Highly educated young people more concerned about environmental pollution

Do you think environmental pollution is a bigger problem than crime? Then chances are you studied at a university of applied sciences or a research university, according to a survey by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) into the opinions of young people under 25.

In 2018, only 30 percent of young adults under 25 considered crime to be a major problem. Six years later, that figure has risen to 49 percent, according to new data from Statistics Netherlands.

Concerns about environmental pollution were already greater in 2018: that autumn, Greta Thunberg began her school strike, which was followed around the world. Those concerns have also grown, from 45 to 49 percent.

Higher professional and academic education

What stands out is the difference between (former) students of higher education and young people who followed senior secondary vocational education or only completed secondary school. Those with higher professional (hbo) or academic (wo) education are relatively more concerned about the environment, while the other group sees crime as the main problem.

In its survey of opinions, Statistics Netherlands also asked whether young people saw the ‘number of people’ in the Netherlands as a problem. They are somewhat less worried about that than about environmental pollution and crime.

Not all CBS figures on young people are broken down by educational level. In the National Youth Monitor 2025, which was also published, statisticians looked at the wellbeing of young people regardless of the education they are following.

Most young people are doing well, but things could be better. Among 18- to 25-year-olds, 81 percent are happy, compared with 90 percent eleven years ago. Even before the coronavirus crisis, this had fallen to around 86 percent, but the pandemic caused a dip from which some young people apparently still haven’t fully recovered.