GeoRealityMatch
Scenic view of Amsterdam's canal with historic buildings and cathedral on a cloudy day.Typical Dutch architecture of cozy buildings situated on riverbank during clear spring day

Netherlands

Europe · Western Europe

Very high safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high for Europe. Living costs are high.

vs United Kingdomvs Swedenvs Denmark
Safety

17th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.566lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#17 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.7per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
74.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€34,466per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
38.7New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
7.5years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 63% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 18% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$50K$100K$87,320 PPP$73,684Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $45,124 a person, $41,208 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2007, $52,101 a person, $44,203 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2008, $58,247 a person, $46,714 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2009, $53,172 a person, $44,959 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2010, $51,306 a person, $45,301 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2011, $54,702 a person, $47,004 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2012, $50,474 a person, $47,653 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2013, $52,602 a person, $49,622 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2014, $53,457 a person, $49,751 at PPP, inflation 1%2015, $45,794 a person, $50,957 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2016, $46,809 a person, $53,162 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2017, $49,514 a person, $56,038 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2018, $53,955 a person, $58,819 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2019, $53,555 a person, $62,345 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2020, $53,468 a person, $62,597 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2021, $60,142 a person, $68,574 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2022, $59,123 a person, $78,630 at PPP, inflation 10%2023, $63,516 a person, $80,392 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2024, $67,465 a person, $85,218 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $73,684 a person, $87,320 at PPP, inflation 3.3%$0$50K$100KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $45,124 a person, $41,208 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2007, $52,101 a person, $44,203 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2008, $58,247 a person, $46,714 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2009, $53,172 a person, $44,959 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2010, $51,306 a person, $45,301 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2011, $54,702 a person, $47,004 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2012, $50,474 a person, $47,653 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2013, $52,602 a person, $49,622 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2014, $53,457 a person, $49,751 at PPP, inflation 1%2015, $45,794 a person, $50,957 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2016, $46,809 a person, $53,162 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2017, $49,514 a person, $56,038 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2018, $53,955 a person, $58,819 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2019, $53,555 a person, $62,345 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2020, $53,468 a person, $62,597 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2021, $60,142 a person, $68,574 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2022, $59,123 a person, $78,630 at PPP, inflation 10%2023, $63,516 a person, $80,392 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2024, $67,465 a person, $85,218 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $73,684 a person, $87,320 at PPP, inflation 3.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
82.0years, at birthVery high
#30 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
85WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
9.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the lowest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
8.8%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery low
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
239 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
624EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet239 MbpsVery fast
Mobile177 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Typical Dutch architecture of cozy buildings situated on riverbank during clear spring day
How it changed

Netherlands's Human Development Index

0.955Very high human development

8th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 7th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #5Sweden0.959
  2. #7Australia0.958
  3. #8Netherlands0.955
  4. #10Belgium0.951
  5. #11Ireland0.949
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.855 in 1990 to 0.955 in 2023.

0.800.901.000.95519902000201020231990: 0.8551991: 0.8601992: 0.8611993: 0.8631994: 0.8891995: 0.8861996: 0.8901997: 0.8911998: 0.8931999: 0.8942000: 0.9002001: 0.9022002: 0.8982003: 0.9012004: 0.9042005: 0.9072006: 0.9142007: 0.9202008: 0.9202009: 0.9202010: 0.9252011: 0.9352012: 0.9352013: 0.9372014: 0.9392015: 0.9402016: 0.9412017: 0.9452018: 0.9472019: 0.9502020: 0.9452021: 0.9512022: 0.9532023: 0.9550.800.901.0019902000201020231990: 0.8551991: 0.8601992: 0.8611993: 0.8631994: 0.8891995: 0.8861996: 0.8901997: 0.8911998: 0.8931999: 0.8942000: 0.9002001: 0.9022002: 0.8982003: 0.9012004: 0.9042005: 0.9072006: 0.9142007: 0.9202008: 0.9202009: 0.9202010: 0.9252011: 0.9352012: 0.9352013: 0.9372014: 0.9392015: 0.9402016: 0.9412017: 0.9452018: 0.9472019: 0.9502020: 0.9452021: 0.9512022: 0.9532023: 0.955

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
82 years2024at birthUp 2.6 years from 79.3 years in 2005
Internet users
97%2024of people onlineUp 13 points from 84% in 2006
Urban population
96%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 11 points from 85% in 2006
Births per woman
1.432024births per womanDown 0.28 from 1.71 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
12%2021of energy usedUp 10 points from 2% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
6.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 4.6 t from 11.2 t in 2005
Forest area
11%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Highly international with near-universal English and an excellent cycling culture; housing is expensive. The case for living here is peace, high incomes for Europe and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About Netherlands

The Netherlands is a small, flat, densely populated country in Western Europe that has made an art of living well within constraints, with beautiful canal cities, world-class museums, a cycling culture that shapes urban life at every level, and a tradition of tolerance and pragmatic thinking. Amsterdam is one of Europe's great cities, but Utrecht, Leiden, and Haarlem offer much of the same beauty with far less pressure. Those who enjoy design, cycling, and a liberal, open-minded culture will find it very much to their taste.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAmsterdam
  • LanguagesDutch
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area33,670 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Netherlands's Human Development Index?

Netherlands's Human Development Index is 0.955 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #8 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Netherlands safe?

Netherlands scores 1.57 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #17 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Netherlands?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Netherlands at 73.4 (New York = 100); that is #133 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Netherlands?

Life expectancy at birth in Netherlands is 82.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #30 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Netherlands?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Netherlands at 213.6, ranked #1 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.