SDG 1 No poverty
- Financial resources of Dutch households are increasing on average. Disposable income and household wealth both show an upward trend. Dutch disposable income ranks among the highest in the EU.
- The risk of poverty or social exclusion is relatively low in the Netherlands. In 2022, 16.5 percent of residents faced multiple financial constraints, were at risk of poverty or lived in households with little or no income from work. Fewer and fewer children live in low-income households.
- The trend in relative poverty is rising. In 2022, 14.5 percent of the Dutch population lived below the European poverty threshold. The percentage of households with problem debts and the number of homeless people increased in 2022-2023.
Dashboard and indicators
Resources and opportunities
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
Outcomes
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
Subjective assessment
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resources and opportunities | Mean disposable income | € 35,400 per household (equivalised, 2022 prices) in 2022 | increasing (increase well-being) | 4th out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Median disposable income | € 31,600 per household (equivalised, 2022 prices) in 2022 | increasing (increase well-being) | 3rd out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Median purchasing power | -1.2% change in purchasing power in 2022 | |||
| Resources and opportunities | Median wealth of households | € 135,100 per household (2022 prices), 1 January 2022 | increasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Outcomes | People at risk of poverty or social exclusion | 16.5% of the population in 2022 | 5th out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking | |
| Outcomes | Homeless people | 28 per 10,000 of the population (18-64) were homeless in 2023 | |||
| Outcomes | At-risk-of-poverty rate | 14.5% of the population had an income below the European risk-of-poverty threshold (60% of median income) in 2022 | increasing (decrease well-being) | 11th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking |
| Outcomes | Poverty gap | 19.2% difference between poverty threshold and median income of poor people in 2022 | 10th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking | |
| Outcomes | Minors at risk of poverty | 5.2% live in a low-income household in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Outcomes | Long-term low income households | 1.8% of households have had a long-term low income in 2022 | |||
| Outcomes | Registered problematic debts | 8.8% of all households are in a problematic debt situation on 1 January 2023 | |||
| Subjective assessment | Concern about future finances | 28.7% of the population over 18 are very concerned in 2023 |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
SDG 1 aims to eradicate extreme poverty across the world by 2030. The goal focuses on adequate social protection, equal economic rights, resilience to financial shocks, especially for the poor and vulnerable. As poverty in the Netherlands is of a different order than in the world’s poorest countries, this report includes indicators for the Dutch context. Dutch government policy focuses on preventing and reducing poverty and problem debt, devoting special attention to children living in poverty. The coronavirus crisis, the subsequent energy crisis and recent high inflation have made poverty-related problems all the more relevant.
Resources and opportunities concern the financial means people have at their disposal and any available support, although no indicator is available for the latter. Here the picture is positive, with rising medium-term trends and high positions compared with other EU countries.
Use refers to the use of various forms of financial support. For this category, no indicators are available that comply with the quality criteria of this report.
Outcomes here relate to the share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Safe and affordable housing is viewed as a basic need. Compared with other EU countries, the share of the Dutch population facing multiple financial constraints, at risk of poverty or living in a household with little or no income from work is relatively small in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, it was still 16.1 percent in 2022 (source: Eurostat).
Subjective assessment refers to how people perceive the security of their livelihood. 2023 was the first year since 2020 without lockdowns and COVID-19 measures. However, the economy came to a virtual standstill. After two years with respective growth rates of 6.2 and 4.3 percent, GDP grew by only 0.1 percent year-on-year in 2023. Price levels were still high. Job vacancies are falling, although unemployment is currently relatively low. The percentage of people who say they are very concerned about their financial future was around the same level in 2023 as in 2022, at 28.7. The increase from 2021 to 2022 was substantial: from 22.5 to 28.6 percent.