Integral income and wealth statistics

What does the survey comprise?

Purpose

These statistics provide a picture of the composition and distribution of the income and wealth of persons and households in the Netherlands.

Target population

The population in private households on the 1st of January in the year under review.

Statistical unit

Persons and households.

Date/year survey started

2011.

Frequency

Annual.

Publication strategy

In the autumn following a research year, preliminary data are available. One year later, these are replaced by final data.

How is the survey conducted?

Survey type

The survey is based on integral registrations.

Survey method

Matching, integration, and processing of various registrations.

Data suppliers

Tax Administration, The Education Executive Agency of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (abbreviated in Dutch by DUO), Institute for Employee Insurance (UWV), Basic Registration of Persons.

Quality of the results

Accuracy

Due to integral observation, there are no sampling margins. However, registrations are not flawless. To a certain degree, there are restrictions regarding the timeliness, completeness and accuracy of data. Particularly for preliminary outcomes missing data are approximated using additional information, consisting of both historical figures and estimates based on related indicators. For some households no such data can be found; these households are left out of the survey population.
Preliminary results are not suitable for publication at regional level (smaller than provinces).

Sequential comparability

The current figures give comparable results from 2011 onwards. Due to differences in method of composition, the results of the Integral Income and Wealth statistics are not entirely comparable to the results of the previous time series until 2014.

When compared to time, further changes must be taken into account:
• The improved observation of persons in establishments, institutions and homes (the institutional population) resulted into a break in 2014 in the development of the number of private households. About 35 thousand people who previously lived autonomous in a single-family household, are considered to be part of the institutional population since 2014.