Netherlands sounds alarm over plummeting birth rate, aging population

Birth rates continue to fall in the Netherlands, with the country preparing itself for another "aging wave" as the population grows more elderly.

Key Takeaways:

• The birth rate in the Netherlands has been plummeting, with the population growing more slowly in 2025 than it did in 2024.

• The growth the Netherlands has seen is largely attributed to migration.

• Meanwhile, the country fears a second "aging wave" as the majority of its citizens become elderly, without children being born to replace them.

• As the growing elderly population places a strain on the government's services, this could lead to elderly Nederlanders being pressured to undergo euthanasia to save money thanks to the country's lax euthanasia laws.

The Details:

De Telegraaf reported that the Netherlands is bracing itself for a second aging wave, as the birth rate in the country continues to fall. Over the past 15 years, fewer children have been born each year, and it is predicted the population could fall below 10 million by the end of the century.

Currently, 1 in 5 women are childless in the Netherlands, and the birth rate is at just 1.4 per woman; the replacement rate, or the number of children needed for a population to replenish itself, is 2.1 children per woman. It's expected that this shrinking population will have massive economic repercussions.

"For a long time, it was thought that the aging population would peak around 2040, and then the situation would stabilize again," Casper van Ewijk, professor of economics and director of Netspar, said. "If our childbearing rate remains low or even declines further, a second wave of aging will occur. This will immediately impact how we continue to fund our welfare state."

Because of the large number of retirees, without workers to pay into the system there will be immense pressure placed on the country's health care, pension, and social services.

Why It Matters:

Euthanasia has been legal in the Netherlands since 2002, and it has already become widespread; as it is, euthanasia makes up 5% of all deaths. Yet the country still is looking to eliminate the few safeguards that are in place. People with disabilities are already being pushed toward death just for being lonely or depressed.

And if the health care system does begin to get strained, it's not much of a stretch to fear that the elderly will be pushed to choose euthanasia instead of receiving treatment; it's something already widely seen in Canada, where patients are pressured by doctors to die in an effort to save money.

This is also worrying, as most people do not choose euthanasia to avoid a long and painful death; data has instead found that most people do so out of a fear of losing autonomy and being unable to enjoy the same activities. Other studies have found that people fear becoming a burden on their loved ones.

The Bottom Line:

Multiple countries around the world have discouraged their residents from having children, and are now grappling with the devastating consequences.