Signal Over-65s outnumber under-20s in 2025

Summary

According to the report, people aged 65 and over already outnumber young people under 20 in the Netherlands as of 2025, and the older cohort will keep expanding for decades. The report presents this as the first marker of double ageing, alongside an 85-plus group expected to exceed one million by 2060. Fewer young people means shrinking pupil and student numbers, especially where immigration hardly affects population size, which could lead schools to close or merge. As the balance between workers and non-workers deteriorates, pressure grows on public finances and pension costs, while the young pay more and receive fewer social benefits. The report also suggests that a growing share of older voters could shift political priorities toward income security, health care, stability and control of migration.