Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Poverty in the Netherlands - Statistics & Facts
The Netherlands is, in many regards, a very wealthy country. In Europe, the citizens of the Netherlands experienced the 5th highest average annual wage in 2021 with around 62,000 euros, putting it one place above its neighboring country of Belgium. This wealth is obviously not spread equally, but compared to the EU average, income is dispersed more equally among Dutch citizens.
Nevertheless, 5.4 percent of the Dutch population was at risk of poverty, equal to around 891,000 citizens. The at risk of poverty rate is a measure of relative poverty, which is the share of the population below the at risk of poverty threshold, set to below 60 percent of the national median disposable income level. Just under half of these, at 2.3 percent, have been at risk of poverty for four years or longer.
There was some correlation between the . Over 21 percent of children that came from a family that in 1995 belonged to the lowest 20 percent of earners were still in the lowest 20 percent earners in 2020.
Older generations were the least at risk of poverty, with only 2.8 percent of residents aged 65 years or older at risk of poverty. In comparison, over seven percent of the population aged 15 years or less were at risk of poverty.
Nevertheless, 5.4 percent of the Dutch population was at risk of poverty, equal to around 891,000 citizens. The at risk of poverty rate is a measure of relative poverty, which is the share of the population below the at risk of poverty threshold, set to below 60 percent of the national median disposable income level. Just under half of these, at 2.3 percent, have been at risk of poverty for four years or longer.
Financial poverty
Perhaps worsened by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, and the subsequent cost of living crisis, approximately two-thirds of Dutch citizens were not financially healthy in 2022. Around a third of residents were financially unhealthy, and a further third were financially vulnerable. A total of 505,000 households were already struggling to pay their bills, most of whom were in the lower income bracket. On top of that, 170,000 households would start to struggle if prices were to increase even further.There was some correlation between the . Over 21 percent of children that came from a family that in 1995 belonged to the lowest 20 percent of earners were still in the lowest 20 percent earners in 2020.
Demographics
Women have been more at-risk-of-poverty than men for the past decade, consistently being 0.3 or 0.4 percentage points more at risk of poverty. Not only women, but also residents with a migration background experience higher risks of poverty. In 2020, almost 17.5 percent of residents with a non-western migration background were at risk of poverty, compared to 6.3 percent of the population with a western migration background, and 3.2 percent of those with a Dutch background.Older generations were the least at risk of poverty, with only 2.8 percent of residents aged 65 years or older at risk of poverty. In comparison, over seven percent of the population aged 15 years or less were at risk of poverty.
