Period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium
Belgium: Period versus cohort life expectancy was 82.08 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
82.08
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
17th
of 41 countries
All-time high
82.08
in 2023
All-time low
32.47
in 1866
Years of data
178
1841–2023
Period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium, 1841–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium is 82.08, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 178 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium peaked at 82.08 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 32.47, in 1866.
That places Belgium 17th out of 41 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 178 years of available data.
Period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 40.34 | — |
| 1842 | 38.67 | -4.1% |
| 1843 | 40.38 | +4.4% |
| 1844 | 41.91 | +3.8% |
| 1845 | 41.05 | -2.1% |
| 1846 | 37.86 | -7.8% |
| 1847 | 35.13 | -7.2% |
| 1848 | 38.05 | +8.3% |
| 1849 | 34.51 | -9.3% |
| 1850 | 42.3 | +22.6% |
| 1851 | 41.91 | -0.9% |
| 1852 | 41.81 | -0.2% |
| 1853 | 41.35 | -1.1% |
| 1854 | 39.78 | -3.8% |
| 1855 | 37.46 | -5.8% |
| 1856 | 40.92 | +9.2% |
| 1857 | 40.48 | -1.1% |
| 1858 | 40.17 | -0.8% |
| 1859 | 38.97 | -3.0% |
| 1860 | 45.1 | +15.7% |
| 1861 | 41.25 | -8.5% |
| 1862 | 43.1 | +4.5% |
| 1863 | 41.29 | -4.2% |
| 1864 | 39.8 | -3.6% |
| 1865 | 37.73 | -5.2% |
| 1866 | 32.47 | -13.9% |
| 1867 | 43.05 | +32.6% |
| 1868 | 42.55 | -1.2% |
| 1869 | 42.59 | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 40.92 | -3.9% |
| 1871 | 34.36 | -16.0% |
| 1872 | 40.04 | +16.5% |
| 1873 | 43.49 | +8.6% |
| 1874 | 44.68 | +2.7% |
| 1875 | 42.17 | -5.6% |
| 1876 | 43.67 | +3.6% |
| 1877 | 44.48 | +1.9% |
| 1878 | 44.23 | -0.6% |
| 1879 | 43.83 | -0.9% |
| 1880 | 42.49 | -3.1% |
| 1881 | 44.42 | +4.5% |
| 1882 | 45.55 | +2.5% |
| 1883 | 44.9 | -1.4% |
| 1884 | 44.23 | -1.5% |
| 1885 | 45.47 | +2.8% |
| 1886 | 43.35 | -4.7% |
| 1887 | 46.05 | +6.2% |
| 1888 | 44.92 | -2.5% |
| 1889 | 45.07 | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 44.14 | -2.1% |
| 1891 | 44.04 | -0.2% |
| 1892 | 43.16 | -2.0% |
| 1893 | 44.44 | +3.0% |
| 1894 | 46.63 | +4.9% |
| 1895 | 45.48 | -2.5% |
| 1896 | 48.07 | +5.7% |
| 1897 | 48.84 | +1.6% |
| 1898 | 48.12 | -1.5% |
| 1899 | 46.5 | -3.4% |
| 1900 | 46.69 | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 49.44 | +5.9% |
| 1902 | 49.14 | -0.6% |
| 1903 | 49.23 | +0.2% |
| 1904 | 49.27 | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 50.03 | +1.5% |
| 1906 | 49.67 | -0.7% |
| 1907 | 51.07 | +2.8% |
| 1908 | 49.72 | -2.6% |
| 1909 | 50.66 | +1.9% |
| 1910 | 51.31 | +1.3% |
| 1911 | 49.28 | -4.0% |
| 1912 | 52.25 | +6.0% |
| 1913 | 52.45 | +0.4% |
| 1919 | 49.24 | -6.1% |
| 1920 | 53.99 | +9.6% |
| 1921 | 54.64 | +1.2% |
| 1922 | 55.18 | +1.0% |
| 1923 | 56.69 | +2.7% |
| 1924 | 57.4 | +1.3% |
| 1925 | 57.12 | -0.5% |
| 1926 | 56.88 | -0.4% |
| 1927 | 57.1 | +0.4% |
| 1928 | 57.46 | +0.6% |
| 1929 | 55.02 | -4.2% |
| 1930 | 57.1 | +3.8% |
| 1931 | 58.42 | +2.3% |
| 1932 | 58.54 | +0.2% |
| 1933 | 58.68 | +0.2% |
| 1934 | 60.31 | +2.8% |
| 1935 | 59.94 | -0.6% |
| 1936 | 59.91 | -0.1% |
| 1937 | 59.95 | +0.1% |
| 1938 | 60.11 | +0.3% |
| 1939 | 60.06 | -0.1% |
| 1940 | 55.96 | -6.8% |
| 1941 | 58.74 | +5.0% |
| 1942 | 59.09 | +0.6% |
| 1943 | 60.29 | +2.0% |
| 1944 | 56.94 | -5.6% |
| 1945 | 58.32 | +2.4% |
| 1946 | 61.89 | +6.1% |
| 1947 | 63.42 | +2.5% |
| 1948 | 64.92 | +2.4% |
| 1949 | 65.43 | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 66.3 | +1.3% |
| 1951 | 66.75 | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 67.96 | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 68.35 | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 68.59 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 68.54 | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 68.84 | +0.4% |
| 1957 | 69.2 | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 69.91 | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 70.31 | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 69.62 | -1.0% |
| 1961 | 70.5 | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 70.23 | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 70.04 | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 70.7 | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 70.55 | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 70.63 | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 70.91 | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 70.61 | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 70.67 | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 70.94 | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 71.09 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 71.41 | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 71.63 | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 71.97 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 71.96 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 72.1 | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 72.76 | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 72.7 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 73.2 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 73.24 | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 73.65 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 73.88 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 73.88 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 74.37 | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 74.47 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 74.67 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 75.29 | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 75.59 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 75.65 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 76.06 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 76.2 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 76.36 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 76.36 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 76.71 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 76.84 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 77.19 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 77.4 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 77.47 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 77.65 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 77.77 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 78.08 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 78.17 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 78.32 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 78.96 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 79.05 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 79.38 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 79.52 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 79.57 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 79.84 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 80.03 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 80.35 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 80.24 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 80.45 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 81.06 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 80.87 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 81.25 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 81.34 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.46 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 81.82 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 80.79 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 81.65 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 81.71 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 82.08 | +0.5% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 82.08 is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.92, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 82.08 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 81.49, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1867 | +32.6% | 32.47 | 43.05 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 38.66 | 34.51 | 41.91 | 9 |
| 1850s | 40.52 | 37.46 | 42.3 | 10 |
| 1860s | 40.89 | 32.47 | 45.1 | 10 |
| 1870s | 42.19 | 34.36 | 44.68 | 10 |
| 1880s | 44.64 | 42.49 | 46.05 | 10 |
| 1890s | 45.94 | 43.16 | 48.84 | 10 |
| 1900s | 49.49 | 46.69 | 51.07 | 10 |
| 1910s | 50.91 | 49.24 | 52.45 | 5 |
| 1920s | 56.15 | 53.99 | 57.46 | 10 |
| 1930s | 59.3 | 57.1 | 60.31 | 10 |
| 1940s | 60.5 | 55.96 | 65.43 | 10 |
| 1950s | 68.47 | 66.3 | 70.31 | 10 |
| 1960s | 70.45 | 69.62 | 70.91 | 10 |
| 1970s | 71.98 | 70.94 | 73.2 | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.47 | 73.24 | 75.65 | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.82 | 76.06 | 77.65 | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.87 | 77.77 | 79.84 | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.89 | 80.03 | 81.82 | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.56 | 80.79 | 82.08 | 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 period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium?
- Period versus cohort life expectancy in Belgium was 82.08 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest period versus cohort life expectancy recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 82.08 in 2023.
- What is the lowest period versus cohort life expectancy recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.47 in 1866.
- How does Belgium rank for period versus cohort life expectancy?
- Belgium ranks 17th out of 41 countries with data for 2023.
- Is period versus cohort life expectancy rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Period versus cohort life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 178 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).