Well-being ‘here and now’: health
Health concerns both being and feeling healthy, and relates to physical, mental and social welfare. Good health has intrinsic value for people; it enables them to manage their own lives and increases their chances of participating actively and equally in society.
- Dutch people lead relatively healthy lives: compared with other EU countries, few are overweight, they drink little alcohol and few smoke tobacco.
- The healthy life expectancy of women is low compared with men and with women in the rest of the EU.
Health
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2019
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health | Healthy life expectancy of men A) | 63.5 years at birth in 2024 | 16th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking | |
| Health | Healthy life expectancy of women A) | 62.0 years at birth in 2024 | 25th out of 27 in 2022 | Low ranking | |
| Health | Overweight adult population | 50.4% of the population over 18 in 2024 | 5th out of 26 in 2019 | High ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
Dutch people lead relatively healthy lives. Compared with other EU countries, few Dutch people are overweight, they consume little alcohol and a low proportion smoke tobacco products. However, in 2024, approximately half of the adult population was overweight. The figure has been stable for a number of years. Excess weight is also an issue among children. In 2024, 14.2 percent of 4- to 18-year-olds were overweight. Since the early 1980s, the proportion of overweight adults has risen from 33 to 50 percent. The proportion of those in the obese category (with a BMI of 30 or above) has increased more than the proportion of people who are moderately overweight. In 2024, one in six people (15.7 percent) were seriously overweight.
In spite of their relatively healthy lifestyles, the healthy life expectancy of men is average and that of women is low compared with the rest of the EU. The healthy life expectancy of women is also low compared with that of men in the Netherlands. Women live longer than men on average, but they spend a greater share of their lives in poorer health. In 2024, the healthy life expectancy of men was 63.5 years, while the figure for women was 62.0 years. In the European figures for life expectancy without disability, the Netherlands was in the middle of the EU ranking for men in 2022 (16th out of 27) but nearly at the bottom for women (25th out of 27).
In 2024, 76.6 percent of the Dutch population described their health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ (SDG 3 Good health and well-being). This means that more than four million Dutch people regard their health as less than good. In 2024, 4.5 percent of the population faced serious limitations in their normal daily activities due to long-term health problems. This percentage is falling. However, the share of the population experiencing feelings of anxiety and depression is increasing.