Young adults more likely to live with parents than 20 years ago

© Hollandse Hoogte / Sabine Joosten
An increasing share of young adults aged 18 to 29 years are still living with one or both parents. As of early 2023, just under 46 percent lived at home, up from nearly 40 percent in 2003. The share of young adults living at home has been rising, especially from 2010 onwards. Young men are more likely to live at home than young women, but this gap has narrowed. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on a further analysis of figures from the National Youth Monitor.
Most young people leave the parental home between the ages of 18 and 30. In early 2023, just under 89 percent of 18-year-olds still lived at home, against slightly over 11 percent of 29-year-olds. At all ages, young adults living at home make up a greater share than twenty years ago.

More often at home in their early twenties

Especially among those in their early twenties, the share living at home has increased in a span of two decades: in 2003, nearly 50 percent of 21 to 23-year-olds were living with their parent(s), versus almost 58 percent in 2023. The percentage of 18 to 20-year-olds living at home went up rapidly as of 2015 in particular, coinciding with the introduction of the student loan system. Research indicates that from 2015 onwards, especially higher professional education (HBO) and university students were less likely to leave the parental home than in previous years.

Young adults living at home
jaar18 to 20 yrs (%)21 to 23 yrs (%)24 to 26 yrs (%)27 to 29 yrs (%)Total (18 to 29 yrs) (%)
200376.049.724.910.839.4
200475.148.825.210.939.4
200575.348.525.411.039.7
200675.448.325.411.239.9
200775.448.325.211.240.0
200875.448.424.911.239.9
200975.548.424.711.140.1
201075.648.524.911.040.2
201176.149.025.511.240.8
201276.750.226.411.541.5
201376.951.227.111.841.9
201476.351.628.012.442.0
201575.951.928.812.942.1
201677.452.029.313.242.5
201779.152.329.513.643.1
201880.253.329.613.843.8
201980.955.130.114.044.6
202081.256.630.714.245.3
202181.457.431.214.445.8
202280.757.231.214.345.6
202380.157.532.314.645.8

The share increase was smallest among those aged 27 to 29 years, but even they became more likely to live at the parental home as of 2010. 
This age group not just includes HBO or university students, but also more people in work.
The percentage of 18 to 29-year-olds living at the parental home has not changed much over the past two years. Although the share has declined among teenagers, it has continued to increase among people in their mid-twenties.

Gap between men and women living at home narrowing

Traditionally, men tend to live at home longer than women, but this gap has narrowed in recent years. Between 2003 and 2023, the share of young men living at home rose from just over 47 to just over 51 percent, while among young women, it rose from slightly over 31 to slightly over 40 percent.

18 to 29-year-olds living at home
jaarMen (%)Women (%)
200347.131.4
200447.231.4
200547.531.8
200647.732.0
200747.732.1
200847.632.2
200947.532.5
201047.532.8
201147.933.5
201248.534.3
201348.735.0
201448.835.1
201548.735.3
201648.835.9
201749.236.9
201849.737.7
201950.438.7
202050.939.5
202151.340.0
202251.139.9
202351.140.3

The gap between male and female young adults living at home has decreased the most in the age group 21 to 24 years; the largest increase in this age group was seen among young women. For men, the largest share increase was seen among the 24 to 26-year-olds, with the gap between men and women narrowing less significantly.

Fewer young people living at home in student cities

In 2023, in total just over 57 percent of 20 to 24-year-olds still lived at home, while among 25 to 29-year-olds, it was slightly under 20 percent. Those in their twenties living in student cities are least likely to live at their parental home, often because they have moved for study or work and live in shared housing or independently. Groningen has the smallest percentage of 20 to 24-year-olds living with their parents, followed by Wageningen, Delft, and Maastricht.

Even among 25 to 29-year-olds, the percentage of those living at home is smallest in (student) cities. The municipalities where relatively many people in their late twenties live at home are mainly located in the eastern part of the country and in the province of Noord-Holland. The largest shares of 25 to 29-year-olds living at home are found in the municipalities of Bloemendaal, Dinkelland, and Rozendaal.

20 to 24-year-olds living at home, 2023
Gemeente20 to 24-year-olds living at home (%)
Groningen12.3
Almere71.7
Stadskanaal69.4
Veendam66.2
Zeewolde67.8
Achtkarspelen73.3
Ameland38.8
Harlingen65.3
Heerenveen68.1
Leeuwarden31.4
Ooststellingwerf76.3
Opsterland75.0
Schiermonnikoog32.7
Smallingerland70.1
Terschelling29.9
Vlieland25.4
Weststellingwerf74.9
Assen59.7
Coevorden75.9
Emmen67.9
Hoogeveen67.6
Meppel56.0
Almelo66.1
Borne79.8
Dalfsen84.4
Deventer55.0
Enschede33.0
Haaksbergen84.5
Hardenberg77.3
Hellendoorn80.1
Hengelo (O)59.6
Kampen70.5
Losser80.9
Noordoostpolder63.8
Oldenzaal78.1
Ommen76.5
Raalte83.2
Staphorst81.2
Tubbergen90.5
Urk75.1
Wierden86.3
Zwolle44.0
Aalten82.3
Apeldoorn62.8
Arnhem36.7
Barneveld71.0
Beuningen81.8
Brummen80.6
Buren80.9
Culemborg76.6
Doesburg77.4
Doetinchem67.7
Druten78.1
Duiven86.7
Ede60.5
Elburg75.4
Epe79.6
Ermelo66.4
Harderwijk70.7
Hattem79.5
Heerde77.4
Heumen80.9
Lochem82.4
Maasdriel76.7
Nijkerk79.9
Nijmegen22.1
Oldebroek79.1
Putten78.7
Renkum71.3
Rheden60.9
Rozendaal85.7
Scherpenzeel72.8
Tiel69.1
Voorst81.8
Wageningen13.3
Westervoort80.3
Winterswijk72.0
Wijchen82.4
Zaltbommel68.1
Zevenaar72.7
Zutphen65.8
Nunspeet74.4
Dronten64.2
Amersfoort62.1
Baarn71.3
De Bilt71.6
Bunnik73.7
Bunschoten80
Eemnes90.5
Houten80.4
Leusden78.5
Lopik85.7
Montfoort84.5
Renswoude65.2
Rhenen76
Soest75.4
Utrecht25.8
Veenendaal70.3
Woudenberg78.0
Wijk bij Duurstede82.9
IJsselstein81.0
Zeist49.2
Nieuwegein67
Aalsmeer74.1
Alkmaar65.7
Amstelveen45.1
Amsterdam31.9
Bergen (N-H)84.2
Beverwijk72.9
Blaricum84.6
Bloemendaal83.0
Castricum84.4
Diemen33.1
Edam-Volendam87.3
Enkhuizen69.8
Haarlem57.0
Haarlemmermeer77.1
Heemskerk80.2
Heemstede82.1
Heiloo82.5
Den Helder61.5
Hilversum55.4
Hoorn69.5
Huizen79.4
Landsmeer82.0
Laren81.9
Medemblik77.8
Oostzaan88.4
Opmeer79.1
Ouder-Amstel71.2
Purmerend76.1
Schagen76.6
Texel60.1
Uitgeest87.2
Uithoorn80.6
Velsen78.2
Zandvoort72.7
Zaanstad71.6
Alblasserdam75.5
Alphen aan den Rijn74.8
Barendrecht87.0
Drechterland83.4
Capelle aan den IJssel68.6
Delft17.8
Dordrecht62.8
Gorinchem66.2
Gouda60.7
's-Gravenhage43.4
Hardinxveld-Giessendam76.7
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht80.4
Stede Broec77.1
Hillegom74.5
Katwijk81.5
Krimpen aan den IJssel82.3
Leiden21.3
Leiderdorp74.1
Lisse79.5
Maassluis71.4
Nieuwkoop84.3
Noordwijk73.5
Oegstgeest65.7
Oudewater84.2
Papendrecht79.6
Ridderkerk75.9
Rotterdam38.2
Rijswijk58.0
Schiedam61.8
Sliedrecht76.2
Albrandswaard83.8
Vlaardingen65.4
Voorschoten71.3
Waddinxveen75.1
Wassenaar76.7
Woerden79.9
Zoetermeer71.5
Zoeterwoude73.9
Zwijndrecht72.6
Borsele74.9
Goes64.3
West Maas en Waal78.9
Hulst72.3
Kapelle77.6
Middelburg51.5
Reimerswaal68.7
Terneuzen67.8
Tholen72.0
Veere78.5
Vlissingen52.6
De Ronde Venen85.3
Tytsjerksteradiel77.2
Asten78.8
Baarle-Nassau82.8
Bergen op Zoom69.5
Best79.9
Boekel83.7
Boxtel72.8
Breda42.2
Deurne78.6
Pekela67.0
Dongen78.5
Eersel83.2
Eindhoven34.5
Etten-Leur75.9
Geertruidenberg75.4
Gilze en Rijen77.4
Goirle84.3
Helmond71.1
's-Hertogenbosch52.7
Heusden79.6
Hilvarenbeek84.3
Loon op Zand82.7
Nuenen c.a.84.8
Oirschot84.8
Oisterwijk77.3
Oosterhout74.7
Oss71.2
Rucphen81.4
Sint-Michielsgestel83.6
Someren81.4
Son en Breugel81.1
Steenbergen69.9
Waterland84.4
Tilburg35.0
Valkenswaard76.9
Veldhoven76.7
Vught74.8
Waalre84.9
Waalwijk70.3
Woensdrecht79.7
Zundert76.8
Wormerland82.4
Landgraaf72.4
Beek75.6
Beesel83.3
Bergen (L)83.9
Brunssum69.8
Gennep74.0
Heerlen54.0
Kerkrade58.4
Maastricht17.9
Meerssen78.6
Mook en Middelaar81.8
Nederweert78.7
Roermond62.1
Simpelveld72.4
Stein81.4
Vaals34.2
Venlo61.6
Venray73.6
Voerendaal84.4
Weert70.4
Valkenburg aan de Geul68.3
Lelystad63.8
Horst aan de Maas78.8
Oude IJsselstreek80.9
Teylingen79.8
Utrechtse Heuvelrug69.4
Oost Gelre81.1
Koggenland85.2
Lansingerland86.1
Leudal78.6
Maasgouw78.6
Gemert-Bakel78.9
Halderberge79.9
Heeze-Leende81.6
Laarbeek83.6
Reusel-De Mierden77
Roerdalen77.2
Roosendaal68
Schouwen-Duiveland72.4
Aa en Hunze81.1
Borger-Odoorn76.9
De Wolden81.7
Noord-Beveland69.5
Wijdemeren85.3
Noordenveld78.8
Twenterand82.4
Westerveld80.0
Lingewaard80.9
Cranendonck78.1
Steenwijkerland73.5
Moerdijk79.5
Echt-Susteren77.1
Sluis66.9
Drimmelen78.5
Bernheze82.3
Alphen-Chaam86.7
Bergeijk83
Bladel82.4
Gulpen-Wittem77.3
Tynaarlo78.8
Midden-Drenthe77.2
Overbetuwe81.1
Hof van Twente83
Neder-Betuwe74.2
Rijssen-Holten84.7
Geldrop-Mierlo77.9
Olst-Wijhe81.6
Dinkelland89.5
Westland77.4
Midden-Delfland86.2
Berkelland80.6
Bronckhorst84.7
Sittard-Geleen60.9
Kaag en Braassem79.9
Dantumadiel75.9
Zuidplas81.6
Peel en Maas78.6
Oldambt64.4
Zwartewaterland74.5
Súdwest Fryslân70.2
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk77.8
Eijsden-Margraten79.9
Stichtse Vecht73.7
Hollands Kroon74.7
Leidschendam-Voorburg65.6
Goeree-Overflakkee77.1
Pijnacker-Nootdorp81.5
Nissewaard74.7
Krimpenerwaard75.6
De Fryske Marren77.4
Gooise Meren69.4
Berg en Dal74.5
Meierijstad81
Waadhoeke72.3
Westerwolde68.3
Midden-Groningen64.7
Beekdaelen79.9
Montferland79.6
Altena77.9
West Betuwe81.4
Vijfheerenlanden77.1
Hoeksche Waard79.8
Het Hogeland73.2
Westerkwartier74.7
Noardeast-Fryslân71.2
Molenlanden82.1
Eemsdelta66.9
Dijk en Waard78.8
Land van Cuijk78.4
Maashorst79.8
Voorne aan Zee77.0
25 to 29-year-olds living at home, 2023
Gemeente25 to 29-year-olds living at home (%)
Groningen5.2
Almere28.3
Stadskanaal23.8
Veendam21.6
Zeewolde19.9
Achtkarspelen25.4
Ameland19.8
Harlingen16.6
Heerenveen21.8
Leeuwarden9.8
Ooststellingwerf25.9
Opsterland29.9
Schiermonnikoog10.9
Smallingerland20.8
Terschelling22.0
Vlieland10.2
Weststellingwerf27.5
Assen15.5
Coevorden27.7
Emmen23.8
Hoogeveen21.0
Meppel15.3
Almelo22.4
Borne26.8
Dalfsen30.0
Deventer17.2
Enschede14.5
Haaksbergen31.6
Hardenberg24.6
Hellendoorn29.4
Hengelo (O)18.6
Kampen18.7
Losser30.4
Noordoostpolder18.2
Oldenzaal26.8
Ommen27.5
Raalte30.5
Staphorst35.5
Tubbergen42.6
Urk26.8
Wierden34.6
Zwolle11.1
Aalten27.7
Apeldoorn19.2
Arnhem11.1
Barneveld21.8
Beuningen30.4
Brummen30.3
Buren31.1
Culemborg25.1
Doesburg34.8
Doetinchem20.9
Druten29.6
Duiven34.9
Ede18.1
Elburg23.5
Epe30.8
Ermelo24.0
Harderwijk22.5
Hattem26.0
Heerde29.6
Heumen29.8
Lochem30.7
Maasdriel32.8
Nijkerk27.7
Nijmegen8.8
Oldebroek31.7
Putten30.8
Renkum28.0
Rheden22.9
Rozendaal42.9
Scherpenzeel19.7
Tiel26.4
Voorst32.0
Wageningen5.7
Westervoort24
Winterswijk22.5
Wijchen31.0
Zaltbommel23.8
Zevenaar25.6
Zutphen18.3
Nunspeet26.2
Dronten21.3
Amersfoort16.5
Baarn24.4
De Bilt29.3
Bunnik30.8
Bunschoten25.3
Eemnes39.6
Houten29.3
Leusden23.5
Lopik37.0
Montfoort31.4
Renswoude15.6
Rhenen24.9
Soest26.6
Utrecht7.5
Veenendaal18.5
Woudenberg24.3
Wijk bij Duurstede28.2
IJsselstein31.8
Zeist17.7
Nieuwegein20.6
Aalsmeer31.9
Alkmaar19.8
Amstelveen21.6
Amsterdam9.9
Bergen (N-H)42.2
Beverwijk23.2
Blaricum30.2
Bloemendaal46.7
Castricum37.1
Diemen13.4
Edam-Volendam39.8
Enkhuizen22.3
Haarlem17.5
Haarlemmermeer33.2
Heemskerk30.2
Heemstede32
Heiloo35.2
Den Helder18.2
Hilversum16.8
Hoorn24.0
Huizen26.9
Landsmeer39.1
Laren30.5
Medemblik30.5
Oostzaan41.0
Opmeer33.9
Ouder-Amstel27.4
Purmerend29.6
Schagen31.3
Texel19.9
Uitgeest35.4
Uithoorn31.4
Velsen28.4
Zandvoort29.5
Zaanstad28.2
Alblasserdam29.6
Alphen aan den Rijn23.2
Barendrecht40.9
Drechterland35.3
Capelle aan den IJssel27.3
Delft8.7
Dordrecht22.2
Gorinchem22
Gouda17.6
's-Gravenhage16.1
Hardinxveld-Giessendam27.3
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht26.0
Stede Broec30.5
Hillegom26.0
Katwijk29.4
Krimpen aan den IJssel30.3
Leiden8.7
Leiderdorp23.9
Lisse28.5
Maassluis23.4
Nieuwkoop32.2
Noordwijk24.4
Oegstgeest24.1
Oudewater30.0
Papendrecht27.2
Ridderkerk29.9
Rotterdam15.5
Rijswijk16.0
Schiedam20.1
Sliedrecht22.7
Albrandswaard35.6
Vlaardingen22.2
Voorschoten26.4
Waddinxveen19.7
Wassenaar39.2
Woerden26.1
Zoetermeer27.0
Zoeterwoude22.1
Zwijndrecht24.3
Borsele26.1
Goes19.8
West Maas en Waal28.4
Hulst26.6
Kapelle25.2
Middelburg16.3
Reimerswaal21.1
Terneuzen20.9
Tholen26.3
Veere26.0
Vlissingen18.7
De Ronde Venen35.6
Tytsjerksteradiel23.9
Asten29.6
Baarle-Nassau31.2
Bergen op Zoom22.9
Best26.8
Boekel29.1
Boxtel25.0
Breda14.4
Deurne28.4
Pekela23.9
Dongen25.3
Eersel32.7
Eindhoven11.2
Etten-Leur27.0
Geertruidenberg24
Gilze en Rijen27.6
Goirle30.2
Helmond22.5
's-Hertogenbosch15.3
Heusden31.0
Hilvarenbeek32.8
Loon op Zand28.9
Nuenen c.a.34.4
Oirschot35.9
Oisterwijk28.7
Oosterhout24.9
Oss24.8
Rucphen32.3
Sint-Michielsgestel32.4
Someren31.9
Son en Breugel29.3
Steenbergen24.9
Waterland37.1
Tilburg13.5
Valkenswaard25.4
Veldhoven25.4
Vught25.6
Waalre33.2
Waalwijk22
Woensdrecht25.4
Zundert30.1
Wormerland35.3
Landgraaf26.3
Beek26.8
Beesel33.1
Bergen (L)35.8
Brunssum23.3
Gennep26.8
Heerlen16.7
Kerkrade20.5
Maastricht11.4
Meerssen28.5
Mook en Middelaar33.3
Nederweert29.8
Roermond19.5
Simpelveld25.6
Stein28.0
Vaals17.2
Venlo21.3
Venray26.5
Voerendaal35.2
Weert25.9
Valkenburg aan de Geul25.1
Lelystad22.5
Horst aan de Maas27.7
Oude IJsselstreek30.8
Teylingen26.8
Utrechtse Heuvelrug31.1
Oost Gelre29.8
Koggenland32.7
Lansingerland34.9
Leudal30.4
Maasgouw29.6
Gemert-Bakel31.1
Halderberge30.3
Heeze-Leende38.0
Laarbeek30.4
Reusel-De Mierden29.1
Roerdalen29.8
Roosendaal22.3
Schouwen-Duiveland24.7
Aa en Hunze27.8
Borger-Odoorn26.5
De Wolden32.3
Noord-Beveland23.4
Wijdemeren38.9
Noordenveld25.5
Twenterand30.2
Westerveld33.0
Lingewaard27.9
Cranendonck31.1
Steenwijkerland24.8
Moerdijk27.6
Echt-Susteren30.3
Sluis21.6
Drimmelen29.5
Bernheze31.9
Alphen-Chaam35.2
Bergeijk35.4
Bladel25.9
Gulpen-Wittem32.2
Tynaarlo30.2
Midden-Drenthe27.7
Overbetuwe28.8
Hof van Twente31.2
Neder-Betuwe24.2
Rijssen-Holten30.8
Geldrop-Mierlo24.5
Olst-Wijhe30.4
Dinkelland45.2
Westland28.4
Midden-Delfland36.4
Berkelland31.6
Bronckhorst38.4
Sittard-Geleen20.3
Kaag en Braassem29.1
Dantumadiel30.2
Zuidplas30.6
Peel en Maas32.5
Oldambt21.2
Zwartewaterland25.3
Súdwest Fryslân21.1
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk24.7
Eijsden-Margraten30.9
Stichtse Vecht29.4
Hollands Kroon27.0
Leidschendam-Voorburg21.1
Goeree-Overflakkee23.8
Pijnacker-Nootdorp33.5
Nissewaard26.9
Krimpenerwaard24.1
De Fryske Marren28.0
Gooise Meren22.0
Berg en Dal27.2
Meierijstad27.2
Waadhoeke22.1
Westerwolde27.1
Midden-Groningen22.3
Beekdaelen30.6
Montferland30.7
Altena30.1
West Betuwe32.0
Vijfheerenlanden27.2
Hoeksche Waard28.6
Het Hogeland22.9
Westerkwartier25.6
Noardeast-Fryslân23.2
Molenlanden32.1
Eemsdelta22.9
Dijk en Waard25.4
Land van Cuijk29.3
Maashorst27.9
Voorne aan Zee28.8