As of January 1, 2023, there were approximately 3.8 million people younger than 20 years living in the Netherlands. The largest age group was formed by those between 40 and 65 years old. Together, this age group numbered nearly six million people. The retired population of the Netherlands consisted of approximately 3.5 million people. Considering this make-up of Dutch society, it is not surprising there are so many debates on increasing the retirement age. The ratio of the non-working population to the working population has decreased between 1950 and today.
Old age pensions grew steadily
When reaching the retirement age, there is an insurance scheme which covers everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands, regardless of nationality. This basic pension scheme is called AOW (National Old Age Pensions Act), though for those who have not lived in the Netherlands for a full 50 years, the pension is proportional. Between 1998 and 2019, the number of old age pensions grew steadily, reaching a total of 3.42 million pensions in 2019. As of the same year, disability pensions had approximately 3.84 million members, which is an increase of 276,000 pensions compared to the previous year.
Decrease in company pension funds
The number of company pension funds decreased drastically over a period of 21 years. In 1997, 957 pension funds by companies were registered, whereas by 2019 this decreased to a total of just 148 company pension schemes.
Population of the Netherlands in 2023, by age
Characteristic
Number of inhabitants
0 - 20 years
3,750,458
20 - 40 years
4,612,024
40 - 65 years
5,847,642
65 - 80 years
2,728,550
80 years and older
872,617
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of inhabitants3,750,4583,750,4584,612,0244,612,0245,847,6425,847,6422,728,5502,728,550872,617872,6170 - 20 years20 - 40 years40 - 65 years65 - 80 years80 years and older
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The population of the Netherlands consists of the total number of people residing permanently in the Netherlands that have registered with the authorities in the Netherlands, including those without a permanent address. Not included are non-permanent residents, those not registered with the authorities, illegal residents and those excluded on professional grounds (diplomats and NATO military).
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Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. (August 9, 2023). Population of the Netherlands in 2023, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 02, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/519754/population-of-the-netherlands-by-age/
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. "Population of the Netherlands in 2023, by age." Chart. August 9, 2023. Statista. Accessed April 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/519754/population-of-the-netherlands-by-age/
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. (2023). Population of the Netherlands in 2023, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/519754/population-of-the-netherlands-by-age/
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. "Population of The Netherlands in 2023, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/519754/population-of-the-netherlands-by-age/
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Population of the Netherlands in 2023, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/519754/population-of-the-netherlands-by-age/ (last visited April 02, 2025)
Population of the Netherlands in 2023, by age [Graph], Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, August 9, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/519754/population-of-the-netherlands-by-age/
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