Economy, jobs and prices in Drenthe, Netherlands: official figures
GDP per person was 38,300 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 96% of the EU average; the lowest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Drenthe?
The regional economy produced €22.6 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 2.0% of the Netherlands's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Drenthe?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 3.6% in 2025, against 3.9% for the Netherlands and 6.0% across the EU; 8th highest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Drenthe?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 7.4% in 2025, against 8.8% for the Netherlands; 10th highest of 11 provinces in the Netherlands.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Drenthe?
In 2024 the average household in Drenthe had a disposable income of €57,800, 4th lowest among the 12 provinces and below the national figure of €61,600, up 32% from €43,800 in 2019.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the average income per person in Drenthe?
Standardised household income, which corrects for the number of people in a household, averaged €39,900 in Drenthe in 2024, 4th lowest among the 12 provinces.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the median household wealth in Drenthe?
The median household in Drenthe owned net wealth of €159,500 in 2024, above the national figure of €146,800 (6th highest among the 12 provinces).
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Drenthe?
With 71.9 employee jobs per 100 working-age residents in 2024, Drenthe ranked 5th lowest among the 12 provinces.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Drenthe?
Drenthe counted 120.0 business locations for every 1,000 inhabitants in 2026 (3rd lowest among the 12 provinces), up from 101.6 in 2020.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Drenthe?
Commercial services such as trade, transport, hospitality and business services accounted for 44.0% of employee jobs in the province of Drenthe in 2024, below the national figure of 51.0%.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many people work in industry in Drenthe?
Industry and energy provided 15.0% of employee jobs in Drenthe in 2024, 6th lowest among the 12 provinces (national share 14.0%).
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow much do renters earn in Drenthe?
Tenants in the province of Drenthe averaged €35,300 of disposable income per household in 2024, against €68,900 for households owning their home.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Drenthe?
The unemployment rate for women in Drenthe was 4.1% in 2025, compared with 4.0% nationally and 6.2% in the EU; 3rd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 7.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Drenthe are in work?
The employment rate for women aged 20 to 64 reached 78.2% in 2025, compared with 79.6% nationally and 71.3% in the EU; 4th lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 70.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Drenthe growing?
Output (gross value added, after inflation) changed by 1.1% in 2024, against 1.1% for the Netherlands as a whole; 5th lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2014 it was 1.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Drenthe?
There were 571 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, against 513 for the Netherlands as a whole; 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2014 it was 513.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Drenthe?
Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €38,482 in 2023, against €42,636 across the Netherlands; 2nd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Drenthe?
Visitors spent 7.7 million nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 19% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Drenthe?
The largest part of the economy of Drenthe in 2023 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 30.2% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (23.6%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Drenthe?
Factories, mines and energy produced 17.2% of the value added in Drenthe in 2023, against 15.1% for the Netherlands.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Drenthe growing?
Gross value added rose from €12.8 billion in 2015 to €18.9 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 47% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Drenthe?
The number of people working in Drenthe rose by 12.6% between 2015 and 2024, to 251,800.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Drenthe compares with other provinces
Average disposable income per household (€) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average disposable income per household (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Flevoland | €60,500 |
| 7 | Overijssel | €60,300 |
| 8 | Zeeland | €59,000 |
| 9 | Drenthe | €57,800 |
| 10 | Limburg (NL) | €55,900 |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | €55,100 |
| 12 | Groningen | €51,700 |
Average standardised income (€, adjusted for household size) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average standardised income (€, adjusted for household size) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Zeeland | €41,300 |
| 7 | Overijssel | €40,900 |
| 8 | Flevoland | €40,700 |
| 9 | Drenthe | €39,900 |
| 10 | Limburg (NL) | €39,500 |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | €38,300 |
| 12 | Groningen | €37,100 |
Median household wealth (€) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 6 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median household wealth (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gelderland | €181,100 |
| 4 | Zeeland | €168,900 |
| 5 | Overijssel | €162,300 |
| 6 | Drenthe | €159,500 |
| 7 | Flevoland | €158,500 |
| 8 | Friesland (NL) | €144,600 |
| 9 | Limburg (NL) | €131,200 |
Employee jobs per 100 residents aged 15 to 64 (2024)
Drenthe ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employee jobs per 100 residents aged 15 to 64 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gelderland | 76.2 |
| 6 | Limburg (NL) | 75.1 |
| 7 | South Holland | 74.2 |
| 8 | Drenthe | 71.9 |
| 9 | Groningen | 71.5 |
| 10 | Zeeland | 71.3 |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | 68.9 |
Business establishments per 1,000 residents (2026)
Drenthe ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Business establishments per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gelderland | 137.4 |
| 7 | Friesland (NL) | 132.4 |
| 8 | Zeeland | 130.8 |
| 9 | Overijssel | 124.0 |
| 10 | Drenthe | 120.0 |
| 11 | Groningen | 119.7 |
| 12 | Limburg (NL) | 117.0 |
Share of employee jobs in industry and energy (%) (2024)
Drenthe ranks 7 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of employee jobs in industry and energy (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Friesland (NL) | 17.0% |
| 5 | Gelderland | 16.0% |
| 6 | Limburg (NL) | 16.0% |
| 7 | Drenthe | 15.0% |
| 8 | Flevoland | 14.0% |
| 9 | Groningen | 13.0% |
| 10 | South Holland | 11.0% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Drenthe ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Holland | 4.8% |
| 2 | Groningen | 4.7% |
| 3 | Drenthe | 4.1% |
| 4 | North Holland | 4.0% |
| 5 | Utrecht | 4.0% |
| 6 | Flevoland | 3.9% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 3.8% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Drenthe ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Flevoland | 79.9% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 79.5% |
| 8 | Friesland (NL) | 79.4% |
| 9 | Drenthe | 78.2% |
| 10 | South Holland | 78.1% |
| 11 | Groningen | 77.4% |
| 12 | Limburg (NL) | 76.3% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Drenthe ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Overijssel | 1.3% |
| 6 | Zeeland | 1.3% |
| 7 | North Holland | 1.1% |
| 8 | Drenthe | 1.1% |
| 9 | North Brabant | 0.7% |
| 10 | Limburg (NL) | -0.8% |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | -0.8% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Drenthe ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flevoland | 910 |
| 2 | Drenthe | 571 |
| 3 | North Brabant | 565 |
| 4 | Utrecht | 560 |
| 5 | Zeeland | 554 |
| 6 | Limburg (NL) | 545 |
| 7 | Friesland (NL) | 545 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Drenthe ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gelderland | €39,475 |
| 7 | Limburg (NL) | €39,325 |
| 8 | Overijssel | €39,088 |
| 9 | Zeeland | €38,937 |
| 10 | Friesland (NL) | €38,556 |
| 11 | Drenthe | €38,482 |
| 12 | Flevoland | €38,204 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Drenthe ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Limburg (NL) | 13.9 million |
| 6 | Zeeland | 12.5 million |
| 7 | Overijssel | 8.4 million |
| 8 | Drenthe | 7.7 million |
| 9 | Friesland (NL) | 7.0 million |
| 10 | Utrecht | 4.7 million |
| 11 | Flevoland | 3.1 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Drenthe ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Limburg (NL) | 18.4% |
| 7 | Overijssel | 17.5% |
| 8 | Gelderland | 17.3% |
| 9 | Drenthe | 17.2% |
| 10 | South Holland | 11.6% |
| 11 | North Holland | 8.1% |
| 12 | Utrecht | 7.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Drenthe ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | North Brabant | 25.1% |
| 7 | Friesland (NL) | 24.3% |
| 8 | Limburg (NL) | 23.9% |
| 9 | Overijssel | 23.8% |
| 10 | Drenthe | 23.6% |
| 11 | Groningen | 19.4% |
| 12 | Zeeland | 18.9% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Drenthe ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Groningen | 30.2% |
| 2 | Drenthe | 30.2% |
| 3 | Friesland (NL) | 27.3% |
| 4 | Gelderland | 26.1% |
| 5 | South Holland | 26.1% |
| 6 | Utrecht | 26.0% |
| 7 | Limburg (NL) | 25.9% |
More on Drenthe: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the Netherlands
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rates by sex, age, educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac151d8a46d5…)
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