Relatively more children of families on income support in the big cities
At the end of 2014, the Netherlands had almost 230 thousand children aged 0 to 18 years in families relying on income support benefits, which equals 6.5 percent of all children living with their parents. The percentage shares were considerably higher in Rotterdam (18.2 percent) and Amsterdam (14.4 percent). The Hague also featured in the top 10 of municipalities with children raised on income support, 12.3 percent. Utrecht was not included in the top 10, but ranked above average with 8.1 percent.
The more prosperous municipalities generally have few children raised on income support. The number was extremely low in Rozendaal in Gelderland province (0.3 percent). Numbers were also relatively low in Sint Anthonis, Naarden and Haaren (1.5 percent). Several Wadden Islands are also in the top 10 of municipalities with the lowest proportion of children on income support.
Over one third of all municipalities had shares below 3 percent of children raised on income support benefits, while one fifth had more than 6 percent.
Share of children raised on income support benefits in the total number of minors per municipality, 1 January 2014
