Financial position of households; key figures
| Household characteristics | Periods | Number of households (x 1 000) | Households in poverty (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private households | 2024* | 8,258.9 | 4.2 |
| Type: Single person household | 2024* | 3,236.2 | 7.1 |
| Type: Multi-person household | 2024* | 5,022.8 | 2.3 |
| Type: Multi-person household, n.e.c. | 2024* | 162.0 | 4.2 |
| Source: CBS. | |||
Table explanation
This table aims to show the distribution of welfare of households, measured by their income. The figures in this table are broken down to different household characteristics.
For poverty the new measurement method of Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) and the National Institute for Family Finance Information (NIBUD) is used.
The population consists of all private households with income on January 1st of the reporting year.
Data available from: 2011
Status of the figures:
The figures for 2011 to 2023 are final. The figures for 2024 are preliminary.
Changes as of 6 February 2026:
None. This is a new table.
When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published in the fall of 2026.
Description topics
- Number of households
- Number of private households with a known income on January 1st of the reporting year.
A private household is a collection of one or more people who share the same living space and provide in their own everyday needs in a private, non-commercial way. - Households in poverty
- The number of households living in poverty, as a percentage of the total number of households per category.
The poverty line is based on basic necessities. If, after paying fixed costs for housing, energy, and health insurance, there is insufficient money left for other necessities, a household—and its members—are considered poor. The poverty line for a household depends on the type of household. The more people in a household, the more money is needed to live and participate in society. The required amounts are determined by the Nibud (National Institute for Family Finance Information) for 35 different types of households. In addition to money for housing, energy, insurance, clothing, and daily groceries, this also includes things like a telephone, internet access, and social activities.
To determine whether a household is living in poverty, not only income but also the household's capital buffer (savings or other available assets) is considered. A household is not considered poor if its capital buffer can cover expenses at the poverty line level for at least twelve months.