Far fewer young big-city dwellers depend on social security

The share of Dutch households dependent on social security has dropped from over 6 percent at the end of 2000 to over 5 percent at the end of 2006. The social security dependency rate dropped dramatically among young big-city dwellers.

Sharp drop social security dependency rate in major cities

In the period 2000–2006, the social security dependency rate dropped most distinctly in the major cities. In Amsterdam, the share of households depending on social security declined from 14 to 10 percent. In nearly all municipalities with a population beyond 150 thousand the decline in social security dependency equalled or was more substantial than nationwide. Only in Almere, the share of social security-dependent households remained more or less stable between the end of 2000 and the end of 2006.

Social security dependency rate in the 12 major Dutch municipalities

No reduction social security dependency rate among youth in Almere

The most substantial reduction was recorded among households, whose members were under the age of 35. In Amsterdam, the social security dependency rate in this age group was cut by half over the period 2000-2006. It is remarkable that the rate among young people only rose in the municipality of Almere. At the same time, the rate among over-35s dropped in Almere.

Social security dependency rate 15-35-year-olds in the 12 major municipalities

High proportion of social security-dependent households in Rotterdam

Although the most substantial reduction was found in the major cities, the social security dependency rate remained high there at the end of 2006. With one in seven households on social security, Rotterdam has the highest rate. The rate in Amsterdam, The Hague and Groningen was one in eleven households. Among the twelve largest Dutch municipalities, only Apeldoorn has a rate below the nationwide average.

Lotte Oostrom