'0,7 percent of agricultural households are poor'

Of all Dutch agricultural households, approximately 400 (0,7%) can be called poor. The CBS calculated this using a new poverty method, which it developed together with the National Institute for Budget Information (Nibud) and the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP). This is low, because 4% of all Dutch households are poor.

For the poverty calculation, Statistics Netherlands used the disposable annual income of agricultural households in 2022. This while the new poverty method has been established for incomes in 2023. The new poverty line in 2023 was an average of €1.510 per month for a single person (with a rent of €590 and an energy bill of €145). For a couple with two children up to the age of 13, this is €2.535 per month and for two teenage children €2.910.

In addition to income, the capital buffer (savings or other immediately disposable assets) is also taken into account. If this buffer is larger than the annual poverty line, there is no poverty. According to the CBS, 2022 of the 400 agricultural households were poor in 56.000.

When a household has been poor for at least three years, it is considered to be in long-term poverty. In 2022, this applied to 0,1% of agricultural households. For all Dutch households, this was 1,5% and for self-employed persons, 0,9%.

Income much higher than average household 
The disposable income of agricultural households was €2022 in 88.200 €8.200 higher than in 2021. That is considerably more than the average of all households in the Netherlands (€51.200), and that of households of self-employed entrepreneurs (€71.800). Adjusted for price developments, agricultural income in 2022 was 1% higher than a year earlier and 14% higher than in 2020, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

In 2022, agricultural households consisted of an average of 3,1 family members. In an agricultural household, at least one family member is the owner of, partner or associate in, an agricultural business. Of the incomes of agricultural households, 64% came from business activities, 27% from employment and 9% from benefits and pensions.

Linda van Eekeres

Linda van Eekeres is co-writing editor-in-chief. She mainly focuses on macro-economic developments and the influence of politics on the agricultural sector.

l.vaneekeres@boerenbusiness. Nl

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