023 and 41% in 2021.
• Large differences remain between population groups. Residents with
  a bachelor’s or master’s degree have more trust, while those who struggle to make ends meet have less trust.
• Residents of Overvecht and Vleuten-De Meern report the lowest levels of trust in the municipal government (50% and 42%, respectively)

Widespread pride in the city, but growing concerns about the country’s future

Most Utrecht residents are proud of their city (78%), with young people in particular expressing high levels of pride. At the same time, a growing population of residents is pessimistic about the future of the Netherlands. Fewer Utrecht residents feel pessimistic about the future of their own city.

• The share of residents who are pessimistic about the future of the Netherlands has risen from 27% to 49% in just two years. The share who struggle to feel hopeful about Utrecht’s future has remained stable throughout the same period (29%).
• Pessimism about the city's future is especially common among residents over 55 (43%), as well as among residents of Overvecht (42%) and Vleuten-De Meern (42%).
• In 2025, 59% of Utrecht residents were involved in one or more activities in their neighbourhood, up from 54% in 2023.
• One in six residents was involved in developing municipal plans in 2025.
• Utrecht residents also turn out to vote: in recent years, voter turnout in every election has been higher in Utrecht than the national average, although differences between neighbourhoods remain large.
• Turnout in the municipality of Utrecht in the most recent general election was 81.2%, compared to a national turnout of 78.5%.