Almost 4,500 euthanasia cases in Belgium last year

A total of 4,486 people underwent euthanasia in Belgium in 2025, accounting for 4% of all deaths in the country.

The total number of cases represents an increase of 12.4% compared to 2024, when euthanasia accounted for 3.6% of deaths, according to figures published by the Federal Commission for the Supervision and Evaluation of Euthanasia.

The majority (73.7%) of those requesting euthanasia were more than 70 years old, with 45% being over 80.

“Euthanasia among patients under the age of 40 remains rare (1.4%),” noted the commission, which reports that just one case of euthanasia involved a minor in 2025, “bringing the total number of cases to seven since the law was extended to minors in 2014”.

The commission did not note any major differences between requests from men (47.8%) and women (52.2%).

In half of the euthanasia requests, the individuals concerned had cancer (49.9%). The other most common reasons for these requests for euthanasia concerned people with multiple conditions (29.6%), neurological diseases (8.2%), respiratory diseases (3.3%) and heart conditions (2.4%).

An estimated 67.1% requested euthanasia in their own home.

“What is very important to those requesting euthanasia is the idea of passing away peacefully surrounded by their loved ones,” said Jacqueline Hermans, co-chair of the commission.

Another finding is that requests written in Dutch are three times more numerous than those in French.

Hermans explained this disparity by pointing to a more open dialogue between doctors and patients on the Flemish side.

“A doctor treating a patient with a serious, incurable illness will be able to explain the various options available: palliative care, other treatments, or possibly even euthanasia,” said Hermans.

“On the French-speaking side, I would say that we still maintain a slightly more paternalistic attitude.”

Euthanasia for psychiatric reasons remains fairly rare, but has seen a slight increase compared to 2024.