Well-being ‘elsewhere’: trade and aid

The Netherlands is connected with the rest of the world in various ways. By way of trade and development cooperation, it can enhance well-being in other countries. Remittances from migrants to relatives in their country of origin also increase well-being ‘elsewhere’. However, the impact of Netherlands on other countries does not necessarily lead to greater well-being; a lot depends on how the money is spent.
  • Goods imports from lower middle-income and high-income countries are trending upwards. Imports from low-income countries are minimal. Most effects of trade accrue to high-income countries.
  • An increasing share of GDP is transferred as income remittances to relatives abroad, which improves livelihoods ‘elsewhere’.
  • Income remittances (1.6 percent of GDP) and development aid (0.7 percent of GNI) are relatively high compared with other EU countries.

Well-being 'elsewhere'

Trade and aid

€ 39
per capita (prices 2020) in 2023
Imports of goods from low-income countries G)
€ 1,622
per capita (prices 2020) in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
Imports of goods from lower-middle-income countries G)
€ 4,615
per capita (prices 2020) in 2023
Imports of goods from upper-middle-income countries G)
€ 21,286
per capita (prices 2020) in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
Imports of goods from high-income countries G)
0.7%
of gross national income in 2022
5th
out of 26
in EU
in 2022
Official development assistance
1.6%
of GDP in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
6th
out of 25
in EU
in 2022
Remittances
Well-being 'elsewhere'
Theme Indicator Value Trend Position in EU Position in EU ranking
Trade and aid Imports of goods from low-income countries G) € 39 per capita (prices 2020) in 2023
Trade and aid Imports of goods from lower-middle-income countries G) € 1,622 per capita (prices 2020) in 2023 increasing (increase well-being)
Trade and aid Imports of goods from upper-middle-income countries G) € 4,615 per capita (prices 2020) in 2023
Trade and aid Imports of goods from high-income countries G) € 21,286 per capita (prices 2020) in 2023 increasing (increase well-being)
Trade and aid Official development assistance 0.7% of gross national income in 2022 5th out of 26 in 2022 High ranking
Trade and aid Remittances 1.6% of GDP in 2022 increasing (increase well-being) 6th out of 25 in 2022 High ranking

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

This theme examines the contribution of the Netherlands to well-being in other countries. In line with Our Common Future (the Brundtland report), it pays special attention to income flows between the Netherlands and the poorest countries in the world. In this edition of the monitor, for the first time it is now possible to present import values adjusted for price changes. The amounts are expressed in constant prices, with base year 2020. The World Bank classification of countries by income levels is used here: low-income, lower middle-income, upper middle-income, and high-income countries. The allocation is based on per capita gross national income.

The trend in the deflated value of goods imports from upper middle-income and high-income countries is rising. The trend is green because in the trade and aid theme, more trade is seen as beneficial for the well-being of trading partners. Money transferred by temporary and permanent migrants to their country of origin also contributes to livelihoods there and is considered positive for well-being ‘elsewhere’. In terms of share of GDP, the part of income remittances spent in or benefiting the country of origin shows an upward trend. In 2022, it accounted for 1.6 percent of GDP, up from 1.3 percent at the beginning of the trend period in 2016. The Netherlands is among the leading group in the EU in this respect. This is also the case for development aid. In 1970, UN members agreed to allocate 0.7 percent of gross national income annually to development cooperation (the OECD norm). The Netherlands is one of the EU countries that actually realised this percentage in 2022, alongside Sweden, Luxembourg, Germany and Denmark. The trend is stable.