People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in Belgium
Belgium: People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age was 6.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
6.6%
Change on year
down 22.4%
World rank
37th
of 45 countries
All-time high
11.5%
in 2019
All-time low
5.2%
in 2021
Years of data
18
2008–2025
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in Belgium, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 6.6% for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in 2025.
The figure is down 22.4% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in Belgium peaked at 11.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 2021.
That places Belgium 37th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 9.6% | — |
| 2009 | 7.0% | -27.1% |
| 2010 | 10.3% | +47.1% |
| 2011 | 8.4% | -18.4% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | +21.4% |
| 2013 | 10.8% | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 9.8% | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | -16.3% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +7.3% |
| 2017 | 10.5% | +19.3% |
| 2018 | 10.9% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | -27.0% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | -38.1% |
| 2022 | 7.7% | +48.1% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | +7.6% |
| 2025 | 6.6% | -22.4% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 6.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.1%, 59% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 6.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.1%, 59% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.3% | 7.0% | 9.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 8.2% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 5.2% | 8.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More economy & growth data for Belgium
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0266 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1,617 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 30.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2,411 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in Belgium?
- People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in Belgium was 6.6% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 2021.
- How does Belgium rank for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age?
- Belgium ranks 37th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and income quintile. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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