Well-being ‘here and now’: material well-being
Material well-being concerns the extent to which people are able to meet their basic needs and shape their own lives.
- Median disposable income per household and individual consumption are rising and among the highest in the EU-27.
- Households’ financial resources have increased and poverty is uncommon compared to the situation in other EU member states.
- More people are concerned about their financial future.
Material well-being
in EU
in 2024
in EU
in 2025
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material well-being | Median disposable income | € 36,500 per household (equivalised, 2024 prices) in 2024 | increasing (increase well-being) | 5th out of 27 in 2024 | High ranking |
| Material well-being | Individual consumption | € 32,446 per capita (2021 prices) in 2025 | increasing (increase well-being) | 4th out of 27 in 2025 | High ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
Adjusted for inflation, median disposable income per household and individual consumption per capita are trending upwards. From 2024 to 2025, individual consumption per capita increased by 1.2 percent. The Netherlands is a relatively wealthy country: median disposable income (5th out of 27 EU member states) and individual consumption (4th out of 27 EU member states) were relatively high compared to the rest of the EU in 2025. Meanwhile, income inequality is low compared to other EU countries (SDG 10.1).
The average household has sufficient reserves to support itself in the event of a shock (Resilience here and now). Household financial resources have increased, and relative poverty and poverty risk are low compared to other EU countries (SDG1). According to the Dutch definition of poverty, both the proportion of children living in poverty and the proportion of the population living in long-term poverty are decreasing. In 2024, the median purchasing power of the Dutch population increased by 3.6 percent, marking the highest rise in over twenty years. Purchasing power is not rising at the same rate across all income brackets. Employee households saw the most substantial increase, followed by the self-employed. Welfare households advanced the least in terms of purchasing power. The proportion of people with problematic debts is no longer trending upwards.
Nevertheless, more people were concerned about their financial future in 2025 than in 2024. The percentage of people who worry a great deal about their own financial future rose from 26.1 percent in 2024 to 28.1 percent in 2025.