Health, lifestyle, health care use and supply, causes of death; from 1900
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
This table presents a wide variety of historical data in the field of health, lifestyle and health care. Figures on births and mortality, causes of death and the occurrence of certain infectious diseases are available from 1900, other series from later dates.
In addition to self-perceived health, the table contains figures on infectious diseases, hospitalisations per diagnosis, life expectancy, lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity, and causes of death. The table also gives information on several aspects of health care, such as the number of practising professionals, the number of available hospital beds, nursing day averages and the expenditures on care.
Many subjects are also covered in more detail by data in other tables, although sometimes with a shorter history. Data on notifiable infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS are not included in other tables.
Data available from: 1900
Status of the figures:
2024:
The available figures are definite.
2023:
Most available figures are definite.
Figures are provisional for:
- occurrence of infectious diseases;
- sickness absence.
2022:
Most available figures are definite.
Figures are provisional for:
- occurrence of infectious diseases;
- diagnoses at hospital admissions;
- number of hospital discharges and length of stay;
- health professions;
- expenditures on care, volume index;
Figures are revised provisional for:
- expenditures on care.
2021:
Most available figures are definite.
Figures are provisional for:
- occurrence of infectious diseases;
- number of hospital beds.
Figures are revised provisional for:
- expenditures on care;
- expenditures on care, volume index;
2020 and earlier:
Most available figures are definite.
Due to 'dynamic' registrations, figures for notifiable infectious diseases, HIV, AIDS remain provisional.
Changes as of 5 June 2024:
The most recent available figures have been added for:
- population on January 1;
- persons in (very) good health;
- occurrence of infectious diseases;
- diagnoses at hospital admissions;
- use of medication;
- sickness absence;
- lifestyle;
- use of health care services;
- number of hospital discharges and length of stay;
- health professions;
- expenditures on care;
- expenditures on care, volume index.
When will new figures be published?
December 2024.
Description topics
- Health status
- Health as perceived by the person him/herself as well as health as
assessed by medical professionals; the latter in terms of occurrence of
notifiable infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, use of medication, and private
sector sickness absence.- Use of medication/food supplements
- The use of medication and food supplements such as vitamins, minerals and herbal preparations in the fortnight preceding the interview.
Due to changes in methodology and questionnaire, data before and after 2010 cannot fully be compared.- % prescribed
- Use of medicines or food supplements prescribed by a physician. Birth
control pills and medicines prescribed during hospital admissions are not
included.
Until 2010, this concerns only the use of medicines.
- % non-prescribed
- Use of non-prescribed medication or food supplements. Until 2010, this
concerns only the use of medicines.
- Lifestyle
- Some factors that may influence health: smoking, drinking alcohol, being
overweight and use of the contraceptive pill.- Use of contraceptive pill
- Percentage of women aged 16 to 50 years who use an oral contraceptive.
In 2017-2019: percentage of sexually active women aged 16 to 50 years who use an oral contraceptive.
Percentages of 2017-2019 therefore can not be compared to earlier years. Percentages from 2020 onwards are comparable to figures of 2016 and before.
Sexually active women are women who have had sex in the 12 monthes preceeding the interview.
- Use of health care services
- Contacts with health professionals and hospital admissions.
- Hospital admissions by some diagnoses
- Overnight admissions to general and university hospitals and hospitals specialising in one type of disease. Admissions are included if the date of discharge is within the year under review. Starting 2013, one-day admissions are counted only in case of death of the patient or transport to an other hospital.
Diagnoses are recorded according to the 'International Classification of Diseases'. Up to 2013 version 9 was used (ICD-9-CM), From 2013 onwards version 10 (ICD-10) is used.
Diagnoses are classified according to the International Shortlist for Hospital Morbidity Tabulation (ISHMT). Categories are definied slightly different using ICD-9 (up to 2013) or ICD-10 (from 2013).
Figures on diagnoses refer to the principal diagnosis registered at each admission, as indicated at discharge form the hospital.
The figures are expressed per 10 000 of the population in the year under review.- Injury, poisoning, other external causes
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 800-999
ICD-10: S00-T98.- Total injury, poisoning, oth. ext. cause
- Total injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 800-999
ICD-10: S00-T98.
- Intracranial injury
- ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 800.1-800.4, 800.6-800.9, 801.1-801.4, 801.6-801.9, 803.1-803.4,
803.6-803.9, 804.1-804.4, 804.6-804.9, 850-854
ICD-10: S06.
- Fracture of femur
- ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 820-821
ICD-10: S72.
- Fracture of lower leg, including ankle
- ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 823-824
ICD-10: S82.
- Poisonings by drugs, medicaments etc.
- Poisonings by drugs, medicaments and biological substances and toxic
effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 960-989
ICD-10: T36-T65.
- Compl. surg. medical care, n.e.c.
- Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 996-999
ICD-10: T80-T88.
- Causes of death
- Deaths by main primary cause of death per 100 000 of the average
population. The average population is half the population at the start of a given period, plus half of the population at the end of that period.
The basis for the classification and coding used for mortality by cause of death is the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD; World Health Organisation (WHO)). The ICD-8 was in use from 1969 to 1978, the ICD-9 from 1979 to 1996 and the ICD-10 since 1996.- All causes of death
- Total deaths per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 001-E999.
ICD-10: A00-Y98.
- Influenza
- Deaths from influenza per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 487.
ICD-10: J09-J11.
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases per 100 000 of the average
population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 490-494, 496.
ICD-10: J40-J47.
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Deaths from diseases of the digestive system per 100 000 of the average
population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 520-579.
ICD-10: K00-K93.
- Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
- Deaths from complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 630-676.
ICD-10: O00-O99.
- Congenital anomalies
- Deaths as a result of congenital malformations, deformations and
chromosomal abnormalities per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: 740-759.
ICD-10: Q00-Q99.
- External causes of mortality
- Deaths from external causes (injury, poisoning and trauma) per 100 000 of
the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: E800-E999.
ICD-10: V01-Y98.- Total external causes of mortality
- Deaths from external causes (injury, poisoning and trauma) per 100 000 of
the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: E800-E999.
ICD-10: V01-Y98.
- Transport accidents
- Deaths as a result of transport accidents (including road, railway, water
and air transport) per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: E800-E848.
ICD-10: V01-V99.
- Accidental falls
- Deaths as a result of accidental falls per 100 000 of the average
population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: E880-E888.
ICD-10: W00-W19, X59.
- Accidental drowning
- Deaths by accidental drowning per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: E910.
ICD-10: W65-W74.
- Suicide
- Deaths by suicide per 100 000 of the average population.
ICD-codes:
ICD-9: E950-E959.
ICD-10: X60-X84.