Driving licence ownership among young people not yet at pre-pandemic level

Girl is congratulated by her driving instructor.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Ger Loeffen
On 1 January 2023, over 11.5 million people were holding a Dutch car driving licence, 0.7 percent more than one year previously. The number of driving licence holders increased most sharply among young people under 20 and among the over-75s. Nevertheless, the licence ownership rate among young people was still below the pre-pandemic level. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of new figures on driving licence ownership.

Driving licence holders, 1 January
 Under 20 yrs (2019=100)20-39 yrs (2019=100)40-59 yrs (2019=100)60-74 yrs (2019=100)75 yrs and over (2019=100)
2019100100100100100
202010210199102105
20218910299105116
20228110298106123
20238610397107130

At the beginning of 2023, the number of under-20s holding a driving licence rose by 5.4 percent year on year, to 191 thousand. Before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in early 2020, there were 227 thousand driving licence holders under the age of 20. Due to coronavirus measures, driving lessons sometimes had to be cancelled and driving tests were postponed.

More and more over-75s with a driving licence

At the start of this year, 995 thousand people over the age of 75 were holders of a driving licence, 5.8 percent more than one year previously. This increase is partly due to the ageing population and the related higher number of over-75s. In addition, people over 75 are more likely to have a driving licence now than in the past. Just under 14 percent in this age group were 85 years or older.

Driving licence holders aged 75 yrs and over, 1 January
 75-79 yrs (x 1,000)80-84 yrs (x 1,000)85-89 yrs (x 1,000)90 yrs and over (x 1,000)
2019427228.58819.5
2020444.5245.391.221.5
2021478.9270.7108.928.8
2022526.4278.810728.2
2023568.2288.4110.727.8

More driving licences than cars among young people

At the beginning of 2023, the Netherlands had over 6.8 million car owners, some of whom owned more than one car. In total, there were 7.8 million passengers cars among private individuals. Not every licence holder is also a car owner; especially young people are more likely to have a driving licence than a car. Early this year, there were 1.8 million people under 30 who held a driving licence and 720 thousand who owned a car.

Among the over-75s, the number of licence holders (995 thousand) and the number of car owners (754 thousand) were closest together.

Driving licence holders and car owners*, 1 January 2023
 Driving licence holders (x million)Car owners (x million)
Under 30 yrs1.80.7
30-39 yrs1.91.1
40-49 yrs1.81.1
50-59 yrs2.31.4
60-74 yrs2.71.7
75 yrs and over10.8
* Provisional figures

Licence ownership rate highest in Staphorst

On 1 January 2023, both in Staphorst and in Rozendaal, 91.5 percent of its residents aged 17 and over were holding a Dutch car driving licence. This is the highest percentage in the Netherlands. Next were Tubbergen (91.2 percent) and Renswoude (90.7 percent). The lowest driving licence ownership rate was in Amsterdam, at 61.8 percent.

Driving licence ownership among residents aged 17 and over*, 1 January 2023
Regio'sCode
Staphorst91.5
Rozendaal91.5
Tubbergen91.2
Renswoude90.7
Reusel-De Mierden89.9
Wierden89.7
Dinkelland89.4
De Wolden89.2
Buren89.2
Hilvarenbeek89.1
Dalfsen88.8
Bronckhorst88.7
Alphen-Chaam88.6
West Maas en Waal88.3
Oirschot88.2
Bergeijk88.1
Borsele87.9
Twenterand87.9
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten87.8
Blaricum87.7
Koggenland87.7
Eemnes87.7
Sint-Michielsgestel87.6
Kapelle87.5
Borger-Odoorn87.5
Veere87.4
Scherpenzeel87.4
Eersel87.3
Bernheze87.3
Lopik87.3
Hof van Twente87.1
Westerveld87.1
Oost Gelre87.1
Montfoort87.0
Boekel86.9
Woudenberg86.9
Wijdemeren86.8
Rijssen-Holten86.8
Opmeer86.7
Laarbeek86.7
Aa en Hunze86.7
Bladel86.7
Oldebroek86.7
Molenlanden86.7
West Betuwe86.6
Barneveld86.6
Hellendoorn86.6
Rucphen86.5
Borne86.5
Heeze-Leende86.4
Haaksbergen86.4
Midden-Drenthe86.4
Westvoorne86.4
Mook en Middelaar86.3
Berkelland86.3
Lochem86.3
Lansingerland86.3
Raalte86.3
Beuningen86.3
Altena86.2
Leusden86.2
Wijk bij Duurstede86.2
Nederweert86.2
Someren86.2
Son en Breugel86.2
Putten86.1
Ommen86.1
Voerendaal86.1
Noordenveld86.1
Heerde86.0
Uitgeest86.0
Eijsden-Margraten86.0
Kaag en Braassem86.0
Hardenberg86.0
Zwartewaterland86.0
Waalre85.9
Voorst85.9
Overbetuwe85.9
Midden-Delfland85.9
Noord-Beveland85.8
Elburg85.8
Heusden85.8
Bergen (L.)85.8
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht85.7
Hattem85.7
Oudewater85.7
Lingewaard85.7
Opsterland85.7
Peel en Maas85.7
Losser85.6
Beekdaelen85.6
De Fryske Marren85.6
Loon op Zand85.6
Bunschoten85.6
Nieuwkoop85.5
Aalten85.5
Leudal85.4
Oostzaan85.4
Westerkwartier85.4
De Ronde Venen85.4
Achtkarspelen85.4
Nijkerk85.4
Goirle85.4
Coevorden85.3
Olst-Wijhe85.3
Cranendonck85.3
Duiven85.3
Tholen85.3
Drimmelen85.3
Wijchen85.2
Hoeksche Waard85.1
Tynaarlo85.1
Horst aan de Maas85.1
Meierijstad85.1
Nunspeet85.1
Gemert-Bakel85.1
Oude IJsselstreek85.1
Stein (L.)84.9
Asten84.9
Hollands Kroon84.9
Drechterland84.8
Neder-Betuwe84.8
Zundert84.8
Oisterwijk84.8
Maashorst84.8
Dongen84.8
Schouwen-Duiveland84.8
Land van Cuijk84.8
Brummen84.7
Zuidplas84.7
Houten84.6
Epe84.6
Montferland84.6
Bunnik84.6
Moerdijk84.6
Steenwijkerland84.6
Deurne84.5
Tytsjerksteradiel84.5
Roerdalen84.5
Goeree-Overflakkee84.4
Druten84.4
Urk84.4
Weststellingwerf84.3
Beek (L.)84.3
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk84.3
Rhenen84.3
Schagen84.2
Ooststellingwerf84.1
Castricum84.1
Dantumadiel84.0
Hardinxveld-Giessendam84.0
Pijnacker-Nootdorp84.0
Landsmeer84.0
Baarle-Nassau84.0
Geertruidenberg84.0
Oldenzaal83.9
Noardeast-Frysl�n83.8
Heumen83.8
Halderberge83.8
Barendrecht83.8
Zeewolde83.8
Best83.7
Stichtse Vecht83.7
Maasdriel83.7
Brielle83.7
Krimpenerwaard83.6
Medemblik83.6
Veldhoven83.6
Albrandswaard83.5
Geldrop-Mierlo83.5
Edam-Volendam83.5
Gulpen-Wittem83.5
Soest83.4
Waddinxveen83.3
Reimerswaal83.3
Teylingen83.2
Meerssen83.2
Lisse83.2
Etten-Leur83.1
Zevenaar83.1
Wormerland83.1
Maasgouw83.1
Valkenswaard83.1
Simpelveld83.0
Huizen83.0
Zaltbommel83.0
Vught83.0
Steenbergen82.9
Heiloo82.9
Gilze en Rijen82.8
Dronten82.8
Oosterhout82.8
Vijfheerenlanden82.7
Dijk en Waard82.7
S�dwest-Frysl�n82.7
Bloemendaal82.6
Waadhoeke82.6
Doetinchem82.6
Noordoostpolder82.5
Westervoort82.5
Echt-Susteren82.4
Woensdrecht82.3
Ede82.3
Papendrecht82.3
Waterland82.3
Oss82.2
Gooise Meren82.1
Heerenveen82.1
Zoeterwoude82.1
Westland82.1
Utrechtse Heuvelrug82.1
Harderwijk81.9
Woerden81.9
Hoogeveen81.9
Haarlemmermeer81.9
Meppel81.9
Aalsmeer81.8
Heemstede81.8
Laren (NH.)81.8
Veenendaal81.8
IJsselstein81.8
Hellevoetsluis81.7
Hulst81.7
Bergen (NH.)81.7
Emmen81.6
Berg en Dal81.5
Waalwijk81.5
Kampen81.5
Ameland81.4
Beesel81.4
Pekela81.3
Sluis81.3
Hengelo (O.)81.2
De Bilt81.2
Gennep81.2
Venray81.1
Texel81.1
's-Hertogenbosch81.1
Valkenburg aan de Geul81.1
Westerwolde81.0
Culemborg81.0
Voorschoten80.9
Doesburg80.9
Ermelo80.9
Veendam80.9
Alphen aan den Rijn80.9
Het Hogeland80.8
Apeldoorn80.8
Winterswijk80.8
Amersfoort80.8
Uithoorn80.7
Hillegom80.6
Boxtel80.4
Noordwijk80.4
Renkum80.3
Heemskerk80.3
Leiderdorp80.2
Bergen op Zoom80.1
Landgraaf80.1
Goes80.1
Alblasserdam80.1
Midden-Groningen80.0
Oldambt80.0
Terschelling80.0
Stede Broec79.9
Weert79.9
Smallingerland79.8
Stadskanaal79.8
Oegstgeest79.8
Roosendaal79.6
Assen79.4
Katwijk79.4
Sittard-Geleen79.4
Zwolle79.3
Nieuwegein79.3
Terneuzen79.2
Breda79.1
Brunssum79.0
Baarn79.0
Velsen78.9
Krimpen aan den IJssel78.8
Deventer78.6
Ridderkerk78.5
Zwijndrecht78.5
Ouder-Amstel78.5
Middelburg (Z.)78.4
Hoorn78.4
Zoetermeer78.3
Zutphen78.2
Gorinchem78.1
Rheden78.0
Tiel78.0
Alkmaar77.9
Maassluis77.9
Helmond77.8
Purmerend77.7
Nissewaard77.6
Eemsdelta77.5
Almelo77.5
Roermond77.2
Sliedrecht77.1
Zeist77.0
Wassenaar76.8
Weesp76.7
Beverwijk76.7
Zandvoort76.5
Enkhuizen76.4
Venlo76.4
Harlingen76.4
Almere75.8
Hilversum75.7
Nijmegen75.5
Leidschendam-Voorburg75.5
Zaanstad75.4
Dordrecht75.4
Leeuwarden75.2
Den Helder75.2
Capelle aan den IJssel75.2
Gouda75.0
Vlissingen74.9
Tilburg74.6
Enschede74.6
Lelystad74.5
Heerlen74.3
Haarlem74.3
Utrecht (gemeente)74.0
Kerkrade74.0
Rijswijk (ZH.)73.7
Eindhoven72.9
Amstelveen72.8
Arnhem72.7
Vlaardingen72.1
Schiermonnikoog71.9
Vlieland70.1
Groningen (gemeente)70.0
Leiden69.3
Wageningen69.1
Schiedam68.4
Diemen67.5
Delft66.3
Rotterdam64.9
Vaals64.0
's-Gravenhage (gemeente)63.7
Maastricht63.7
Amsterdam61.8
* Reference date for driving licence holders is 1 January 2023, reference date for population is 1 January 2022.