40% of pensioners with migrant backgrounds live in poverty in Netherlands
A growing number of retirees with non-Western migration backgrounds in the Netherlands are living in poverty, with reports showing that around 40 percent struggle to meet basic living standards. The issue is expected to worsen in the coming years.
Research highlights that pensioners from Morocco and Turkey are particularly affected, with similar risks emerging for retirees from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Poland. In contrast, only 3 to 6 percent of retirees without a migration background or from Western Europe fall below the poverty line.
The problem is largely linked to the Dutch state pension system, known as AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet – General Old Age Pensions Act). Full benefits require 50 years of residency in the Netherlands, with payments reduced by 2 percent for each missing year. Many migrants arrived later in life, resulting in lower pension entitlements.
According to researcher جيل لوسبروك, lower wages and employment in sectors with weak pension schemes have further limited retirement savings for this group. As a result, many receive significantly less income in old age compared to native Dutch retirees.
The number of retirees with migration backgrounds has already doubled from 200,000 to 400,000 and is expected to reach 900,000 by 2050. While not all will live in poverty, the fastest growth is seen among the most financially vulnerable groups.
Pension poverty is also causing emotional strain, leading to health issues and loneliness. Families are often forced to step in, as seen in the case of طارق أوجار, who helps cover his mother’s living expenses.
Although the government provides support through the AIO (Aanvullende Inkomensvoorziening Ouderen – Supplementary Income Provision for the Elderly), many eligible individuals do not apply. Fear, lack of awareness, and mistrust—partly linked to past benefits scandals—discourage people from seeking assistance.
Experts warn that the situation is becoming increasingly serious, emphasizing that poverty among retirees contradicts the country’s social goals. They stress the need for better awareness and policy action to ensure that no elderly person is left below the poverty line.