Rising Numbers of Households and Single-Person Homes
The Netherlands is on track to experience substantial household growth in the coming decades, with numbers expected to reach 9 million by 2035 and nearly 10 million by 2070, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). A key factor behind this increase is the country’s aging population, especially the growing prevalence of single-person households among older adults.
As of January 2024, the Netherlands counts 8.4 million households. By 2035, the figure will rise by 567,000, with the majority of this growth coming from individuals aged 65 and older. Single-person homes will play a leading role, particularly as life expectancy increases and societal factors like widowhood and divorce rates among seniors contribute to the trend.
Older Age Groups: A Key Driver of Change
Households led by individuals aged 65 or older will rise sharply—from 2.5 million in 2024 to 3 million in 2035 and 3.6 million by 2070. Among these, a significant proportion will consist of single-person households. Households led by individuals aged 80 and above are expected to grow even faster, more than doubling between 2025 and 2070, underscoring the impact of aging on living arrangements.
While the older demographic fuels growth, households headed by those aged 45–65 will decline over the next decade due to a smaller cohort born in the 1970s. However, CBS forecasts a recovery post-2037 as this age group begins to expand once again.
Single-Person Households on the Rise
Currently, single-person households account for 40% of all Dutch households. This figure will increase to 42% by 2035 and 44% by 2070. By then, CBS estimates that 4.3 million of the nearly 10 million households in the Netherlands will consist of individuals living alone, many of them older adults.
Long-Term Projections and Uncertainty
The Netherlands has seen steady household growth over past decades, from 4 million in 1971 to 7.4 million in 2010. While the growth rate is expected to slow, CBS projects it will continue through 2070. However, uncertainty remains, as demographic and societal shifts could influence living patterns. Depending on these variables, the total number of households in 2070 could range from 8.3 million to as high as 11.8 million.
Also, read about the aging population of Hong Kong.
