Fewer children living with both parents

The proportion of 0 to 15-year-old children living with both their own parents declined from 86 percent in 1996 to 82 percent in 2010. Older children less often live with both their own parents. Only one third of 15-year-old Antillean or Aruban children lived with their own parents in 2010.

Nearly 20 percent of children do not live with both their own parents

In 2010, 569 thousand children aged between 0 and 15 years were not living with their own parents or with only one of their own parents, an increase by more than 145 thousand from 1996. The proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds not living under the same roof with both parents has risen from 14 to 18 percent between 1996 and 2010. The main reason is the growing number of parents who decide to split up.

The proportion of children living with their own mother (with or without her new partner) has risen from 12 to 16 percent. With nearly 2 percent in 2010, the proportion of children living with their own father (with or without his new partner) is still small, although this situation occurs more frequently than in the mid-1990s. The proportion of children living without their own parents remained stable at 1 percent.

Proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds living with both their own parents

Proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds living with both their own parents

Older children less often live with their own parents

Among older children, the proportion of children living under the same roof with both their own parents is declining. For example, 90 percent of 0-year-olds lived with their own parents in 2010 versus 73 percent of 15-year-olds. In 1996, this applied to 80 percent of 15-year-olds.

Proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds living with both their own parents

Proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds living with both their own parents

Native Dutch 15-year-olds most often live with their own parents

In 2010, 77 percent of native Dutch 15-year-olds were living with their own parents, i.e. more than their peers with a non-western background. The gap between native Dutch and Moroccan and Turkish 15-year-olds is small. Among Moroccan and Turkish 15-year-olds, 75 and 72 percent respectively were living with both parents. The rate among Antillean and Aruban children was only 34 percent and among Surinamese children 41 percent.

Proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds living with both their own parents by ethnic background, 2010

Proportion of 0 to 15-year-olds living with both their own parents by ethnic background, 2010

Lenny Stoeldraijer and Ruben van Gaalen