Distribution of well-being: the environment

Environment concerns the quality of the environment in which people live. A healthy living environment is characterised by clean air, clean water, sufficient and healthy nature and biodiversity, and soil that is free from pollution. The differences between population groups are measured in terms of the self-reported impact of pollution in the living environment. Environmental pollution in a person’s immediate surroundings can cause health problems resulting from reduced air, water and soil quality. Pollution of the environment can also have a negative impact on quality of life because people are less able to benefit from what their living environment has to offer.

• In 2025, 15.9 percent of the population of the Netherlands lived in a household that reported being affected by pollution or other environmental problems, such as smoke, dust, odour or polluted water.
• hose in the 35 to 44 age group and people born in the Netherlands to parents born outside Europe experience more environmental problems than average.
• The total share of people living in households that reported being affected by pollution was slightly higher in 2025 than in 2019.

Perception of environmental problems in the living environment

In 2025, 15.9 percent of the Dutch population lived in households that reported being affected by pollution in their living environment – specifically pollution or other environmental problems such as smoke, dust, odours or polluted water. This share was slightly higher in 2025 than it was in 2019 (15 percent).

Women experience environmental problems in their living environment almost as often as men. People aged 35 to 44 are more likely than average to live in a household that reports being affected by environmental pollution. Compared to 2019, the trend for this age group is also less favourable than average. This is also true of the youngest group (those up to the age of 25). The trend for the 55-64 age group is actually relatively favourable compared to the average, with a decrease of 3.3 percentage points. Those aged 75 and over are less likely than average to be affected by environmental pollution.

People of Dutch origin are less likely than average to report being affected by smoke, dust, odours or polluted water in their living environment. This is also the case for migrants from Europe. By contrast, people born in Europe to parents born outside Europe are more likely to experience pollution. The trend since 2019 is also relatively unfavourable for this group, with the proportion experiencing environmental pollution rising by 6.3 percentage points. The data on people who were born in another European country, and people whose parents were born in another European country, shows a relatively favourable trend. The proportion of people in these groups experiencing environmental pollution fell by 7.2 and 2.2 percentage points, respectively.