Healthy life expectancy means the average number of years that a person is expected to live in good self-perceived health, assuming that future health and mortality risks remain unchanged. As of the 1980s, healthy life expectancy from birth has increased among men in particular: from an average 60 years in 1981 to 65 years in 2016. Among women, healthy life expectancy has fluctuated around 62 years over the same period.

Smoking rates among the population aged 12 years or older have declined since 2001. In 2017, 22 percent were smoking versus 33 percent in 2001. The percentage of heavy smokers, i.e. people who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day, has fallen as well, namely from 10 to 3 percent.

Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 (kg/m2) are considered overweight, while a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher indicates obesity. Thresholds for overweight and obesity are different for minors (under 18), depending on age and sex. Obesity rates have been on the increase in the Netherlands in recent decades. In the early 1980s, 27 percent of the population aged 4 or older were overweight; this had gone up to 43 percent in 2017. The share of overweight people has remained virtually stable since 2000 (over 30 percent). On the other hand, the share of obese people has continued to rise over a longer period. Their number has almost tripled since the early 1980s but has remained fairly stable – around 12 percent – in recent years.

In 2017, 35 percent of the Dutch population aged 12 or older indicated they had visited an oral hygienist. This was still 28 percent back in 2014. People in high-income households visit the oral hygienist more often than those in lower-income households. In 2017, 42 percent from the highest income group went to the oral hygienist, against 28 percent from the lowest income group.

In 2016, there were over 167 thousand nurses working in the care sector, of whom 48 percent were under the age of 45. The share of nurses under the age of 45 is highest at hospitals (inpatient care), namely 54 percent. It is less than half in general nursing, outpatient care and homecare as well as in mental health care. At 35 percent, the share is lowest in care for the disabled. Of all nurses, 45 percent work in a hospital while over one-quarter work in general nursing, outpatient care and homecare.

In 2016, more than 800 thousand people or nearly 5 percent of the population were prescribed anti-diabetic medication such as insulin or other blood sugar lowering medication. These diabetics are more likely to also receive medications for treatment of cardiovascular disease than non-diabetics. This holds true for all age groups and for both men and women. In the group of over-75s receiving diabetes medications, over 95 percent are also receiving cardiovascular medications.

In 2017 there were 613 traffic deaths, including 453 men and 160 women. Among them were 206 cyclist fatalities (34 percent). It is the first time that more cyclists than car occupants (33 percent) were killed in road accidents. Two decades previously, the number of traffic deaths was approximately twice as high. Especially among car occupants, traffic mortality saw a significant decline in this period: by two-thirds. The number of pedestrian deaths has more than halved. The number of cycling-related fatalities has fluctuated around 190 in recent years.

Last year, 206 cyclists were killed in road accidents; 17 more than in 2016 and the highest number in one decade. The number of car occupant deaths stood at 201. It is the first time that more cyclists than vehicle occupants were killed in road accidents. Road fatalities further included 58 pedestrians, 51 motorcyclists, 41 (light-)moped riders and 25 mobility scooter riders.

In 2017, 405 thousand young people up to age 23 (11 percent) received one or more types of youth care (including youth assistance, youth protection and juvenile rehabilitation services). The number has increased slightly over the past few years. The transfer of responsibility for youth services to the municipal authorities in 2015 does not seem to have had a significant impact. The drop in 2014, just prior to the introduction of the new Child and Youth Act, was due to administrative changes. Not all youth assistance was included in registrations that year. The number of young people receiving youth protection or rehabilitation services saw an annual decline in the period 2011–2017.

In 2016 (reference date: second Friday of November), 18 percent of the elderly aged 80 and over were receiving district nurse services. They included 20 percent of elderly women and almost 14 percent of elderly men. In the group aged 80 to 84, such services were provided to 12 percent, while the share was close to 30 percent among those aged 90 and over. In all age groups, more women than men are visited by the district nurse. The share of people aged 80 and over who use district nurse services is higher in the northern and eastern parts of the country. The difference with the rest of the country remains when taking the regional population composition into account.