Imagine a world where, in some countries, one in every twenty deaths now comes not from nature's hand but from a carefully considered choice, as revealed by the stark rise in assisted dying cases across the globe.
Key Takeaways
- In the Netherlands, euthanasia and assisted suicide accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in 2022, totaling 8,720 cases out of 170,800 total deaths
- Belgium reported 2,966 cases of euthanasia in 2022, representing 2.5% of all deaths, with a 10.5% increase from 2021
- Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program saw 13,241 cases in 2022, up 31% from 2021, comprising 4.1% of all deaths
- In the Netherlands, 2021 saw 8,128 euthanasia cases, 4.5% of deaths
- Belgium's 2021 euthanasia numbers were 2,699, a 10.7% rise, 2.3% of deaths
- Canada MAiD cases in 2021: 10,064, 3.3% of deaths, 9.1% increase
- Oregon 65+ age group: 85% of DWDA participants in 2022
- Netherlands average age for euthanasia 2022: 77 years, 75% over 65
- Belgium 2022: 78% female among under 1 year olds (rare infant cases), but overall 58% female
- Netherlands cancer 55% of cases 2022
- Belgium 2022: nervous system diseases 20%, multiple pathology 15%
- Canada MAiD 2022: cancer 51%, cardiovascular 20%
- Netherlands 2022: 60% performed by GPs, 40% specialists
- Gallup poll 2023: 72% Americans support euthanasia for terminally ill, up from 65% in 2018
- Pew Research 2022: 65% US adults favor legalizing physician-assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is increasingly common and accepted in many Western nations.
Demographics
- Oregon 65+ age group: 85% of DWDA participants in 2022
- Netherlands average age for euthanasia 2022: 77 years, 75% over 65
- Belgium 2022: 78% female among under 1 year olds (rare infant cases), but overall 58% female
- Canada MAiD 2022: 52% female, median age 77
- Oregon 2022: median age 78, 54% male
- Switzerland Dignitas 2022: 58% male, average age 72 for foreigners
- Netherlands 2022: 62% female overall
- Belgium 2022 age distribution: 65-80 years 42%, over 80: 28%
- Canada 2022: 18-34 years only 0.4% of cases
- Oregon historical: 96% white, 1% Hispanic
- New Zealand 2022: 67% female, average age 74
- Netherlands urban vs rural: 65% urban cases 2022
- Belgium marital status 2022: 42% married, 28% widowed
- Canada education level 2022: 40% university degree among MAiD recipients
- Oregon 2022: 50% married, 25% widowed
- Switzerland 2022: 45% from Germany, 20% UK
- Netherlands 2022 religious affiliation: 20% Catholic, 15% Protestant, 50% none
- Belgium 2022: highest in Flanders (72%), lowest Wallonia (24%)
- Canada provinces demographics: Ontario 28% of cases, mostly urban
Demographics Interpretation
While the numbers show assisted dying is predominantly an end-of-life choice for older, educated, and often urban white individuals—hinting at a vast, quiet inequality in who gets to orchestrate their own finale—they also reveal a surprising, if morbid, international consensus that seventy-something is the globally-accepted age to finally tell your body "we need to talk."
Health Conditions
- Netherlands cancer 55% of cases 2022
- Belgium 2022: nervous system diseases 20%, multiple pathology 15%
- Canada MAiD 2022: cancer 51%, cardiovascular 20%
- Oregon 2022: cancer 63%, neurological 11%
- Switzerland Dignitas 2022: cancer 60%, neurological 15%
- Netherlands 2022 dementia cases: 250 (3%)
- Belgium psychiatric cases 2022: 120 (4%)
- Canada other conditions 2022: respiratory 9%
- Oregon lung cancer specifically 28% of cancer cases 2022
- New Zealand 2022: cancer 82%, neurodegenerative 11%
- Netherlands 2022 multiple sclerosis: 2.5% of cases
- Belgium COPD/respiratory: 8% 2022
- Canada ALS cases 2022: 3%
- Oregon heart disease 10% 2022
- Switzerland poly-disease cases 25% 2022
- Netherlands 2022 age-related decline without dementia: 12%
- Belgium 2022 organ failure excl cancer: 22%
- Canada incomplete info on condition: 7% 2022
- Oregon 2022 general decline: 5%
Health Conditions Interpretation
While cancer remains the grim captain steering the majority of assisted dying cases across the globe, the quiet and often prolonged mutinies of neurological decay, organ failure, and relentless systemic decline make up a significant and deeply human crew on these final voyages.
Legislation and Laws
- In the Netherlands, euthanasia and assisted suicide accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in 2022, totaling 8,720 cases out of 170,800 total deaths
- Belgium reported 2,966 cases of euthanasia in 2022, representing 2.5% of all deaths, with a 10.5% increase from 2021
- Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program saw 13,241 cases in 2022, up 31% from 2021, comprising 4.1% of all deaths
- Oregon's Death with Dignity Act recorded 367 prescriptions for lethal medication in 2022, with 276 deaths
- Switzerland's EXIT assisted 1,155 individuals in suicide in 2022, primarily foreigners
- In New Zealand, under the End of Life Choice Act, 252 people received assisted dying in the first year (Nov 2021-Oct 2022)
- Colombia legalized euthanasia in 1997, with 1,458 cases reported from 2015-2022
- Spain enacted euthanasia law in March 2021, reporting 221 cases in first 9 months
- Portugal approved euthanasia law in 2023 but no cases yet due to regulatory delays
- Australia's Victoria state had 294 assisted deaths in 2022 under Voluntary Assisted Dying
Legislation and Laws Interpretation
In these nations, the solemn right to choose death's timing is steadily, and sometimes sharply, rising from statistical niche to established fact of life's end.
Public Opinion
- Netherlands 2022: 60% performed by GPs, 40% specialists
- Gallup poll 2023: 72% Americans support euthanasia for terminally ill, up from 65% in 2018
- Pew Research 2022: 65% US adults favor legalizing physician-assisted suicide
- UK YouGov 2023: 78% support assisted dying legalization
- Australia Essential Poll 2023: 73% support voluntary assisted dying nationwide
- Netherlands 2022 public support: 90% per SCP survey
- Belgium 2021 Eurobarometer: 81% support
- Canada 2023 Angus Reid: 86% support MAiD for terminal illness, 59% for non-terminal
- Oregon post-DWDA polls: 70% support ongoing
- Switzerland 2022: 85% public approval per gfs.bern
- US states support: California 75% per PPIC 2023
- France IFOP 2023: 94% support active euthanasia
- Germany 2023 Forsa: 76% favor legalization
- Italy 2023: 60% support per SWG
- Netherlands physicians: 90% willing to perform if requested
Public Opinion Interpretation
The global pulse on assisted dying beats with an undeniable, compassionate rhythm, revealing a profound public consensus that, like a patient requesting final relief, is now simply waiting for the law to catch up.
Usage Rates
- In the Netherlands, 2021 saw 8,128 euthanasia cases, 4.5% of deaths
- Belgium's 2021 euthanasia numbers were 2,699, a 10.7% rise, 2.3% of deaths
- Canada MAiD cases in 2021: 10,064, 3.3% of deaths, 9.1% increase
- Oregon 2021: 353 prescriptions, 258 ingested
- Switzerland Dignitas assisted 321 foreigners in 2022, total cases around 400
- Netherlands 2020: 6,955 cases despite COVID, 4.1% of deaths
- Belgium 2020: 2,366 cases, 2.3% of deaths, slight decline due to pandemic
- Canada 2020 MAiD: 9,063 cases, 2.5% increase
- Oregon cumulative DWDA deaths 1997-2022: 2,518
- New Zealand first year: 0.46% of deaths
- In Netherlands, average annual growth rate of euthanasia cases 2012-2022: 6.5%
- Belgium non-residents euthanasia cases 2022: 16
- Canada MAiD track 2 (not reasonably foreseeable death) cases 2022: 5,019 (38%)
- Oregon 2022 ingestion rate: 98% of prescriptions led to death within year
- Switzerland total assisted suicides 1998-2022: over 3,500 at Dignitas alone
- Netherlands 2022 cases by province: North Holland highest at 1,720
- Belgium Flanders region 2022: 2,120 cases (71% of total)
- Canada provinces: Quebec 46% of MAiD cases in 2022
Usage Rates Interpretation
While the numbers across these nations show a clear and steady march toward wider acceptance—with annual growth rates nudging upward and new legal frameworks coming online—the enduringly low percentage of total deaths suggests that, for most, this remains a profound last resort rather than a casual choice.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENGLISHenglish.rte.nlVisit source
- Reference 2HEALTHhealth.belgium.beVisit source
- Reference 3CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 4OREGONoregon.govVisit source
- Reference 5EXITexit.chVisit source
- Reference 6HEALTHhealth.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 7MINSALUDminsalud.gov.coVisit source
- Reference 8BOEboe.esVisit source
- Reference 9PARLAMENTOparlamento.ptVisit source
- Reference 10SAFERCAREsafercare.vic.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 11RTErte.nlVisit source
- Reference 12DIGNITASdignitas.chVisit source
- Reference 13PUBMEDpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 14NEWSnews.gallup.comVisit source
- Reference 15PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 16YOUGOVyougov.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 17ESSENTIALREPORTessentialreport.com.auVisit source
- Reference 18SCPscp.nlVisit source
- Reference 19EUROPAeuropa.euVisit source
- Reference 20ANGUSREIDangusreid.orgVisit source
- Reference 21PUBLICHEALTHpublichealth.oregon.govVisit source
- Reference 22GFSBERNgfsbern.chVisit source
- Reference 23PPICppic.orgVisit source
- Reference 24IFOPifop.comVisit source
- Reference 25FORSAforsa.deVisit source