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 nineteenth century, particularly as urbanization and industrialization reshaped living conditions.
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.
What Vague Causes of Death Really Tell us
The Belgian government has been collecting cause-of-death data since the mid-nineteenth century. Despite continued efforts to improve data collection, a small but meaningful share of deaths did not get a precise cause. Instead, these deaths were recorded under vague labels such as convulsions, old age, or simply unknown. At first glance, these categories seem frustratingly imprecise. But when we look more closely, they tell a revealing story about age, class, and changing practices.
Cholera: the Deadliest Epidemic in Belgian History?
In the nineteenth century, cholera swept through the country multiple times, leaving devastation in its wake. Half of those touched by the disease would not survive. The poor suffered the most, but the wealthy were touched as well. 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.
Measles
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Cancer
How did cancer move from a largely hidden condition to one of the most measured diseases in public health? Explore how cancer became visible, how its burden changed over time, and what historical data reveal about the social and spatial inequalities that still matter today.
Hearth Disease
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Flu
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Flu
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Flu
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