Ten billion euro left in legacies

Private wealth left behind by people who died in the Netherlands in 2005 amounted to just over 9.6 billion euro. There are large differences in the size of the legacies. Nearly two out of three died leaving less than 50 thousand euro; just over 10 percent left more than 200 thousand euro. One in six legacies comprised a considerable mortgage debt.

One billion in mortgage debts

Just over a quarter of the 110 thousand people who died left behind an own home worth an average 162 thousand euro. Nearly all legacies comprised bank balances. These amounted to 32 thousand euro on average. Fifteen percent of inheritances included securities. The average value of these was 118 thousand euro.

Total private assets left behind after death amounted to nearly 10.6 billion euro. Some people who die, however, also leave behind debts. Nearly 16 percent of legacies in 2005 comprised a mortgage debt. The total value of these was around one billion euro. The average mortgage debt was 54 thousand euro. Fewer inheritances of people dying after 65 years of age included a mortgage. The average mortgage debt for this age group was also considerably lower, at 40 thousand euro.

Composition of private property in legacies, 2005

One third of deceased left less than 10 thousand euro

There are large differences in the amounts of private wealth left by people who die. Just over one third left less than 10 thousand euro in 2005, nearly two-thirds left less than 50 thousand euro.

Eleven percent of legacies amounted to more than 200 thousand euro. These accounted for nearly 6 billion euro of the total amount left in legacies. Two percent of the deceased in 2005 left more than 500 thousand euro, together accounting for more than 2.8 billion euro. The average amount left in the latter group was 1.1 million euro. Nearly 1 percent of people who died left debts exceeding the value of their assets.

Distribution of private wealth in legacies, 2005

Jack Claessen