More Dutch people living alone, especially older women

More and more Dutch are living alone and Statistics Netherlands expects that this number will only keep increasing. The number of one-person-households is particularly increasing among people 65 years and older, especially among women.

According to the statistic office, there are currently 7.7 million households in the Netherlands, compared to 2.5 million in the 50's. At the time the average household consisted of 4 people. Now there are 2 people in the average household.

Statistics Netherlands sees a trend developing. By 2020 the number of households is expected to increase to 8 million. Increases will particularly be seen in the number of one person households - expected to increase to 3.7 million by 2050, 0.8 million more than currently.

The statistics office attributes the increase in one person households to the aging population. Elderly people also increasingly live independently for longer.