One quarter of people living alone are not single

One in five 18 to 64 year-old men in the Netherlands lived alone in 2010. For women this was just over one in six. One quarter of people who live alone, however, are in a relationship.

More and more people living alone

The percentage of people who live alone is increasing steadily. In 2010, 1.8 million people aged 18 to 64 in the Netherlands were living alone; in 1995 this was 1.4 million.

The number and percentage of people living alone has risen in all age groups. The increase is largest for middle-aged men. The reason for this is that they often set up house alone after the break-up of a relationship in which children are involved.

Number of people living alone

More women living alone in a relationship

More than 450 thousand of the 1.8 million people living alone are in a relationship. Young people living alone are least likely to be single. Half of women aged 18 to 24 years living alone have a steady relationship, compared with four out of ten men in this age group.

The percentage of singles is significantly higher among middle-aged people living alone. Fewer than two in ten 40 to 64 year-old men and women are in a steady relationship.

Percentage of people living alone in a relationship

More men with lower education live alone

More men than women in their forties and fifties live alone. Furthermore, middle-aged men with lower levels of education are more likely to live alone than men of the same age with intermediate or higher levels of education. One in five men aged 40 to 65 years with a low education level lives alone, compared with one in six men with an intermediate or high level of education. For women the differences between low education levels and intermediate and higher levels are smaller.

Percentage of 40 to 64 year-olds living alone by level of education

Arie de Graaf