Suicide rate, by sex in Belgium
Belgium: Suicide rate, by sex was 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Suicide rate, by sex in Belgium, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide rate, by sex in Belgium is 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.1% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Belgium peaked at 18.49 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001 and was at its lowest, 12.69 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places Belgium 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in Belgium, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18.42 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 18.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 17.25 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 17.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 16.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 16.76 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 16.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 15.12 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.4% |
| 2008 | 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.1% |
| 2009 | 16.61 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 16.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 16.71 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 16.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 15.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 15.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 14.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 15 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 14.65 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 14.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 14.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 12.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.07 deaths per 100,000 people | 15.12 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.49 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.71 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.69 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 31 Japan 14.59 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 14.58 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Palau 14.49 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 35 Burundi 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Angola 14.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Cameroon 13.97 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 suicide rate, by sex in Belgium?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Belgium was 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 18.49 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.69 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does Belgium rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Belgium ranks 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate, by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.