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Mortality

Published on 1 August 2023 • Next update: July 2024
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Number of deaths increased in 2022

In 2022, a total of 67,528 inhabitants of the Flemish Region died (among the statutory population (open definition)). That is 3,020 more than in 2021, or an increase of 4.7%. Compared to the peak year of 2020, almost 3,400 fewer inhabitants of the Flemish Region died (-4.8%).

In 2022, again fewer births than deaths

In 2022, there were again fewer births than deaths (open definition) in the Flemish Region: 63,284 births compared to 67,528 deaths. This resulted in a negative natural balance (open definition) of -4,244. Also in 2020, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births. There were then 70,919 deaths compared to 62,798 births (negative natural balance of -8,121).

Between 2000 and 2019 and in 2021, there were more births than deaths in the Flemish Region. This always resulted in a positive natural balance.

Share of premature mortality is falling

Premature mortality (open definition) refers to deaths before the age of 75. In 2022, 18,264 deaths occurred before the age of 75, representing 27% of the total number of deaths. This was 34% for men and 21% for women. As a result, the share of premature mortality in 2022 was in line with the observed evolution from the past. The figure shows a small downward kink in 2020. In that year with a high number of deaths as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the share of premature mortality in total mortality was still somewhat lower than expected, taking into account the evolution: 33% of the deaths in men and 20% of deaths in women occurred before the age of 75 in 2020.

In the Flemish Region, there were 10 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022. The crude mortality rate (open definition) was higher in the Walloon Region (10.9 per 1,000 inhabitants), and lower in the Brussels-Capital Region (7.2 per 1,000 inhabitants).

Between 2000 and 2022, there were never more than 10 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in the Flemish Region. Only in 2020 was the crude mortality rate at 10.7.

Crude mortality rates are related to the age structure of the population. Unlike in the Flemish and Walloon Regions, there has been a rejuvenation of the population of the Brussels-Capital Region in recent years (relatively more young people, fewer elderly people), which partly explains the decrease in the crude mortality rate in that region.

Large municipal variation in the crude mortality rate in 2022

In 2022, half of the cities and municipalities had a crude mortality rate higher than the average for the Flemish Region (10 per 1,000) inhabitants. Relatively high values were mainly, but not exclusively, recorded in the coastal municipalities, with their older population. Municipalities with a relatively low crude mortality rate were found in the northern half of Limburg, the Noorderkempen and in an extensive region around the Brussels-Capital Region.

Of the central cities, Leuven (8.2), Mechelen (8.6), Antwerp (8.8), Ghent (9.0), Sint-Niklaas (9.8) and Roeselare (9.9) noted lower than the Flemish average. Turnhout (10.4), Aalst (10.5), Genk (11.0), Hasselt (11.1), Kortrijk (11.4), Bruges (12.0) and Ostend (14.9) noted above average values.

Flemish Region below the EU average for the crude mortality rate

The Flemish Region (9.6) and Belgium (9.7) score lower than the European average (11.9) for the crude mortality rate of 2021. Member States with relatively high scores are Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania. Member States with low scores are Ireland, Luxembourg and Cyprus. In part, the ranking also reflects the age structure of the total population in the Member States, with generally high scores for countries with an older population and low scores for countries with a younger population.

Figures for 2022 are not yet available for all EU countries.

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