Well-being ‘later’: Human capital
Human capital concerns the knowledge and skills that people acquire during their lives, as well as their health. Human capital enables people to utilise opportunities to the best of their ability and to continue developing, participating fully in society and directing their own lives.
- The educational level of the population is rising and the share of people with no basic educational qualification is falling.
- Long-term unemployment is low and falling, unutilised labour potential is declining and net labour participation is rising.
- Healthy life expectancy for men and women is high compared with other countries.
Human capital
in EU
in 2025
in EU
in 2024
in EU
in 2023
in EU
in 2023
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human capital | Hours worked | 816.9 hours worked per capita in 2025 | increasing (increase well-being) | 16th out of 26 in 2025 | Middle ranking |
| Human capital | Level of education achieved: HBO, university | 38.2% of 15-74 year-olds have succesfully completed tertiary education in 2025 | increasing (increase well-being) | 7th out of 27 in 2024 | High ranking |
| Human capital | Healthy life expectancy of women A) | 62.0 years at birth in 2025 | 23rd out of 26 in 2023 | Low ranking | |
| Human capital | Healthy life expectancy of men A) | 64.1 years at birth in 2025 | 17th out of 26 in 2023 | Middle ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
Well-being ‘later’ focuses on the sustainability of our quality of life by measuring the resources that people living in the Netherlands today (the current generation) require for their well-being, and which will also be needed by future generations. People use resources ‘here and now’ to shape their lives. Knowledge and skills enable people to function effectively in society, engage in meaningful and healthy activities, and shape their own lives. Outcomes in health, education and employment are passed on from one generation to the next.
The overall level of education of the Dutch population is rising, and the percentage of people with a higher education degree is trending upwards. In 2025, over 38 percent of people aged 15 to 74 had a diploma from a university of applied sciences or research university. A basic educational qualification is an important requirement for participating in society. While around a quarter of people aged 15 to 74 did not have a basic educational qualification in 2025, this figure is falling. The proportion of people whose highest level of educational attainment is secondary education (MBO 2-4, HAVO or VWO) has been declining for several years, falling to 36.1 percent of 15- to 74-year-olds in 2025. The share of the population with a higher education degree is relatively high compared to other EU countries (7th in the EU-27 in 2024), but the share of people with no basic educational qualification is also high (22nd in the EU-27 in 2024). As a result, the proportion of people whose highest level of educational attainment is secondary education (MBO 2-4, HAVO or VWO) is actually relatively small (21st in the EU-27 in 2024). Meanwhile, the percentage of adults attending training or courses (‘lifelong learning’) is relatively high (SDG 4).
The maths and reading skills of Dutch pupils aged 15 are declining (SDG 4). The period between 2018 and 2022 saw an unprecedented decline in maths skills, while reading skills have been in decline since 2012, a trend that continued in 2022. Compared to other EU countries, people in the Netherlands have good maths skills but relatively poor reading skills. Of the EU-27 countries, the Netherlands had the highest proportion of residents with at least a basic level of digital skills in 2025.
In 2025, healthy life expectancy was 64.1 years for men and 62 years for women. The Netherlands was in the middle of the EU ranking for expectancy of life without limitations for men (17th out of 26) but nearly at the bottom for women (23rd out of 27). Healthy life expectancy indicates how long people can expect to live in good health. In 2025, nearly 77 percent of the Dutch population described their health as good or very good (SDG3). In 2025, 4.5 percent of the population (aged 16 and over) faced serious limitations in their daily functioning due to long-term health problems.
Although the number of hours worked by the average person per year is trending upwards, it declined by 1.4 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. Other indicators of employment opportunities also show a favourable picture: long-term unemployment is low and declining, unused labour potential is decreasing and net labour participation is rising (SDG 8.2).