Premature deaths due to chronic diseases (i17)
- 31/10/2025
- objective
- assessment assessment
In 2022, there were 80.0 deaths in Belgium per 100,000 under-65-year-old inhabitants due to chronic diseases. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, this figure must be reduced to 70.1. This objective will be reached by continuing the trend since 2003 (data available in November 2025). The number of premature deaths due to chronic diseases is therefore developing favourably.
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases - Belgium - trend assessment
number per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2000 | 2003 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 | 2025 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| observations | -- | 139.7 | 134.6 | 118.0 | 105.2 | 83.5 | 81.2 | -- | -- |
| trend and extrapolation (November 2025) | -- | 140.2 | 134.2 | 119.0 | 102.0 | 85.0 | 81.9 | 72.2 | 65.4 |
| objective 2030 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 | 70.1 |
Source: Calculations FPB based on Eurostat (2025), Causes of death, hlth_cd_asdr and hlth_cd_asdr2, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last updated 21/03/2025 11:00 (consulted on 13/10/2025).
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases - Belgium and international comparison
death rate per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2003 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2017 | 2020 | 2022 | 2021//2003 | 2022//2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 139.7 | 134.6 | 118.0 | 105.2 | 94.7 | 83.5 | 80.0 | -3.0 | -3.3 |
| EU27 | 162.5 | 155.6 | 137.8 | 123.4 | 116.9 | 110.0 | 104.5 | -2.2 | -2.2 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | |||||||||
Source: Calculations FPB based on Eurostat (2025), Causes of death, hlth_cd_asdr and hlth_cd_asdr2, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last updated 21/03/2025 11:00 (consulted on 13/10/2025).
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases by region - Belgium
death rate per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2011 | 2015 | 2017 | 2020 | 2022 | 2022//2011 | 2022//2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 117.4 | 101.3 | 95.6 | 83.8 | 75.0 | -4.0 | -4.7 |
| Flemish Region | 101.7 | 91.5 | 82.1 | 71.9 | 69.4 | -3.4 | -3.3 |
| Walloon Region | 137.9 | 128.6 | 115.0 | 103.4 | 98.3 | -3.0 | -3.1 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | |||||||
Source: Calculations FPB based on Eurostat (2025), Causes of death, hlth_cd_asdr and hlth_cd_asdr2, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last updated 21/03/2025 11:00 (consulted on 13/10/2025).
Premature deaths due to chronic diseases by sex - Belgium
death rate per 100,000 inhabitants of less than 65
| 2003 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 | 2022 | 2022//2003 | 2022//2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| females | 101.6 | 98.9 | 92.1 | 85.5 | 80.4 | 68.4 | 67.1 | -2.2 | -2.8 |
| males | 178.6 | 170.7 | 144.2 | 125.2 | 118.5 | 98.7 | 92.9 | -3.4 | -3.8 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | |||||||||
Source: Calculations FPB based on Eurostat (2025), Causes of death, hlth_cd_asdr and hlth_cd_asdr2, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat, last updated 21/03/2025 11:00 (consulted on 13/10/2025).
Definition: the number of premature deaths (before the age of 65) due to chronic diseases per 100,000 inhabitants is calculated on the basis of death certificate data, including deaths due to malignant tumours (C00-C97), diabetes mellitus (E10-E14), ischemic heart diseases (I20-I25), cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69), chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47) and chronic liver diseases (K70, K73-K74). The codes in brackets are taken from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (CIM-10). Statistics Belgium collects these data in Belgium and makes them available, in particular to Eurostat. The data used here come from Eurostat, which publishes detailed and comparable results between EU Member States (standardised rates). The 65-year threshold was chosen because this indicator is published as such by Eurostat. In the literature, the threshold for premature death is not precisely defined. It also differs from country to country. In Europe, values from 65 and 80 are often used.
The following breakdowns are available for this indicator: region and sex.
Goal: by 2030, the number of premature deaths due to chronic diseases should not exceed 70.1 deaths per 100,000 people under the age of 65.
The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.”
This UN target requires to reduce by one third premature deaths among people under 65 by 2030, in comparison with 2015. In 2015, this death rate was 105.2 deaths per 100,000 people under the age of 65. This indicator should thus not exceed 70.1 by 2030.
Moreover, the coalition agreement of the federal government also included a target for Belgium that aimes to reduce the avoidable mortality rate by 15% by 2030 (Federal government, 2020, p.14). This goal does not specifically mention chronic or non-communicable diseases.
UN indicator: the selected indicator corresponds to indicator 3.4.1 - Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.
Sources
- Federal government (2020), Accord de gouvernement du 30 septembre 2020, https://www.belgium.be/sites/default/files/Accord_de_gouvernement_2020.pdf (consulté le 22/10/2025).
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