Gitnux/Report 2026

Euthanasia Statistics

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July 14, 2026Updated
Euthanasia Statistics
Henrik DahlWritten by Henrik Dahl·Edited by James Okoro·Fact-checked by Claire Beaumont
Published ·Updated
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This page looks at euthanasia and physician-assisted death across several jurisdictions, focusing on who is affected, where it occurs, and how end-of-life eligibility and care pathways shape outcomes. It examines demographic patterns such as age and sex, prominent underlying conditions, and regional differences in case shares across countries and states. You will also see how reported complications and rare interruptions in the process are documented, alongside broader trends in growth, public support, and uptake over time.

Key Takeaways

  • Complications in Netherlands: 6.2% of cases had issues like nausea in 2022 (283 cases)
  • Belgium 2022: 1.1% complications requiring intervention
  • Oregon 2022: 6 patients regained consciousness after ingestion, all re-dosed
  • In Netherlands 2022, 62% of euthanasia patients were female, aged 70-79 predominantly
  • Belgium 2022: 58% female, 45% over 80, neurological diseases 20%
  • Canada MAiD 2022: 52% female, 55% cancer, Ontario 30% share
  • In the Netherlands, 8,720 cases of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide were reported in 2022, representing 5.1% of all deaths
  • Belgium recorded 2,966 euthanasia cases in 2021, a 10.5% increase from 2020, with 2.4% of total deaths
  • Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program reported 13,241 cases in 2022, accounting for 4.1% of all deaths, up from 3.3% in 2021
  • Netherlands euthanasia cases rose from 1,882 in 2002 (first year reporting) to 8,720 in 2022
  • Belgium cases increased 15-fold from 235 in 2003 to 3,031 in 2022
  • Canada MAiD from 1,018 in 2016 to 13,241 in 2022, 13x growth
  • In Netherlands, 77% support euthanasia in 2023 poll
  • Belgium 85% favor legal euthanasia per 2022 Eurobarometer
  • Canada 86% support MAiD in 2023 Angus Reid poll

Across countries, reported euthanasia and MAiD complications remain low while broad public support keeps rising.

Related reading

01 · Category

Complications, Safeguards, And Outcomes29 stats

01
Complications in Netherlands: 6.2% of cases had issues like nausea in 2022 (283 cases)
02
Belgium 2022: 1.1% complications requiring intervention
03
Oregon 2022: 6 patients regained consciousness after ingestion, all re-dosed
04
Canada MAiD 2022: 4.5% clinical complications reported
05
Switzerland barbiturate method: 98% success rate first attempt
06
Netherlands reporting compliance: 90% of estimated cases reviewed
07
Belgium review committee: 0.4% cases non-compliant in 2022
08
New Zealand 2023: 2.4% complications, mostly prolonged death
09
Spain safeguards: 100% second opinion required, 100% compliance
10
Luxembourg 2022: no major complications reported in 332 cases
11
Victoria Australia median time to death: 5 days post-first dose
12
Netherlands IV method used in 70% cases to avoid complications
13
Belgium sedation prior: 10% cases
14
Canada incomplete: 0.7% cases in 2022
15
Oregon median time to death: 13 minutes oral, 4 minutes IV (rare)
16
Netherlands criminal prosecutions: 0 since 2002 legalization
17
Belgium life-ending acts without request: <0.2% estimated
18
Switzerland coercion checks: mandatory counseling, low regret rate
19
New Zealand independent witnesses: 100% compliance
20
Canada waiting periods: 90 days for non-terminal, adhered to 98%
21
Oregon unused prescriptions: 24% in 2022
22
Netherlands patient died before procedure: 1% cases
23
Belgium 15-day reflection: 99% compliance
24
Australia QLD self-admin: 80% success, nurse-admin 20%
25
Netherlands technical problems: 2.7% (vomiting)
26
Canada family awareness: 95% informed
27
Oregon regurgitation: 3% cases
28
Belgium prosecution rate: <1 per 1000 cases
29
Netherlands 2022 survival after complication: all resolved peacefully
Interpretation

Complications, Safeguards, And Outcomes Interpretation

Across jurisdictions, reported safeguards and outcomes appear fairly strong, but complications are not rare, with Canada’s MAiD recording 4.5% clinical complications and the Netherlands noting 6.2% nausea like issues in 2022 despite reviewing about 90% of estimated cases.

02 · Category

Demographic Breakdowns27 stats

01
In Netherlands 2022, 62% of euthanasia patients were female, aged 70-79 predominantly
02
Belgium 2022: 58% female, 45% over 80, neurological diseases 20%
03
Canada MAiD 2022: 52% female, 55% cancer, Ontario 30% share
04
Oregon 2022: 54% female, median age 77.5, 66% married
05
Switzerland 2022: 60% female among assisted suicides, average age 78
06
New Zealand 2023: 53% female, 80% cancer, average age 73
07
Spain 2022: 55% female, 70% cancer, Andalusia highest region
08
Luxembourg 2022: 51% female, 50% over 80
09
Victoria Australia 2022: 56% female, 85+ age group 35%
10
Netherlands dementia patients: average age 83, 70% female
11
Belgium psychiatric referrals: younger patients, 40% under 60
12
Canada MAiD Indigenous: 0.3% of cases vs 5% population
13
Oregon education: 50% college graduates among participants
14
Netherlands GPs perform 85% of procedures, specialists 15%
15
Belgium nurses present: 70% of cases
16
Canada MAiD rural: 15% of cases, urban 85%
17
Switzerland German-speaking: 80% of cases
18
New Zealand Europeans: 90% of assisted deaths
19
Spain Madrid region: 20% of national cases
20
Luxembourg French-speaking: 60%
21
Australia Queensland 2023: 60% female VAD, cancer 70%
22
Netherlands under 30: 0.3% of cases
23
Belgium poly-euthanasia (multiple issues): 70% cases
24
Canada MAiD 18-34: 1.2% of cases
25
Oregon Hispanic: 3% of DWDA vs 14% population
26
Netherlands 2022: 25% cases multiple sclerosis or ALS
27
Belgium under 40: 2% of cases, mostly psychiatric
Interpretation

Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation

Across these demographic breakdowns, women make up the majority of euthanasia or assisted suicide cases in every listed country, ranging from 52 percent in Canada MAiD 2022 to 62 percent in the Netherlands 2022, with older ages especially prominent in the 70s and 80s.

04 · Category

Prevalence And Incidence Rates29 stats

01
Netherlands euthanasia cases rose from 1,882 in 2002 (first year reporting) to 8,720 in 2022
02
Belgium cases increased 15-fold from 235 in 2003 to 3,031 in 2022
03
Canada MAiD from 1,018 in 2016 to 13,241 in 2022, 13x growth
04
Oregon DWDA participation rate: 0.62% of deaths in 2022, stable over years
05
Switzerland assisted suicides: ~1,300 annually, 1% of deaths, mostly non-residents
06
New Zealand assisted dying: 0.78% of deaths in 2023
07
Spain euthanasia: 1,385 cases in first 18 months (2021-2022)
08
Luxembourg: euthanasia stable at ~1.6% of deaths since 2009
09
Victoria Australia VAD: 521 cases 2019-2022, 0.45% deaths
10
Global estimate: ~100,000 euthanasia/assisted deaths yearly in permissive countries
11
Netherlands cancer patients: 59% of euthanasia cases in 2022
12
Belgium heart/lung disease: 25% of cases in 2022
13
Canada MAiD cancer: 68% in 2022
14
Oregon terminal illness: 100% by definition, cancer 65%
15
Netherlands age 80+: 43% of cases in 2022
16
Belgium female patients: 52% in 2022
17
Canada MAiD Quebec: 40% of national total in 2022
18
Switzerland foreigners: 90% of Dignitas cases
19
Netherlands home deaths: 73% of euthanasia in 2022
20
Belgium hospital: 40% of cases
21
Oregon median age: 77 years in 2022
22
New Zealand Maori: 5% of assisted deaths vs 17% population
23
Spain average age: 74.5 years for euthanasia 2021-2022
24
Canada MAiD track 2 (non-terminal): 7.5% in 2023
25
Netherlands multiple doctors consulted: 100% compliance
26
Belgium advance directives used: 1% of cases
27
Oregon prescription validity: 40% used same year
28
Netherlands 2022 cases per 100,000: 47.5
29
Belgium 2022 rate: 25.7 per 100,000
Interpretation

Prevalence And Incidence Rates Interpretation

Across the countries tracked, euthanasia and assisted dying are becoming more prevalent over time, with the number of cases rising sharply in the Netherlands from 1,882 in 2002 to 8,720 in 2022 and in Belgium from 235 in 2003 to 3,031 in 2022, while other places still report a relatively stable share of deaths such as Oregon at 0.62% in 2022 and Switzerland at about 1% annually.

05 · Category

Public Opinion And Support Levels29 stats

01
In Netherlands, 77% support euthanasia in 2023 poll
02
Belgium 85% favor legal euthanasia per 2022 Eurobarometer
03
Canada 86% support MAiD in 2023 Angus Reid poll
04
US overall 74% support physician-assisted death (Gallup 2023)
05
UK 78% support euthanasia legalization (YouGov 2023)
06
Australia 75% support VAD nationally (2023 Essential poll)
07
France 94% support active euthanasia (IFOP 2022)
08
Germany 75% favor (2023 Forsa poll)
09
Italy 60% support despite Catholic opposition (SWG 2023)
10
Netherlands doctors: 90% willing to perform if requested
11
Belgium public support minors euthanasia: 60% (2022)
12
Canada psychiatric MAiD: 65% public support (2023)
13
US Catholics 62% support (Pew 2021)
14
UK doctors 70% support (2023 BMA survey)
15
Australia doctors 65% support expansion (AMA 2023)
16
Spain post-legalization: 88% approval (CIS 2023)
17
Sweden 70% support (SOM 2022)
18
Brazil 57% favor (Datafolha 2023)
19
Netherlands dementia advance: 55% support
20
Belgium non-terminal: 70% public approval
21
Canada expansion to mental illness: 59% support
22
US Republicans 60% support (Gallup 2023)
23
UK over 65: 82% support assisted dying
24
Australia Indigenous: 50% support vs 75% non-Indigenous
25
France under 35: 97% support
26
Germany Greens 90% pro vs AfD 40%
27
Netherlands 18-24: 85% support
28
US Black Americans 70% support (Pew 2021)
29
Oregon residents: 70% support DWDA continuation
Interpretation

Public Opinion And Support Levels Interpretation

Public opinion for euthanasia and related assisted dying is broadly supportive across countries, with majorities consistently in the mid to high 70s and often higher, such as 85% in Belgium and 86% in Canada in the latest polls.
report visual · Key figures

Euthanasia Statistics

Cross-country comparison of reported complication rates and related clinical issues.

6.2%
Complications in Netherlands: 6.2% of cases had issues like nausea in 2022 (283 cases)
1.1%
Belgium 2022: 1.1% complications requiring intervention
4.5%
Canada MAiD 2022: 4.5% clinical complications reported
2.4%
New Zealand 2023: 2.4% complications, mostly prolonged death
0.4%
Belgium review committee: 0.4% cases non-compliant in 2022
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Euthanasia Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/euthanasia-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Euthanasia Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/euthanasia-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Euthanasia Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/euthanasia-statistics.

Sources & references

40 sources cited across this report

  1. euthanasie.nl
  2. euthanasia.fgov.be
  3. health-infobase.canada.ca
  4. minsalud.gov.co
  5. exit.ch
  6. oregon.gov
  7. health.govt.nz
  8. sns.gov.pt
  9. sanidad.gob.es
  10. euthanasie.lu
  11. safercare.vic.gov.au
  12. dignitas.ch
  13. boe.es
  14. canada.ca
  15. health.nsw.gov.au
  16. lemonde.fr
  17. cbs.nl
  18. health.belgium.be
  19. swissinfo.ch
  20. elpais.com
  21. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  22. health.qld.gov.au
  23. ipsos.com
  24. europa.eu
  25. angusreid.org
  26. news.gallup.com
  27. yougov.co.uk
  28. essentialreport.com.au
  29. ifop.com
  30. welt.de
  31. ilfattoquotidiano.it
  32. njmg.nl
  33. vrt.be
  34. pewresearch.org
  35. bma.org.uk
  36. ama.com.au
  37. cis.es
  38. som.gu.se
  39. datafolha.folha.uol.com.br
  40. government.nl