The number of people in the Netherlands reaching the age of 100 plus has doubled in the past 14 years, the national statistics office CBS says.

There are now almost 2,200 Dutch people who have celebrated their 100^th birthday. This will double again by 2025, CBS researchers say.

The over 100s in the main are ‘surprising healthy’ with few of the problems associated with old age.

There are current more female than male centenarians but the balance is likely to shift as more men stop smoking and women smoke more, the CBS said.