Death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium
Belgium: Death rate from cancer by sex was 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium, 1954–2021
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium stood at 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 68 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium peaked at 252 deaths per 100,000 people in 1981 and was at its lowest, 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
Belgium ranks 43rd of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 68 years of available data.
Death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 172.86 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1955 | 177.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 176.71 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 180.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 181.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 188.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 197.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.9% |
| 1961 | 196.81 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 201.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 208.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 202.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 209.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 209.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 215.96 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 218.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 221.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 219.59 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 225.06 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 226.13 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 230.1 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 228.08 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 232.79 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 231.62 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 236.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 247.44 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1979 | 244.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 246.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 252 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 246.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 248.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 246.47 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 246.99 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 239.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 240.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 243.76 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 237.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 233.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 230.55 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 230.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 233.17 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 228.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 228.63 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 220.94 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 220.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 209.47 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 203.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 197.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 194.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 190.54 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 183.54 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 178.48 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 179.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 172.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 169.83 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 171.46 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 164.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 164.96 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 159.77 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 156.34 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 152.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 147.18 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 144.73 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 142.23 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 134.67 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 129.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 126.6 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 123.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 179.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 172.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 188.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 6 |
| 1960s | 208.19 deaths per 100,000 people | 196.81 deaths per 100,000 people | 221.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 232.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 219.59 deaths per 100,000 people | 247.44 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 244.79 deaths per 100,000 people | 237.79 deaths per 100,000 people | 252 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 223.89 deaths per 100,000 people | 203.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 233.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 180.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 164.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 197.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 145.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 126.6 deaths per 100,000 people | 164.96 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 122.08 deaths per 100,000 people | 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people | 123.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 40 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 41 Norway 123.62 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 42 Saint Lucia 123.14 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 44 Italy 118.33 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 45 Martinique 117.49 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 46 Seychelles 117.26 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Belgium
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2923 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,160 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 59 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0337 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 1.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0334 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium?
- Death rate from cancer by sex in Belgium was 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest death rate from cancer by sex recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 252 deaths per 100,000 people in 1981.
- What is the lowest death rate from cancer by sex recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does Belgium rank for death rate from cancer by sex?
- Belgium ranks 43rd out of 111 countries with data for 2021.
- Is death rate from cancer by sex rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate from cancer by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from malignant neoplasms in males in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.