Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) in Belgium
Belgium: Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) was 5.42 per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Hospital beds in Belgium, 1970–2023
Source: WHO data, supplemented by country data, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for hospital beds in Belgium is 5.42 per 1,000 people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds in Belgium peaked at 9.4 per 1,000 people in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.42 per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places Belgium 24th out of 179 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.3 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1980 | 9.4 per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1985 | 9.1 per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 8 per 1,000 people | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 7.9 per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 7.7 per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 7.7 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 7.6 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 7.2 per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 7.2 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 7.1 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 6.72 per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 6.62 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 6.54 per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 6.53 per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 6.48 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 6.43 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 6.35 per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 6.27 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 6.25 per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 6.14 per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 6.09 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 6.05 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 5.98 per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 5.93 per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 5.85 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 5.83 per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 5.76 per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 5.66 per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 5.62 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 5.57 per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 5.53 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 5.5 per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 5.46 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 5.42 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 5.42 per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.3 per 1,000 people, 1.6× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 5.42 per 1,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.12 per 1,000 people, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.3 per 1,000 people | 8.3 per 1,000 people | 8.3 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 9.25 per 1,000 people | 9.1 per 1,000 people | 9.4 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.55 per 1,000 people | 7.1 per 1,000 people | 8 per 1,000 people | 8 |
| 2000s | 6.43 per 1,000 people | 6.14 per 1,000 people | 6.72 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.83 per 1,000 people | 5.57 per 1,000 people | 6.09 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.48 per 1,000 people | 5.42 per 1,000 people | 5.53 per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 59 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0229 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.024 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hospital beds in Belgium?
- Hospital beds in Belgium was 5.42 per 1,000 people in 2023, according to WHO data, supplemented by country data, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest hospital beds recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 9.4 per 1,000 people in 1980.
- What is the lowest hospital beds recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.42 per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for hospital beds?
- Belgium ranks 24th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is hospital beds rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from WHO data, supplemented by country data, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Hospital beds (per 1,000 people). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included.