Well-being of young people in the Netherlands
Young adults in the age category 18 to 24 years are generally happy. However, the
share has declined somewhat over the past 20 years, from 91 percent reporting that
they were happy in 1997 down to 86 percent in 2018. Young men and women are
more or less equally happy, and there are few differences in relation to the highest
level of education achieved. However, there are differences in relation to migration
background and housing situation. Among young people with a native Dutch
background, 90 percent were happy, while for those with a western or non-western
migration background, the share was 80 percent. Young people who live with a
partner are most often happy. Personal well-being was also often high among young
people, with 70 percent of them enjoying a high degree of personal well-being
in 2018. Young people relatively frequently gave themselves a score of 7 or higher
for their education or profession, their health and their social life. They were also
often satisfied with their safety and their neighbourhood, but less satisfied with their
financial future and trust in institutions. The majority of young people also thought
that the Netherlands was heading in the right direction and they did not see issues
such as crime, the multicultural society, population density and the mentality in the Netherlands as major problems. However, environmental pollution was relatively
often felt to be a big problem. (Annual Report Youth Monitor 2019 – Summary)
Youth population in the Netherlands
At the beginning of 2019, there were nearly 4.9 million young people under the age
of 25 years in the Netherlands. This represents 28 percent of the population, a share
that is projected to decline to 27 percent in 2029. Among other reasons, this is
because elderly people are living longer. Among the young people, 27 percent had a
migration background, of whom two-thirds had a non-western origin. Nearly 8 out
of 10 young people with a non-western migration background were born in the
Netherlands and therefore belong to the second generation. Among young people
with a western migration background, 64 percent were born in the Netherlands.
According to the population forecast, the number of young people with a migration
background will continue to grow over the coming decade, although it is projected
that the number of second-generation young people with a non-western
background will decline after 2022. In 2018, more babies were born to mothers
aged 35 or over than was the case 20 years ago. People in their twenties in particular
are currently less likely to have a child. The number of children born to teenage
mothers also fell. Furthermore, it is increasingly common for children to have parents
who do not live together. In 2017, this applied to 21 percent of all minors. Two-thirds
of them had no stepparents. (Annual Report Youth Monitor 2019 – Summary)
SOCIAL INCLUSION
Well-being of young people in the Netherlands
Young adults in the age category 18 to 24 years are generally happy. However, the
share has declined somewhat over the past 20 years, from 91 percent reporting that
they were happy in 1997 down to 86 percent in 2018. Young men and women are
more or less equally happy, and there are few differences in relation to the highest
level of education achieved. However, there are differences in relation to migration
background and housing situation. Among young people with a native Dutch
background, 90 percent were happy, while for those with a western or non-western
migration background, the share was 80 percent. Young people who live with a
partner are most often happy. Personal well-being was also often high among young
people, with 70 percent of them enjoying a high degree of personal well-being
in 2018. Young people relatively frequently gave themselves a score of 7 or higher
for their education or profession, their health and their social life. They were also
often satisfied with their safety and their neighbourhood, but less satisfied with their
financial future and trust in institutions. The majority of young people also thought
that the Netherlands was heading in the right direction and they did not see issues
such as crime, the multicultural society, population density and the mentality in the Netherlands as major problems. However, environmental pollution was relatively
often felt to be a big problem. (Annual Report Youth Monitor 2019 – Summary)
Youth population in the Netherlands
At the beginning of 2019, there were nearly 4.9 million young people under the age
of 25 years in the Netherlands. This represents 28 percent of the population, a share
that is projected to decline to 27 percent in 2029. Among other reasons, this is
because elderly people are living longer. Among the young people, 27 percent had a
migration background, of whom two-thirds had a non-western origin. Nearly 8 out
of 10 young people with a non-western migration background were born in the
Netherlands and therefore belong to the second generation. Among young people
with a western migration background, 64 percent were born in the Netherlands.
According to the population forecast, the number of young people with a migration
background will continue to grow over the coming decade, although it is projected
that the number of second-generation young people with a non-western
background will decline after 2022. In 2018, more babies were born to mothers
aged 35 or over than was the case 20 years ago. People in their twenties in particular
are currently less likely to have a child. The number of children born to teenage
mothers also fell. Furthermore, it is increasingly common for children to have parents
who do not live together. In 2017, this applied to 21 percent of all minors. Two-thirds
of them had no stepparents. (Annual Report Youth Monitor 2019 – Summary)