2023 saw lowest births in Flanders in the last decade

2023 saw the lowest number of births in the last ten years. These are the findings of an annual analysis by the Study Centre for Perinatal Epidemiology (SPE), in collaboration with the Flemish Public Health Service.

This figure is based on a provisional count. However, the study centre has observed a clear downward trend. Last year, 59,783 hospital births were recorded. Compared to 2022, this represents a slight decrease of 666 births or 1.1 per cent. Compared to 2014, hospital births decreased by 8.4 per cent.

The census also shows that the number of hospital births in 2023 decreased in three out of five Flemish provinces compared to 2022. The relative decrease is highest in Limburg (-3 per cent), followed by East Flanders (-2 per cent) and West Flanders (-1.9 per cent). In Antwerp and Flemish Brabant, hospital births remained stable in 2023 compared to 2022.

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