Causes of death

The 2 main groups of causes of death in the Flemish Region in 2022 were cancer (or other neoplasms) (24%) and diseases of the cardiovascular system (24%). Almost half of all deaths in 2022 could be attributed to one of these 2 groups of causes of death. The number of deaths from cancer and diseases of the cardiovascular system increased slightly between 2021 and 2022. In 2022, there were 16,238 deaths from cancer (+13 compared to 2021) and 16,177 deaths from diseases of the cardiovascular system (+476 compared to 2021).

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on causes of death has decreased to the level of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases, each accounting for approximately 5% of deaths.

The number of deaths from diseases of the cardiovascular system decreased slowly between 2009 and 2022. The number of deaths from cancer or other neoplasms remained approximately the same during the same period.

In 2022, cancer was the leading cause of death for men. 8,983 men died from cancer, which corresponds to 27% of all deaths in men. Cardiovascular diseases came in second place (7,461 deaths or 22% of all deaths).

In women, cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of death (8,716 deaths or 25% of all deaths in women), followed by cancer (7,255 deaths or 21%).

About 60% of cancer deaths in 2022 involved people aged 75 or older. This applies to both men and women. In the case of deaths from cardiovascular disease, the share of the oldest age groups is even higher (between 74% for women and 89% for men)

The mortality ratio for cancer or other neoplasms and for cardiovascular diseases in the Flemish Region in 2022 was below the level of the Walloon Region. The mortality ratio expresses the number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In the Brussels Region, the mortality ratio for cardiovascular diseases and for cancer or other neoplasms is much lower.