In 2025, 4486 euthanasia registration documents were received and examined by the Federal Commission for the Control and Evaluation of Euthanasia, marking an increase of 12.4% compared to 2024. Euthanasia thus represents 4% of deaths registered in Belgium in 2025, compared to 3.6% in 2024 (source: StatBel, 26.02.2026).
3,379 declarations were written in Dutch, and 1,107 in French. The increase in the number of registration documents written in French (16.6%) is proportionally greater than that of documents written in Dutch (11.1%). Nevertheless, a significant gap remains between declarations in Dutch (75.3%) and those in French (24.7%).
The majority of patients concerned are over 70 years old (73.7%), including 45% over 80. Euthanasia in patients under 40 remains rare (1.4%).
One case of euthanasia involving a minor patient was reported in 2025, bringing the total number of cases to seven since the law was extended to minors in 2014.
Regarding the locations where euthanasia is performed, the majority continues to take place in the patient’s place of residence (67.1% overall—including homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes), confirming patients’ desire to remain in a familiar environment. The proportion of euthanasias performed in nursing homes has increased slightly (18.6%, one percentage point higher than in 2024). A slight decrease is observed in the percentage of euthanasias performed at home (48.5%, compared to 50.4% in 2024). The percentage of euthanasias performed in hospitals remains stable (30.9%, including 6.4% in palliative care units).
The pathologies that lead to requests for euthanasia remain primarily:
- Cancers (49.9% of cases), proportionally decreasing (-4.2% compared to 2024).
- Multiple pathologies (29.6%) – still proportionally increasing (+2.7% compared to 2024)
- Neurological diseases (8.2%) – stable
- Respiratory diseases (3.3%) and cardiac diseases (2.4%) – stable
Euthanasia for psychiatric conditions (1.6%) and cognitive disorders remains rare (1.7%) even though there is a slight increase compared to 2024 (1.4%).
In 75.1% of cases, death is expected in the short term. Euthanasia for patients whose death is not expected in the short term continues to increase (1117 cases in 2025, compared to 932 cases in 2024), mainly for patients with multiple comorbidities.
Regarding suffering:
- 86% of patients experience physical and psychological suffering (compared to 82.3% in 2024).
- 12.1% of physical suffering only (compared to 15.8% in 2024).
- 1.9% of psychological suffering only (same proportion as in 2024).
Note: Psychological suffering should not be confused with a psychiatric condition. It can also be caused by a physical illness: for example, in the case of cancer, the pain may be adequately relieved by treatment, while the psychological suffering linked to the loss of autonomy or dignity may persist.
Thiopental (49.9%) and propofol (49.5%) are the two most used anesthetics even though doctors continue to mention logistical difficulties related to the use of thiopental (packaging in boxes of 10 doses at a high price and not reimbursed).
General practitioners remain the first point of contact for patients wishing to undergo euthanasia and are the main practitioners of the procedure.
The number of euthanasias carried out on the basis of an advance declaration has decreased further compared to 2024 (6 cases in 2025 compared to 9 in 2024 and 19 in 2023).
The Commission emphasizes that the registration documents received met the essential requirements
of the law:
- A voluntary, considered, and repeated request, without external pressure.
- A serious and incurable medical condition, the patient being in a hopeless medical situation.
- Constant, unrelenting and unbearable suffering caused by this condition.
No file has been forwarded to the King’s Prosecutor.
Detailed figures for 2025 are available in the appendix.