Tumours and cardiovascular diseases remain Belgium’s leading causes of death
Tumours and cardiovascular diseases remain by far the leading causes of death in Belgium. Together, they accounted for almost half of all deaths in 2023, according to new figures from statistics office Statbel. While COVID-19 deaths continues to fade into the background, deaths due to diseases of the respiratory system are on the rise.
Data for 2023 shows that nearly half of all deaths in Belgium were either due to tumours (27,337 cases) or cardiovascular diseases (26,064). Respiratory diseases come third. After declining between 2019 and 2021, their share has been rising again since 2022, reaching 10.7 per cent of all deaths in 2023.
There are, however, clear differences by gender. Among men, tumours are the leading cause of death, accounting for 27 per cent of fatalities. Among women, cardiovascular diseases rank first, responsible for 24.5 per cent of deaths.
By contrast, the coronavirus is causing fewer deaths. In 2023, COVID-19 was responsible for 2,068 deaths, less than two per cent of the total. Statbel points to a steady decline compared with the previous three years.
External causes
The picture also looks different for younger age groups. Among people aged 15 to 29, external causes such as accidents, falls or suicide are the most frequent cause of death. For young men aged 20 to 24, as many as 67.2 per cent of deaths fall into this category.
The report also shows that the place of death is closely linked to age. Younger people most often die at home, while those aged between 45 and 84 most frequently die in hospital. People over 85 usually die in an institution, most often a care home.
© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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