THE HAGUE, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of people aged 65 and over in the Netherlands has surpassed those under 20 for the first time as of Jan. 1, 2025, and the gap is expected to widen in the coming decades, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on Tuesday.
CBS said there were 3.72 million people under the age of 20 and 3.76 million people aged 65 and over at the start of 2025. The statistical bureau told Xinhua that the figures are based on completed research.
Based on CBS's Key Forecast 2025-2070, the elderly population is projected to grow at a faster pace. By 2070, the Netherlands is expected to have 4.1 million people under 20, compared with 5.4 million people aged 65 and over. Within the elderly population, the number of people aged 80 and above is set to rise significantly.
The Netherlands' growing elderly population is attributed to rising life expectancy, while fewer children are being born.
People of working age, aged 20 to 65, currently account for just under 59 percent of the total population. This share is projected to decline to around 55 percent by 2040.
The overall population is forecast to continue growing in the coming decades, driven not only by longer life expectancy but primarily by migration.
