How many babies were born to unmarried mothers? (2024)

Just under 71thousand babies born in the Netherlands in2022 had an unmarried mother. This is 42percent of all babies born in that year. Following the birth of their first baby, many couples remain unmarried. In2022, 37percent of second and subsequent babies were born to unmarried parents. Many more children are now born outside marriage than sixty and even twenty years ago.

In the 1960s and 1970s nearly all mothers were married when they gave birth. From the 1980s onwards, more and more of them were unmarried. Parents were often officially registered as partners. These couples count as married couples in the statistics.

One third of all newborn babies had unmarried cohabiting parents. More babies are also being born to single mothers. Inthe 1970s this was quite rare, today it is the case for one in ten newborn babies.

Newborn babies by type of household (%)
Jaar	Unmarried couple	Married couple	Registered partners	Single parent	Other
2022	32.4	42.7	13.6	8.9	2.4
2011	32.8	53.3	3.5	8.1	2.3
1996	11.9	81	.	5.1	2
1971	0.3	97.1	.	2	0.6

Young mothers more likely to be unmarried

Young women are least likely to be married when they have a baby. In2022 one in ten teenage mothers were married, and four in ten 20 to 24‑year-old mothers. Most babies born to teenage mothers fall in the category ‘other households’, often three-generation families: the baby, its teenage mother, and her parents.

Over half of babies with a mother aged over 25years have married parents. Forbabies of mothers over 40years of age this percentage is slightly lower. Just as babies with younger mothers, relatively many of these are born to single mothers.

Show datatableMaternal age at childbirth and type of household, 2022 (%)Hide datatableMaternal age at childbirth and type of household, 2022 (%)

Maternal age at childbirth and type of household, 2022 (%)
	Under 20 yrs	20-24 yrs	25-29 yrs	30-34 yrs	35-39 yrs	40 yrs and over
Unmarried couple	24.4	31.2	32.6	33	32.6	28.2
Married couple	8	40.4	57.4	59.4	56.4	52.9
Single-parent household	24.7	16.9	7.7	6.6	10.2	17.6
Other household	43	11.4	2.4	1	0.9	1.3

Few unmarried parents in Bible Belt

In the Dutch Bible Belt –a strip running from Zeeland in the southwest of the country to Overijssel in northeast– relatively few babies are born to unmarried parents. Thelowest rates are in Urk and Staphorst (6percent), followed by Neder-Betuwe and Renswoude.

Mothers in medium-sized cities (100thousand inhabitants or more) are more likely to be unmarried when they have their babies. Ofthe four largest cities, parents of newborns in Rotterdam are most likely to be unmarried (52percent).

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Show datatableChildren born outside marriage, 2022Hide datatableChildren born outside marriage, 2022

Children born outside marriage, 2022
Gemeentenaam	Percentage
Groningen	51.00
Almere	48.60
Stadskanaal	44.60
Veendam	45.20
Zeewolde	37.70
Achtkarspelen	39.80
Ameland	40.00
Harlingen	56.90
Heerenveen	40.80
Leeuwarden	55.60
Ooststellingwerf	45.50
Opsterland	43.30
Schiermonnikoog	40.00
Smallingerland	46.30
Terschelling	57.10
Vlieland	20.00
Weststellingwerf	40.00
Assen	44.80
Coevorden	39.30
Emmen	48.60
Hoogeveen	40.00
Meppel	36.00
Almelo	45.60
Borne	36.10
Dalfsen	28.90
Deventer	46.00
Enschede	47.30
Haaksbergen	49.20
Hardenberg	32.60
Hellendoorn	29.60
Hengelo	38.50
Kampen	24.00
Losser	48.50
Noordoostpolder	32.00
Oldenzaal	46.60
Ommen	27.70
Raalte	37.50
Staphorst	6.00
Tubbergen	34.50
Urk	5.80
Wierden	32.80
Zwolle	39.90
Aalten	40.90
Apeldoorn	37.90
Arnhem	49.40
Barneveld	13.40
Beuningen	42.40
Brummen	33.30
Buren	34.00
Culemborg	41.90
Doesburg	46.00
Doetinchem	46.50
Druten	40.20
Duiven	40.90
Ede	21.20
Elburg	17.30
Epe	23.60
Ermelo	27.70
Harderwijk	34.30
Hattem	20.90
Heerde	18.20
Heumen	39.50
Lochem	34.10
Maasdriel	42.00
Nijkerk	24.30
Nijmegen	49.90
Oldebroek	17.20
Putten	22.30
Renkum	36.70
Rheden	47.20
Rozendaal	33.30
Scherpenzeel	13.10
Tiel	37.80
Voorst	37.30
Wageningen	39.50
Westervoort	43.80
Winterswijk	34.30
Wijchen	46.90
Zaltbommel	21.40
Zevenaar	42.40
Zutphen	46.00
Nunspeet	13.40
Dronten	36.70
Amersfoort	38.70
Baarn	37.30
DeBilt	42.30
Bunnik	45.20
Bunschoten	16.50
Eemnes	50.00
Houten	38.60
Leusden	31.60
Lopik	36.90
Montfoort	29.40
Renswoude	12.50
Rhenen	19.90
Soest	36.40
Utrecht	44.00
Veenendaal	25.30
Woudenberg	14.80
WijkbijDuurstede	37.20
IJsselstein	44.20
Zeist	37.70
Nieuwegein	42.80
Aalsmeer	38.90
Alkmaar	51.00
Amstelveen	31.60
Amsterdam	50.50
Bergen(NH.)	53.50
Beverwijk	43.50
Blaricum	36.50
Bloemendaal	51.10
Castricum	48.20
Diemen	44.60
Edam-Volendam	44.00
Enkhuizen	38.50
Haarlem	48.90
Haarlemmermeer	41.50
Heemskerk	39.80
Heemstede	48.90
Heiloo	37.60
DenHelder	48.90
Hilversum	41.40
Hoorn	48.70
Huizen	41.10
Landsmeer	50.60
Laren	52.30
Medemblik	48.50
Oostzaan	53.30
Opmeer	41.40
Ouder-Amstel	37.10
Purmerend	50.00
Schagen	43.40
Texel	41.60
Uitgeest	41.70
Uithoorn	39.20
Velsen	51.40
Weesp	35.00
Zandvoort	53.80
Zaanstad	44.30
Alblasserdam	20.10
AlphenaandenRijn	38.80
Barendrecht	35.40
Drechterland	51.90
Brielle	38.70
CapelleaandenIJssel	50.70
Delft	41.70
Dordrecht	41.70
Gorinchem	37.90
Gouda	34.60
's-Gravenhage	48.10
Hardinxveld-Giessendam	18.30
Hellevoetsluis	46.00
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht	25.80
StedeBroec	38.20
Hillegom	43.60
Katwijk	23.00
KrimpenaandenIJssel	25.50
Leiden	48.00
Leiderdorp	36.10
Lisse	41.70
Maassluis	37.30
Nieuwkoop	39.70
Noordwijk	46.10
Oegstgeest	36.20
Oudewater	35.60
Papendrecht	38.30
Ridderkerk	37.60
Rotterdam	51.60
Rijswijk	47.30
Schiedam	45.50
Sliedrecht	23.90
Albrandswaard	35.40
Westvoorne	33.30
Vlaardingen	42.90
Voorschoten	40.50
Waddinxveen	27.00
Wassenaar	43.20
Woerden	37.70
Zoetermeer	47.20
Zoeterwoude	45.50
Zwijndrecht	36.00
Borsele	25.40
Goes	32.00
WestMaasenWaal	39.00
Hulst	48.30
Kapelle	17.40
Middelburg	37.40
Reimerswaal	14.30
Terneuzen	46.60
Tholen	18.80
Veere	17.10
Vlissingen	43.50
DeRondeVenen	41.80
Tytsjerksteradiel	33.30
Asten	41.00
Baarle-Nassau	55.60
BergenopZoom	34.70
Best	41.90
Boekel	43.70
Boxtel	41.60
Breda	53.30
Deurne	38.30
Pekela	56.40
Dongen	39.00
Eersel	43.40
Eindhoven	43.30
Etten-Leur	39.90
Geertruidenberg	33.70
GilzeenRijen	38.50
Goirle	39.70
Helmond	47.40
's-Hertogenbosch	47.30
Heusden	45.30
Hilvarenbeek	32.90
LoonopZand	44.50
Nuenen,GerwenenNederwetten	48.10
Oirschot	50.00
Oisterwijk	51.20
Oosterhout	38.30
Oss	46.20
Rucphen	40.40
Sint-Michielsgestel	38.90
Someren	35.80
SonenBreugel	40.70
Steenbergen	42.10
Waterland	47.50
Tilburg	47.10
Valkenswaard	44.70
Veldhoven	33.50
Vught	48.20
Waalre	44.10
Waalwijk	40.30
Woensdrecht	41.80
Zundert	37.80
Wormerland	36.80
Landgraaf	53.00
Beek	42.40
Beesel	43.30
Bergen(L.)	45.90
Brunssum	51.00
Gennep	50.30
Heerlen	56.70
Kerkrade	50.00
Maastricht	50.40
Meerssen	55.30
MookenMiddelaar	56.70
Nederweert	37.60
Roermond	51.00
Simpelveld	60.00
Stein	47.50
Vaals	41.70
Venlo	45.40
Venray	45.50
Voerendaal	42.60
Weert	49.90
ValkenburgaandeGeul	42.00
Lelystad	49.60
HorstaandeMaas	36.90
OudeIJsselstreek	40.50
Teylingen	39.20
UtrechtseHeuvelrug	39.40
OostGelre	41.70
Koggenland	42.90
Lansingerland	34.80
Leudal	44.80
Maasgouw	49.40
Gemert-Bakel	42.30
Halderberge	37.40
Heeze-Leende	45.00
Laarbeek	50.90
Reusel-DeMierden	37.90
Roerdalen	48.30
Roosendaal	41.10
Schouwen-Duiveland	25.20
AaenHunze	36.50
Borger-Odoorn	31.70
DeWolden	38.50
Noord-Beveland	42.00
Wijdemeren	45.50
Noordenveld	49.20
Twenterand	29.40
Westerveld	44.30
Lingewaard	44.10
Cranendonck	46.50
Steenwijkerland	37.50
Moerdijk	40.10
Echt-Susteren	56.50
Sluis	49.70
Drimmelen	49.20
Bernheze	46.90
Alphen-Chaam	50.60
Bergeijk	46.60
Bladel	39.20
Gulpen-Wittem	46.80
Tynaarlo	41.50
Midden-Drenthe	37.60
Overbetuwe	37.10
HofvanTwente	41.30
Neder-Betuwe	12.40
Rijssen-Holten	14.10
Geldrop-Mierlo	38.00
Olst-Wijhe	34.30
Dinkelland	37.30
Westland	40.80
Midden-Delfland	31.60
Berkelland	42.40
Bronckhorst	39.30
Sittard-Geleen	54.50
KaagenBraassem	41.80
Dantumadiel	29.60
Zuidplas	34.50
PeelenMaas	51.60
Oldambt	47.20
Zwartewaterland	13.40
Súdwest-Fryslân	49.90
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk	26.20
Eijsden-Margraten	40.50
StichtseVecht	42.60
HollandsKroon	45.10
Leidschendam-Voorburg	40.90
Goeree-Overflakkee	22.00
Pijnacker-Nootdorp	40.90
Nissewaard	52.30
Krimpenerwaard	25.50
DeFryskeMarren	42.50
GooiseMeren	46.10
BergenDal	40.40
Meierijstad	45.20
Waadhoeke	42.10
Westerwolde	38.10
Midden-Groningen	44.60
Beekdaelen	42.80
Montferland	41.60
Altena	23.80
WestBetuwe	30.10
Vijfheerenlanden	32.20
HoekscheWaard	28.00
HetHogeland	40.10
Westerkwartier	36.30
Noardeast-Fryslân	39.50
Molenlanden	22.00
Eemsdelta	43.30
DijkenWaard	47.20
LandvanCuijk	44.90
Maashorst	44.90

Relevant link

Population dashboard –Having children

The questions

What keeps people from eating healthier?
What is working people’s income?
How much of the energy we consume is renewable?
What percentage wears glasses?
How are the dragonflies and butterflies doing?
How many housing units are there?
How does home burglary affect people?
In what occupations do most people work from home?
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How many babies were born to unmarried mothers?
From which countries do most immigrants come?
How many centenarians are there?
How do fathers and mothers divide work and care?
How many cars are there?
How much milk does a cow produce?
What portion of income went to food in1936?
How many pigs were there in 1910?
How many cattle and pigs in the Netherlands?
What do we import from China?
What type of shop is seen less and less?
How many nights are spent in Dutch hotels?
How often do older people have contact with neighbours?
How many adults comply with the physical activity guidelines?
Where do international students in the Netherlands come from?
What are the major religions?
How many litres of water do we use per day?
How many millionaires in the Netherlands?
How many inhabitants in the Netherlands??
Where can we ride our bikes?
At what age do workers retire?
Which day has the most birthdays?
How many people have a student debt?
How does CBS handle your privacy?