Wellbeing; alterations in marital status and employment situation,1998/2009
| Change of life event | Personal characteristics | Figure category | Happy persons Before life event 8 years or more before (%) | Happy persons Before life event 4 to 5 years before (%) | Happy persons Before life event 3 to 4 years before (%) | Happy persons Before life event 2 to 3 years before (%) | Happy persons Before life event 1 to 2 years before (%) | Happy persons Before life event 0 to 1 year before (%) | Happy persons After life event 0 to 1 year after (%) | Happy persons After life event 1 to 2 years after (%) | Happy persons After life event 2 to 3 years after (%) | Happy persons After life event 3 to 4 years after (%) | Happy persons After life event 4 to 5 years after (%) | Happy persons After life event 8 years or more after (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No change in marital status | Total population | Percentages | 88.0 | 88.1 | 88.1 | 88.0 | 88.0 | 87.9 | 88.0 | 88.0 | 88.0 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 |
| No change in marital status | Total population | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in marital status | Gender: male | Percentages | 89.2 | 89.3 | 89.3 | 89.3 | 89.2 | 89.1 | 89.2 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 |
| No change in marital status | Gender: male | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in marital status | Gender: female | Percentages | 86.9 | 87.0 | 86.9 | 86.9 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.9 | 86.9 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 |
| No change in marital status | Gender: female | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | 91.0 | 91.0 | 91.1 | 91.0 | 91.0 | 90.9 | 90.9 | 90.9 | 91.0 | 91.0 | 91.0 | 91.0 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 88.5 | 88.6 | 88.5 | 88.5 | 88.5 | 88.5 | 88.6 | 88.5 | 88.5 | 88.5 | 88.4 | 88.5 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 87.1 | 87.1 | 87.1 | 87.1 | 87.1 | 87.1 | 87.3 | 87.2 | 87.2 | 87.2 | 87.0 | 87.0 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | 83.8 | 84.0 | 83.9 | 83.8 | 83.6 | 83.5 | 83.9 | 83.7 | 83.6 | 83.5 | 83.5 | 83.4 |
| No change in marital status | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| New status: married or partnership | Total population | Percentages | 90.2 | 89.7 | 89.9 | 90.9 | 91.4 | 93.9 | 94.3 | 93.9 | 93.7 | 92.3 | 93.4 | 89.4 |
| New status: married or partnership | Total population | Standard error | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| New status: married or partnership | Gender: male | Percentages | 91.7 | 89.8 | 90.9 | 90.4 | 92.4 | 93.4 | 93.3 | 95.7 | 93.3 | 92.3 | 93.9 | 94.3 |
| New status: married or partnership | Gender: male | Standard error | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| New status: married or partnership | Gender: female | Percentages | 88.1 | 89.6 | 88.8 | 91.5 | 90.2 | 94.5 | 95.2 | 92.1 | 94.1 | 92.3 | 92.9 | 85.6 |
| New status: married or partnership | Gender: female | Standard error | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 3.4 |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | 92.9 | 93.4 | 92.6 | 94.6 | 94.7 | 95.3 | 95.6 | 95.8 | 94.9 | 94.6 | 93.4 | . |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | . |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 84.2 | 84.4 | 86.1 | 82.9 | 84.7 | 92.5 | 91.5 | 90.8 | 92.8 | 89.9 | 93.3 | 93.2 |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 65.2 | 70.4 | 79.1 | 76.0 | 76.5 | . | 94.7 | 94.9 | 88.5 | 89.1 | 92.5 | . |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 5.9 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.3 | . | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 4.3 | . |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: married or partnership | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Total population | Percentages | 89.3 | 88.6 | 88.5 | 85.9 | 85.8 | 69.0 | 46.6 | 60.0 | 63.1 | 65.5 | 72.6 | . |
| New status: widowed | Total population | Standard error | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 | . |
| New status: widowed | Gender: male | Percentages | 91.8 | 90.0 | 91.9 | 83.5 | 82.3 | 78.6 | 43.3 | 53.8 | 65.1 | 65.2 | 76.8 | . |
| New status: widowed | Gender: male | Standard error | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 6.1 | . |
| New status: widowed | Gender: female | Percentages | 88.3 | 88.0 | 87.0 | 86.9 | 87.5 | 63.4 | 48.3 | 62.7 | 62.3 | 65.6 | 71.1 | . |
| New status: widowed | Gender: female | Standard error | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 91.1 | 88.8 | 90.5 | 86.5 | 78.8 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 2.2 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 4.3 | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 89.8 | 85.3 | 88.9 | 89.1 | 87.7 | 64.4 | 41.2 | 47.8 | 53.5 | 51.1 | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 1.5 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 6.5 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 6.9 | . | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | 89.0 | 89.7 | 87.6 | 85.4 | 86.2 | 73.2 | 49.6 | 64.1 | 66.4 | 70.2 | 70.0 | . |
| New status: widowed | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 | . |
| New status: divorced | Total population | Percentages | 91.0 | 85.4 | 83.8 | 86.7 | 83.4 | 74.0 | 67.3 | 74.7 | 75.6 | 77.7 | 83.1 | 83.6 |
| New status: divorced | Total population | Standard error | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| New status: divorced | Gender: male | Percentages | 91.9 | 88.3 | 77.0 | 86.9 | 88.4 | 78.7 | 65.8 | 76.5 | 72.7 | 83.8 | 82.5 | . |
| New status: divorced | Gender: male | Standard error | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.6 | . |
| New status: divorced | Gender: female | Percentages | 90.1 | 82.7 | 92.0 | 86.5 | 79.1 | 70.2 | 68.9 | 73.1 | 78.4 | 72.4 | 83.8 | . |
| New status: divorced | Gender: female | Standard error | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.4 | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | 93.1 | 89.6 | 80.7 | 90.1 | 88.0 | 78.6 | 71.3 | 82.4 | 82.1 | . | . | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.8 | . | . | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 89.5 | 80.9 | 87.8 | 83.9 | 81.2 | 72.8 | 67.7 | 74.7 | 78.3 | 79.7 | 86.3 | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.2 | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 88.0 | 82.7 | 83.5 | 86.4 | 77.4 | . | 60.9 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 70.6 | 80.8 | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 5.5 | . | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 4.8 | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| New status: divorced | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| No change in employment situation | Total population | Percentages | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 88.0 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 87.9 |
| No change in employment situation | Total population | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Gender: male | Percentages | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.1 | 89.2 | 89.1 | 89.2 | 89.2 | 89.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Gender: male | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Gender: female | Percentages | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.7 |
| No change in employment situation | Gender: female | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | 91.0 | 91.1 | 91.1 | 91.1 | 91.2 | 91.1 | 91.1 | 91.1 | 91.0 | 91.1 | 91.1 | 90.9 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 88.5 | 88.5 | 88.6 | 88.6 | 88.6 | 88.5 | 88.7 | 88.7 | 88.7 | 88.7 | 88.7 | 88.6 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.0 | 87.1 | 87.0 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.3 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.4 | 83.3 |
| No change in employment situation | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| New status: employed | Total population | Percentages | 84.9 | 85.7 | 84.8 | 85.9 | 85.7 | 84.9 | 88.7 | 88.6 | 89.2 | 88.6 | 87.8 | 90.1 |
| New status: employed | Total population | Standard error | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| New status: employed | Gender: male | Percentages | 83.7 | 84.6 | 83.7 | 85.5 | 86.3 | 84.3 | 89.0 | 87.7 | 89.9 | 87.8 | 87.0 | 89.2 |
| New status: employed | Gender: male | Standard error | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| New status: employed | Gender: female | Percentages | 85.9 | 87.1 | 86.1 | 86.3 | 85.0 | 85.5 | 88.5 | 89.5 | 88.4 | 89.6 | 88.6 | 91.1 |
| New status: employed | Gender: female | Standard error | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| New status: employed | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | 84.7 | 86.4 | 86.9 | 88.8 | 86.3 | 86.8 | 91.0 | 90.8 | 91.7 | 90.3 | 90.1 | 92.7 |
| New status: employed | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| New status: employed | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 85.4 | 83.5 | 81.1 | 79.9 | 84.5 | 79.6 | 80.4 | 78.1 | 76.8 | 80.5 | 77.3 | 79.9 |
| New status: employed | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| New status: employed | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 83.2 | 90.2 | 82.1 | 82.4 | 84.7 | 87.5 | 84.1 | 85.9 | 82.5 | 81.7 | 78.9 | 85.6 |
| New status: employed | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 4.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.3 |
| New status: employed | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | . | . | . | . | . | . | ||||||
| New status: employed | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | . | . | . | . | . | . | ||||||
| New status: disabled | Total population | Percentages | 81.4 | 80.3 | 82.4 | 78.1 | 78.9 | 60.6 | 75.5 | 71.8 | 76.0 | 76.6 | 76.0 | 74.8 |
| New status: disabled | Total population | Standard error | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 4.0 |
| New status: disabled | Gender: male | Percentages | 79.8 | 80.1 | 80.9 | 79.1 | 81.3 | 55.8 | 73.4 | 67.0 | 75.1 | 76.0 | 76.7 | 71.1 |
| New status: disabled | Gender: male | Standard error | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 5.1 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 5.8 |
| New status: disabled | Gender: female | Percentages | 83.2 | 80.5 | 83.9 | 77.1 | 75.7 | 68.1 | 77.8 | 77.8 | 77.1 | 77.4 | 75.2 | . |
| New status: disabled | Gender: female | Standard error | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.4 | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 20 to 35 years | Percentages | 73.5 | 83.5 | 84.7 | 71.3 | 76.8 | . | 68.6 | 70.1 | 78.6 | . | . | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 20 to 35 years | Standard error | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.6 | . | 4.5 | 4.6 | 5.6 | . | . | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 35 to 50 years | Percentages | 83.3 | 78.2 | 79.7 | 80.9 | 71.3 | . | 70.9 | 63.6 | 73.4 | 72.2 | 67.2 | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 35 to 50 years | Standard error | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | . | 3.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 6.0 | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 50 to 65 years | Percentages | 88.4 | 80.2 | 83.8 | 80.1 | 89.0 | 61.3 | 81.6 | 77.4 | 77.2 | 77.8 | 79.3 | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 50 to 65 years | Standard error | 4.5 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.6 | . |
| New status: disabled | Age: 65 years or older | Percentages | . | . | . | . | . | . | ||||||
| New status: disabled | Age: 65 years or older | Standard error | . | . | . | . | . | . | ||||||
| New status: unemployed | Total population | Percentages | 86.7 | 84.6 | 82.3 | 82.8 | 78.9 | 82.0 | 86.0 | 85.2 | 84.3 | 79.0 | 81.0 | 78.9 |
| New status: unemployed | Total population | Standard error | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.2 |
| Source: CBS. | ||||||||||||||
Table explanation
This table contains information on the personal wellbeing of the Dutch population aged 20 years and older, from private households, in terms of happiness and satisfaction with life. These subjects are broken down by various life events, that is changes in marital status (single, widowed, divorced, married/partnership) and employment situation (disability, unemployment or social security benefit, employed and retired). The share of the population who are happy and satisfied is presented for the total population and broken down by age and gender. In addition, these figures are available for different moments before and after the life event. In this way, experienced wellbeing before or after a change in marital status or employment situation can be examined,
Data available from 1998 to 2009; displayed figures are average numbers over these years.
Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are definite.
Changes per February 1st 2019:
None, this table is final.
When will new figures be published?
Not applicable.
Description topics
- Happy persons
- Share of the population who responded ‘happy’ or ‘very happy’ to the question ‘To what extent do you consider yourself a happy person?’.
Figures represent population of 20 years and older.- Before life event
- 8 years or more before
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 8 years or more before the life event.
- 4 to 5 years before
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 4 to 5 years before the life event.
- 3 to 4 years before
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 3 to 4 years before the life event.
- 2 to 3 years before
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 2 to 3 years before the life event.
- 1 to 2 years before
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 1 to 2 years before the life event.
- 0 to 1 year before
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 0 to 1 year before the life event.
- After life event
- 0 to 1 year after
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 0 to 1 year after the life event.
- 1 to 2 years after
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 1 to 2 years after the life event.
- 2 to 3 years after
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 2 to 3 years after the life event.
- 3 to 4 years after
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 3 to 4 years after the life event.
- 4 to 5 years after
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 4 to 5 years after the life event.
- 8 years or more after
- Share of the population who are happy or satisfied with life 8 years or more after the life event.