Non-westerners enter new phase of life

Early on in 2007 there were 1.7 million non-westerners living in the Netherlands. 670 thousand still lived at their parents’. In 2050 100 thousand fewer  will do so according to the household forecast by Statistics Netherlands, while the number of couples and singles will just about double among the non-westerners.

Household position of non-westerners

Second generation is growing up

Of the 2.7 million non-westerners only one in five is expected to live at their parents’ in 2050. Currently that is two in five. The main reason for the decrease is that the second generation, which is now a young group with an average age of 14, will have an average age of 34 in 2050. Many more will have left their parents’ home and have entered a new phase of life.

Age structure of the second generation of non-westerners

More singles and couples

As the second generation of non-westerners entering a new phase of life increases, so will the number who will start living together: from about 70 thousand in 2007 to 620 thousand in 2050. The number of singles is expected to rise from 60 thousand to 260 thousand. The number of single parents will also rise.

Household position of the second generation of non-westerners

Non-western first generation is greying

The first generation of non-westerners is also entering a new phase of life. By 2050 about 30 percent of the group will be over 65. Currently this is just 5 percent. Due to widowing and break-ups the number of singles will be higher among the older people than among the middle aged. Therefore the number of singles among the first generation of non-westerners is expected to increase from 210 thousand in 2007 to 350 thousand in 2050.

Coen van Duin