Dutch population is wealthy and content, but less socially connected
- A large proportion of the Dutch population is wealthy and content.
- Fewer people are participating in society, and people are less likely to trust others.
- Quality of life is lower than average among those aged under 35.
In 2025, people in the Netherlands had fewer social connections, were less likely to do voluntary work, and less likely to offer assistance to others. Trust in other people and institutions also declined. A large proportion of the Dutch population continues to be wealthy and content, but opportunities for the next generation are diminishing. Pressure on the natural environment also remains high, and the transition to a sustainable economy appears to have stalled. This is according to the Monitor of Inclusive and Sustainable Well-being and the SDGs 2026, which Statistics Netherlands (CBS) presented to the Dutch House of Representatives on 20 May (Accountability Day). The English version will be published in July 2026.
Well-being includes everything that is important to people’s quality of life, such as health, labour and leisure time, income, social relationships, housing, clean air and safety. It concerns the people who currently live in the Netherlands (‘here and now’), what we pass on to the next generation (‘later’) and the distribution of well-being between people in the Netherlands and people living elsewhere in the world.
| Categorie | Social connections (% of the population) | Trust in other human beings (% of the population) | Trust in institutions (% of the population) | Voluntary work (% of the population) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 72.2 | 61.8 | 63.1 | 46.7 |
| 2020 | 71.2 | 63.0 | 69.5 | 43.8 |
| 2021 | 70.8 | 66.3 | 66.9 | 38.9 |
| 2022 | 71.6 | 66.0 | 61.3 | 41.2 |
| 2023 | 71.3 | 66.7 | 61.2 | 48.7 |
| 2024 | 72.0 | 66.1 | 62.9 | 49.5 |
| 2025 | 70.9 | 63.3 | 60.6 | 47.0 |
Fewer people are participating in society
In 2025, people in the Netherlands were less likely to have contact with their family, friends and neighbours. Contact with neighbours has been declining for several years. The increase in the share of people who provide (informal) assistance to others on a voluntary basis has come to a halt. Just over 34 percent of the Dutch population provided informal assistance in 2025, while in 2024, this was 36 percent.
The proportion of people who did voluntary work at least once in the past twelve months has fallen to 47 percent. This decline is visible across almost all groups, but particularly among people aged 15 to 34, people of Dutch origin and migrants from other European countries.
| Leeftijd | 2025 (% of the population) | 2024 (% of the population) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 47.0 | 49.5 |
| 15-24 yrs | 46.9 | 51.1 |
| 25-34 yrs | 38.7 | 43.2 |
| 35-44 yrs | 52.5 | 52.1 |
| 45-54 yrs | 48.8 | 51.6 |
| 55-64 yrs | 45.3 | 49.2 |
| 65-74 yrs | 54.7 | 52.9 |
| 75 yrs and over | 43.2 | 46.4 |
Trust in other people and institutions declined in 2025
Since 2019, trust in fellow human beings rose to nearly 67 percent in 2023, but fell back to just over 63 percent in 2025. This decline was particularly pronounced among people aged 25 to 64, people with HAVO, pre-university education (VWO) or MBO-2-4 qualification, and migrants.
Trust in institutions – comprising the police, the House of Representatives and the judiciary – has also fallen. This decline was the most significant among men and those aged 35 to 44.
| Leeftijd | 2025 (% of the population) | 2024 (% of the population) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 60.6 | 62.9 |
| 15-24 yrs | 64.3 | 66.1 |
| 25-34 yrs | 63.9 | 66.4 |
| 35-44 yrs | 60.3 | 65.4 |
| 45-54 yrs | 59.8 | 62.9 |
| 55-64 yrs | 59.5 | 60.5 |
| 65-74 yrs | 57.2 | 59.1 |
| 75 yrs and over | 58.2 | 58.5 |
High quality of life, but more worries
Most people in the Netherlands are satisfied with their life in general as well as with specific aspects such as housing, work and social life. Nearly 85 percent of the Dutch population is content: their income is among the highest in the European Union (EU) and it is rising, along with the value of their assets. Poverty is relatively low and continues to decline. However, more people were worried about their financial future than they were in 2024.
There are many jobs available and unemployment is low. People are working longer hours, but mental fatigue due to work has increased. Employee wages per hour worked were roughly the same as in 2009, corrected for inflation. It also remains difficult to find affordable housing.
Subjective well-being among young people remains low
As in previous years, young people aged under 35 have lower perceived well-being than average in several areas, while subjective well-being is higher among those aged 55 to 64. Well-being is also somewhat lower among those aged 65 to 74. Subjective well-being is high among people who have completed higher professional education (HBO) or university education and those of Dutch origin.
Pressure on nature remains high
The Netherlands has the largest nitrogen surplus in Europe by far. Nearly 70 percent of the natural environment in the Netherlands is affected by excess nitrogen. The amount of green and blue space per inhabitant is decreasing and the quality of surface water is low. Biodiversity on land is declining, while in freshwater and wetlands it is increasing.
In recent years, the transition to a more sustainable economy appears to have stalled: investment in renewable energy and in more energy-efficient production methods has been at its lowest level since years. This is the first time in many years that greenhouse gas emissions have risen. Dutch consumption continues to exert pressure on the environment of other countries.