CBS: the Netherlands has almost 4.9 million young people
The new Youth Monitor report reveals major differences between municipalities and a changing background.
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At the beginning of 2026, almost 4.9 million people under the age of 25 lived in the Netherlands. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this in the 2026 Annual Report on the National Youth Monitor, which also describes shifts in age structure and background.
People under the age of 25 made up 27 per cent of the Dutch population at the beginning of this year. The proportion varies greatly by municipality: in Urk, 42 per cent of residents were under 25, while in Schiermonnikoog the figure was 17 per cent. CBS bases the figures on the population count of 1 January 2026.
There are several causes behind the differences. Urk, Staphorst and Barneveld have relatively large numbers of minors, partly because the birth rate there is higher than average. In student cities such as Wageningen, Groningen and Delft, the high proportion of young people mainly consists of young adults aged 18 to 25.
Show the figures
| Young people under 25 | |
|---|---|
| Urk | 42.0% |
| Groningen | 32.8% |
| Schiermonnikoog | 17.1% |
The national age structure is changing. According to CBS, there are fewer children and more young adults in 2026 than ten years ago. The report looks not only at numbers, but also at youth care, poverty, school, work, crime and safety, substance use, exercise and wellbeing.
The background of young people is also changing. In 2026, 67.1 per cent of people under the age of 25 had parents who were both born in the Netherlands. In 2016, the figure was 73.8 per cent. Over the same period, the proportion of young people born outside Europe rose from 3.9 to 6.9 per cent.
CBS particularly highlights the growth in the number of young people with a Syrian or Ukrainian background. This development says something about the composition of the population, but in itself nothing about school performance, opportunities or wellbeing. The individual chapters and tables of the Youth Monitor are needed for that.
The figures can help municipalities and national policymakers determine which facilities are needed for children, families and young adults. The report describes the differences, but does not state which municipal policy works best.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The figures, reference date and municipal differences correspond with the CBS publication. The text makes clear which conclusions the report does and does not support.
- confirmed At the beginning of 2026, almost 4.9 million young people under the age of 25 lived in the Netherlands. — CBS reports this based on the population count at the beginning of 2026. source
- confirmed People under the age of 25 made up 27 per cent of the population. — CBS publication, figures for the beginning of 2026. source
- confirmed In Urk, 42 per cent of residents were under 25, while in Schiermonnikoog the figure was 17 per cent. — CBS publication on municipalities as at 1 January 2026. source
- confirmed The proportion of young people born outside Europe rose from 3.9 per cent in 2016 to 6.9 per cent in 2026. — CBS table on the country of birth of young people under the age of 25. source
Editor's note
The key figures were checked directly against the CBS publication. The report covers more than the municipal age distribution; additional tables are needed for individual topics such as poverty and youth care.Sources
- Urk hoogste percentage jongeren, Schiermonnikoog laagste — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
- Jaarrapport Landelijke Jeugdmonitor 2026 — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „jongeren jeugdmonitor”
- Trouw — „jongeren jeugdmonitor”
- NRC — „jongeren jeugdmonitor”