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Europe & Central Asia

Living in Netherlands

Among the 116 countries we cover, Netherlands stands out most for civil freedoms and governance. Its weakest dimension is affordability.

Capital
Amsterdam
Population
18.1M (2025)
World Bank income group
High income

Key figures

Price level (US = 100)
84Lower means cheaper than the US · 2025
Life expectancy (years)
82.0At birth · 2024
Homicides per 100,000 people
0.7Per 100,000 people per year · 2023
People using the internet
97.0%Share of the population · 2024

Scores by dimension

0–100, relative to the 116 countries we cover (100 = best in our set).

Affordability
17 / 100
Safety
75 / 100
Healthcare
83 / 100
Governance
89 / 100
Civil freedoms
93 / 100
Digital access
96 / 100
Economy
90 / 100
  • Affordability#99 of 116
  • Safety#32 of 116
  • Healthcare#20 of 116
  • Governance#9 of 116
  • Civil freedoms#8 of 116
  • Digital access#13 of 116
  • Economy#13 of 116

The underlying data

Indicators for Netherlands, with the year each value refers to
IndicatorValueYear
Price level (US = 100)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD / NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD842025
GDP per personWDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CDUS$73,6842025
GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CDInt$87,3202025
Unemployment rateWDI · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS3.9%2025
Inflation (consumer prices)WDI · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG3.3%2025
Life expectancy (years)WDI · SP.DYN.LE00.IN82.02024
Doctors per 1,000 peopleWDI · SH.MED.PHYS.ZS3.92022
Health spending per personWDI · SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CDUS$6,8452024
Homicides per 100,000 peopleWDI · VC.IHR.PSRC.P50.72023
People using the internetWDI · IT.NET.USER.ZS97.0%2024
Political stability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_PV.SC752025
Rule of law (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_RL.SC862025
Government effectiveness (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_GE.SC882025
Control of corruption (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_CC.SC862025
Voice and accountability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_VA.SC872025
PopulationWDI · SP.POP.TOTL18.1M2025

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators (updated July 13, 2026) and Worldwide Governance Indicators (updated September 25, 2026), CC BY 4.0. We show the most recent year available for each figure. How we score

Netherlands: common questions

Is Netherlands expensive to live in?

The World Bank price level for Netherlands is 84 (US = 100) in 2025, which places it #99 of 116 countries for affordability in our data. This is a national average. Big cities, housing and imported goods can cost much more.

How safe is Netherlands?

Netherlands recorded 0.7 intentional homicides per 100,000 people (2023). Its World Bank political stability score is 75 out of 100 (2025). National figures hide local differences, so check your government's current travel advice for specific areas.

What is healthcare like in Netherlands?

Life expectancy at birth in Netherlands is 82.0 years (2024). There are 3.9 doctors per 1,000 people (2022). Access for foreign residents depends on your visa, residency status and insurance, so confirm what coverage you'd be entitled to.

Do I need a visa to move to Netherlands?

It depends on your citizenship, purpose and length of stay, and the rules change often. We don't give visa advice. Check the official immigration authority or embassy of Netherlands for the current requirements.