Smoking and alcohol consumption down since 2014, obesity unchanged

© ANP / Kick Smeets Fotografie
In 2024, 18 percent of adults smoked, 6 percent consumed alcohol excessively, and 50 percent were overweight. The share of smokers and excessive drinkers had fallen compared with ten years earlier, but the percentage of overweight people remained unchanged. People with a university or HBO education smoked the least, on average, and were also less likely to be overweight. This is according to the 2024 National Health Survey/Lifestyle Monitor, which Statistics Netherlands (CBS) conducted in collaboration with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos Institute) and the Dutch Centre of Expertise on Health Disparities (Pharos).

The share of people who smoke fell from 26 percent in 2014 to 18 percent in 2024. The percentage of adults who consume alcohol excessively fell from 10 to 6 percent over the same period. Excessive alcohol comsumption is classified as more than 21 units of alcohol a week for men, and more than 14 units a week for women.

Goal for reduction in smoking not yet in sight

Smoking rates have been declining for years, but the goal of reducing the share of smokers to 5 percent by 2040 remains a long way off. In the National Prevention Agreement, central government - together with over 70 societal organisations - has agreed on lifestyle goals for a healthier population. With respect to alcohol consumption, one of these goals is for excessive alcohol consumption to be limited to no more than 5 percent of adults. We are already close to achieving that goal: in 2024, 6 percent of the population drank excessively.

More people are severely overweight

When it comes to overweight people, the target for 2040 is a reducation to 38 percent, while the number of severely overweight people (obesity) should be no more than 7 percent. However, the proportion of overweight adults has remained roughly the same over the past decade, at around 50 percent. The percentage of adults who are severely overweight has been rising – from 13 percent in 2014 to 16 percent in 2024.

Less obesity and smoking among people with university or HBO education

Excess weight and smoking are associated with level of educational attainment. People aged 25 or older whose highest level of education is primary education or VMBO are more likely to be overweight (65 percent) and more likely to smoke (21 percent) than people who have university or HBO education (43 percent overweight, 13 percent smokers).

Fewer smokers and overweight people among higher-income groups

People aged 25 or older on higher incomes smoke less than 25-year-olds on lower incomes. This is partly due to a difference in their level of education. But even where the level of education is the same, people on higher incomes are less likely to smoke than those on lower incomes.

Excess weight is also related to income: people on lower incomes are more likely to be overweight. However, unlike smoking, the differences between those on higher and lower incomes are almost entirely related to differences in educational attainment. This means that among people who have the same level of education, there was no or almost no difference in the number who are overweight, regardless of whether their income was higher or lower.

With respect to excessive alcohol consumption, there are no differences according to level of education or income: people aged over 25 are all equally likely to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Neither income nor level of education makes a difference in that age group.


The article Lifestyle and socio-economic status explores the links between lifestyle (daily smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, excess weight, nutrition, high-risk sex and exercise) and socio-economic status.

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