Based on the KidsRights Index for 2024, the Netherlands has gone up one place to rank 19th best in the world for children's rights. However, improvements are still needed for fundamental children’s rights in the Netherlands, especially among vulnerable children. 

KidsRights Index 2024

Every year, the KidsRights Index is carried out by the KidsRights Foundation in collaboration with the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, highlighting the extent to which children’s rights are respected and prioritised in countries around the world. The 2024 report features a total of 194 countries and assesses each one against the five key components:

• Right to life
• Right to health
• Right to education
• Right to protection
• Enabling environment for child rights

In 2023, children’s rights in the Netherlands worsened considerably, falling 16 places from 2022. This year, the Netherlands ranked in the top 10 for protection (3) and education (9), and got a lower ranking for the life component (22). The country also dropped 12 places in health (55) and continued to perform badly when it came to an enabling environment (109).  

Not enough government budget for children in the Netherlands 

According to researchers, the worrying situation regarding children in the Netherlands is evident when you look at problems such as long waiting lists in youth care and youth protection, as well as declining mental health among young people. This, alongside proposed government budget cuts for youth care, means that a large group of vulnerable children, including those living in poverty and in refugee centres, do not get the necessary care and protection. 

“A country that does not take good care of its vulnerable children has a big problem,” said KidsRights Chairman Marc Dullaert. “The Schoof cabinet must give priority to the current and future generation of vulnerable children and young people in its planning on the way to Prinsjesdag.”

Vaccination rate declining among Dutch children

One of the main reasons that the Netherlands fell a dramatic 12 places in the healthcare component of the ranking is due to the declining vaccination rate in the country. Not only are fewer infants up to two years old covered for several diseases, but the vaccination rate against measles is below the World Health Organisation’s critical threshold of 90 percent. 

The study argued that the government needs to shift the attitudes of parents to help bring vaccination numbers back up, especially now amid measles outbreaks, and face the challenges that have arisen when it comes to drinking water quality. 

Best countries in the world for children's rights

According to the latest edition of the KidsRights Index, the top 10 countries in the world when it comes to children’s rights are:

• 1. Luxembourg
• 2. Iceland
• 3. Greece
• 4. Germany
• 5. Thailand
• 6. Slovenia
• 7. Finland
• 8. Belgium
• 9. Denmark
• =10. Austria 
• =10. Norway

For more information about the ranking, visit the KidsRights website.