The share of women in the Netherlands without their own income from work or benefits has fallen sharply over the past decade, according to new figures from the national statistics office, the CBS.

In 2024, 6% of women had no personal income and were not in education, compared with 10% ten years ago. Among men, the figure is much lower – around 2% – and has remained largely stable over the same period.

Women without their own income tend to be older, more often married and more likely to have children than those who do earn money, the CBS said. They are also more likely to have been born abroad and to live in less wealthy or urban areas.

CBS research from 2023 shows that 17% of women aged between 15 and 65 who are not in education are not working or looking for a job. The main reason is illness or disability, followed by caring for family or household – a reason men rarely mention.

The Netherlands has the highest percentage of part-time workers in Europe, with women working an average of 29 hours a week, 10 hours fewer than men.