Go to (on this page):content, search of menu.

You are at: Home / Topics / P - Z / Poverty

Poverty

Around 6% of Dutch households are classed as poor. A proportion of these households have too little income to pay for even the most essential items, such as food and clothing. Others are able to meet these basic needs, but have no money for things such as joining a club or going out now and again. These people are at risk of becoming socially excluded.

Groups at risk
Single-parent families, members of ethnic minorities and people on benefit are at the greatest risk of poverty. Older people were also a risk group in the past, but their welfare position has improved over the last decade, greatly reducing their risk of poverty. A relatively large number of children are still in poverty, and SCP therefore carries out research on whether poverty has lasting consequences specifically for children.

Poverty lines
SCP employs two thresholds to describe poverty. The lower threshold indicates how many people have too little money for a minimum basket of necessary goods: food, clothing, housing and personal care. The higher threshold allows for modest expenditure on recreation and social participation.

Research at SCP
The Labour, Income & Social Security research group has been carrying out research since 1996 into the extent, causes and consequences of poverty. The findings of this research are published among other things in the Poverty Monitor (Armoedemonitor) (published in uneven years) and the more concise Poverty Report (Armoedebericht) (published in even years).

More information

  • The Poverty Monitor is compiled in collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

  • The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment formulates the poverty on policy in consultation with local authorities.

  • Nibud (National Institute for Family Finance Information) carries out research on the trend in household purchasing power and gives tips on handling money.