Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Netherlands, you would:

Health

be 17.0% less likely to die by suicide

Netherlands has a suicide rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United Kingdom, it is 9.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 86.4% more likely to be obese

In Netherlands, 14.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.4% of people as of 2024.

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see 19.4% less spent on your healthcare

Netherlands spends $8,195 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United Kingdom spends $6,606 as of 2024.

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have 14.8% fewer doctors per person

Netherlands has 38.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United Kingdom has 33.0 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 22.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Netherlands, 3.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.8% as of 2025.

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make 21.8% less money

Netherlands has a GDP per capita of $73,684 as of 2025, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $57,602 as of 2025.

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Life

be 100.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Netherlands, approximately 4.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In United Kingdom, 8.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 20.6% more likely to die during infancy

In Netherlands, approximately 3.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In United Kingdom, on the other hand, 4.1 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 14.1% more on education

Netherlands spends 5.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. United Kingdom spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

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spend 11.2% more on healthcare

Netherlands spends 10.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In United Kingdom, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2024.

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Geography

see 27.6 times more coastline

Netherlands has a total of 451 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

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Safety

be 29.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Netherlands, road accidents kill 3.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United Kingdom, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 62.3% more likely to be murdered

Netherlands has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In United Kingdom, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 13.9% less strain on fresh water

Netherlands withdraws 17% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United Kingdom withdraws 14% as of 2022.

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use 34.3% less electricity

Netherlands uses 6,386 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 36.1% less CO2

Netherlands emits 6.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United Kingdom emits 4.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2021). How we calculate this

Compare further: Netherlands vs. United Kingdom

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
United Kingdom is 6.1% cheaper than Netherlands overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Netherlands is about 6 times smaller than United Kingdom.
→
Moving from Netherlands to United Kingdom · OECD 2019
5,636 people moved from Netherlands to United Kingdom.
→
City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Amsterdam vs London
→

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
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How big is United Kingdom compared to Netherlands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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