Younger generations mostly richer than their parents: CBS

According to national statistics office CBS, younger generations in the Netherlands generally have more spending power and wealth than their parents and grandparents did at the same age. Home ownership stands out as an exception, with this generation being the most likely to own a home at any given age. However, many 25- to 35-year-olds are still living at home due to a housing shortage and rising house prices.

The youngest adults are also behind in wealth, holding less at around age 30 than earlier generations had at the same age, as they tend to stay in education longer and start earning later. Over a lifetime, though, younger generations appear to be richer, with purchasing power rising almost continuously from 1977 to 2024. At age 45, for instance, people born between 1970 and 1985 had €44,100 in purchasing power in 2024 prices, about 40% more than baby boomers had at the same age.

Wealth growth has been mainly driven by rising house prices, but declined recently with inflation. Millennials saw the most significant increase in their 30s compared to other generations. Moreover, younger generations spend a smaller portion of their income on housing and are more likely to live in flats.