Explore diseases and causes of death over time
This page contains articles on the main causes of death in Belgian history. The articles are based on the latest scientific knowledge and explain how diseases change over time and space. To learn more about the sources of the graphs and figures in the articles below, click the sources tab in the main menu.
Tuberculosis: The 19th Century's Silent Killer
For centuries, tuberculosis was one of humanity’s deadliest companions. It was likely the leading cause of death in human history. In Belgium, tuberculosis was a major killer well into the 19th century, particularly as urbanization and industrialization reshaped living conditions.
Cholera: the Deadliest Epidemic in Belgian History?
In 19th-century Belgium, cholera swept through cities and countryside multiple times, leaving devastation in its wake. Half of those touched by the disease would not survive. The poor suffered the most, but the severity of the disease meant that the wealthier social classes could not escape its grasp. Was it simply bad luck, or did deeper patterns of inequality determine who lived and who died?
Suicide in Belgium: Patterns Across Time and Space
Suicide is one of the most stable causes of death across societies and time. While its social meanings and the ways it is recorded have evolved, the phenomenon itself has remained a consistent feature of human life. In Belgium, like in many other European countries, the question of who dies by suicide, where, and how, has long preoccupied researchers, policymakers, and the public alike.
The Deadliest Epidemics in Belgian History
Several major epidemics have hit Belgium over the past 200 years. Discover which diseases swept away thousands of people at once.
The Rise of Dementia Through Time and Space
In Belgium, as in many high-income countries, dementia has emerged as a leading cause of death, particularly among older women. A little over 100 years ago the disease was unknown. Follow along and discover how scientific breakthroughs accompanied a growing awareness of the disease, and a growing number of patients.
Cancer
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Flu
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Hearth Disease
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Measles
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Ineqkill Digital Atlas of Health Inequalities in Belgium provides detailed historical information about mortality and diseases in Belgium from 1820 to 2025.
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e-mail: sylvie.gadeyne@vub.be
