Wellbeing; education and labour, 2003-2012

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Wellbeing; education and labour, 2003-2012
Education and labour Personal characteristics Periods Satisfaction with life Not satisfied with life (%) Satisfaction with life Satisfied with life (%)
Total Total population 2003 13 87
Total Total population 2004 13 87
Total Total population 2005 14 86
Total Total population 2006 13 87
Total Total population 2007 13 87
Total Total population 2008 12 88
Total Total population 2009 13 87
Total Total population 2010 old method 14 86
Total Total population 2010 new method 15 85
Total Total population 2012 17 83
Total Gender: male 2003 13 87
Total Gender: male 2004 13 87
Total Gender: male 2005 14 86
Total Gender: male 2006 13 87
Total Gender: male 2007 12 88
Total Gender: male 2008 11 89
Total Gender: male 2009 12 88
Total Gender: male 2010 old method 13 87
Total Gender: male 2010 new method 15 85
Total Gender: male 2012 17 83
Total Gender: female 2003 14 86
Total Gender: female 2004 14 86
Total Gender: female 2005 14 86
Total Gender: female 2006 14 86
Total Gender: female 2007 13 87
Total Gender: female 2008 12 88
Total Gender: female 2009 13 87
Total Gender: female 2010 old method 15 85
Total Gender: female 2010 new method 16 84
Total Gender: female 2012 17 83
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2003 11 89
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2004 12 88
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2005 13 87
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2006 12 88
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2007 10 90
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2008 9 91
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2009 11 89
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2010 old method 11 89
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2010 new method 14 86
Total Age: 18 to 35 years 2012 15 85
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2003 14 86
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2004 14 86
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2005 14 86
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2006 14 86
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2007 13 87
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2008 14 86
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2009 14 86
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2010 old method 15 85
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2010 new method 16 84
Total Age: 35 to 50 years 2012 17 83
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2003 13 87
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2004 14 86
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2005 16 84
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2006 15 85
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2007 14 86
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2008 12 88
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2009 13 87
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2010 old method 15 85
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2010 new method 16 84
Total Age: 50 to 65 years 2012 21 79
Total Age: 65 years or older 2003 15 85
Total Age: 65 years or older 2004 13 87
Total Age: 65 years or older 2005 13 87
Total Age: 65 years or older 2006 12 88
Total Age: 65 years or older 2007 14 86
Total Age: 65 years or older 2008 12 88
Total Age: 65 years or older 2009 13 87
Total Age: 65 years or older 2010 old method 14 86
Total Age: 65 years or older 2010 new method 16 84
Total Age: 65 years or older 2012 15 85
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2003 12 88
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2004 12 88
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2005 12 88
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2006 12 88
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2007 12 88
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2008 11 89
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2009 11 89
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2010 old method 12 88
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2010 new method 15 85
Total Origin: Native Dutch background 2012 16 84
Total Origin: western country 2003 16 84
Total Origin: western country 2004 16 84
Total Origin: western country 2005 15 85
Total Origin: western country 2006 16 84
Total Origin: western country 2007 16 84
Total Origin: western country 2008 15 85
Total Origin: western country 2009 17 83
Total Origin: western country 2010 old method 18 82
Total Origin: western country 2010 new method 18 82
Total Origin: western country 2012 21 79
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2003 25 75
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2004 27 73
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2005 27 73
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2006 28 72
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2007 19 81
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2008 19 81
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2009 24 76
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2010 old method 22 78
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2010 new method 20 80
Total Origin: Foreign non-western background 2012 25 75
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains information on the wellbeing of the Dutch population aged 18 years and older in terms of happiness and satisfaction with life. These subjects are broken down by the highest completed level of education and a number of labour-related characteristics, that is socio-economic category and main source of income for the household. The data are also broken down by personal characteristics, that is gender, age and origin. The data are based on the Health Interview Survey (POLS, 2003-2009), the Voluntary Work and Social Cohesion module (V&S, 2010 old method), the Social Cohesion and Well-being survey (SocSam, 2010 new method, 2012) and the Social Statistics Database (SSB). Data on household income and living situation from the SSB were added to POLS data for the years 2003 up to and including 2009. From 2010 onwards data were supplemented with the SSB data from the previous year.

Data available from 2003 till 2012.

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are definite.

Changes as of 16 January 2015:
This table has been discontinued.

Changes as of 16-12-2013:
In 2010 the survey was redesigned. As a consequence, statistics from 2010 onwards are not completely comparable to statistics from previous years. For 2010 there are statistics based on both the old as well as the new method. More information on the redesign can be found in paragraph 4.

When will new figures be published?
Not applicable.

Description topics

Satisfaction with life
Not satisfied with life
Share of the population who responded ‘fairly satisfied’ or ‘not very satisfied’ to the question ‘To what extent are you satisfied with the life you’re currently living?’.
Satisfied with life
Share of the population that responded ‘satisfied’, ‘very satisfied’ or ‘exceptionally satisfied’ to the question ‘to what extent are you satisfied with the life you’re currently living?’.