Unemployment in the Netherlands sits at 4.3% in the latest labour force survey, keeping the workforce relatively stable. At the same time, digitization is broad and practical, with 86% of people using the internet weekly and 91% of enterprises running on cloud services. Life expectancy is also expected to rise by 2.6 years by 2050, even as 19.3% of households face poverty or social exclusion.
Key Takeaways
- 4.3% of the Netherlands population reported as unemployed (2024 Q1, labour force survey)
- 12.5% of the Netherlands labour force was foreign-born (2023)
- 2.6 years: median life expectancy increase projected between 2020 and 2050 in the Netherlands
- 0.1% real GDP growth for the Netherlands in 2023
- €104.2 billion value added from manufacturing in the Netherlands in 2023
- €1,127 billion total gross domestic expenditure in the Netherlands in 2023
- 86% of individuals in the Netherlands used the internet at least once per week (2024)
- 71% of enterprises in the Netherlands used cloud services (2024)
- 56% of enterprises in the Netherlands used big data (2024)
- 4.3 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity in the Netherlands (end-2023)
- 6.8% of final energy consumption was from biofuels in the Netherlands (2022)
- 29% share of EVs in new car sales in the Netherlands (2023)
- 2.8 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in the Netherlands (2021)
- 56% of total waste generated in the Netherlands was recycled (2021)
- 86% of the Netherlands population is connected to public sewerage (2022)
In 2023, the Netherlands saw steady growth and strong digital and green progress, despite unemployment at 4.3%.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics3 stats
01
4.3% of the Netherlands population reported as unemployed (2024 Q1, labour force survey)
02
12.5% of the Netherlands labour force was foreign-born (2023)
03
2.6 years: median life expectancy increase projected between 2020 and 2050 in the Netherlands
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographics perspective, the Netherlands shows relatively low but steady unemployment at 4.3% in 2024 Q1 alongside a notable 12.5% foreign born share of the labour force and a projected median life expectancy gain of 2.6 years by 2050.
02 · Category
Economic Output3 stats
01
0.1% real GDP growth for the Netherlands in 2023
02
€104.2 billion value added from manufacturing in the Netherlands in 2023
03
€1,127 billion total gross domestic expenditure in the Netherlands in 2023
Interpretation
Economic Output Interpretation
For the Netherlands’ Economic Output, 2023 saw modest 0.1% real GDP growth while manufacturing contributed €104.2 billion in value added and total gross domestic expenditure reached €1,127 billion, suggesting steadier underlying demand alongside limited expansion in overall output.
03 · Category
Technology Adoption8 stats
01
86% of individuals in the Netherlands used the internet at least once per week (2024)
02
71% of enterprises in the Netherlands used cloud services (2024)
03
56% of enterprises in the Netherlands used big data (2024)
04
33% of the Netherlands enterprises used AI technologies (2024)
05
91% of households in the Netherlands had broadband internet access via a fixed connection (2024)
06
€9.4 billion ICT services exports from the Netherlands (2023)
07
25.7% of Dutch enterprises used e-invoicing (2024)
08
3.9% of enterprises in the Netherlands achieved revenue from online sales exceeding 50% of total revenue (2024)
Interpretation
Technology Adoption Interpretation
In the Netherlands, technology adoption is strong across both people and businesses, with 86% using the internet weekly and 71% of enterprises already relying on cloud services, while more advanced tools like AI are still used by 33% of companies.
04 · Category
Energy & Sustainability4 stats
01
4.3 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity in the Netherlands (end-2023)
02
6.8% of final energy consumption was from biofuels in the Netherlands (2022)
03
29% share of EVs in new car sales in the Netherlands (2023)
04
93% municipal waste recycling rate in the Netherlands (2023)
Interpretation
Energy & Sustainability Interpretation
In the Netherlands’ Energy & Sustainability push, renewables and circularity are advancing quickly, with wind reaching 4.3 gigawatts of installed capacity by end 2023, EVs making up 29% of new car sales in 2023, and municipal waste recycling hitting 93% while biofuels account for 6.8% of final energy consumption in 2022.
05 · Category
Water & Waste6 stats
01
2.8 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in the Netherlands (2021)
02
56% of total waste generated in the Netherlands was recycled (2021)
03
86% of the Netherlands population is connected to public sewerage (2022)
04
8,000 km of navigable inland waterways in the Netherlands (2023)
05
3.1% of Dutch drinking water supply is non-revenue water losses (2022)
06
6.3 million tonnes of biomass waste used for energy in the Netherlands (2022)
Interpretation
Water & Waste Interpretation
The Netherlands is making strong progress on the water and waste front, recycling 56% of its waste in 2021 while maintaining near-universal sewer connection with 86% of the population linked to public sewerage in 2022.
More related reading
06 · Category
Infrastructure & Transport4 stats
01
5.0 million tons of air cargo handled at Dutch airports (2023)
02
4.2% road fatalities reduction in the Netherlands in 2022 vs 2021
03
3,346 road deaths in the Netherlands (2022)
04
€12.2 billion total public investment in transport infrastructure in the Netherlands (2021)
Interpretation
Infrastructure & Transport Interpretation
In the Netherlands, infrastructure and transport performance is showing concrete momentum with a 4.2% reduction in road fatalities in 2022 alongside 3,346 road deaths, while transport infrastructure investment reached €12.2 billion in 2021 and Dutch airports handled 5.0 million tons of air cargo in 2023.
07 · Category
Workforce And Wages3 stats
01
5.0% of the Netherlands’ employed population worked in manufacturing in 2023
02
13.6% of employed persons in the Netherlands worked in the ICT sector in 2023
03
3.1% of the Netherlands’ total employment was in the construction sector in 2023
Interpretation
Workforce And Wages Interpretation
In 2023, the Netherlands’ workforce was notably tilted toward higher value sectors for wages and skills, with 13.6% working in ICT compared with just 5.0% in manufacturing and 3.1% in construction.
08 · Category
Trade And Investment1 stats
01
€73.6 billion worth of Dutch goods exports were destined for the United States in 2023
Interpretation
Trade And Investment Interpretation
In 2023, the Netherlands sent €73.6 billion worth of its goods exports to the United States, underscoring how central the US market is to Dutch trade and investment ties.
09 · Category
Consumer And Society2 stats
01
1.52 million international air passengers were carried by airlines registered in the Netherlands in 2023
02
19.3% of households in the Netherlands were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2023
Interpretation
Consumer And Society Interpretation
In the Netherlands under the Consumer and Society lens, 19.3% of households faced poverty or social exclusion in 2023 while Dutch airlines carried 1.52 million international passengers, highlighting how consumer mobility and social vulnerability coexist within the same year.
10 · Category
R&d And Innovation1 stats
01
€3.9 billion was spent on computer programming, consultancy, and related activities in the Netherlands in 2023
Interpretation
R&d And Innovation Interpretation
In the Netherlands, spending reached €3.9 billion in 2023 for computer programming, consultancy, and related activities, highlighting strong ongoing investment in R&D and innovation that supports the country’s knowledge and technology capabilities.
report visual · Breakdown
Netherlands: Digital adoption across households and enterprises
High household internet access alongside substantial enterprise uptake of cloud, big data, and AI.
71%
71% of enterprises in the Netherlands used cloud services (2024)
29%
29% share of EVs in new car sales in the Netherlands (2023)
source-verifiedec.europa.eu · iea.org2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Netherlands Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/netherlands-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Netherlands Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/netherlands-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Netherlands Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/netherlands-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+25 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)