By 2025, public support for euthanasia remains high in several countries, yet reported outcomes and safeguards vary sharply when you look at actual cases. Around one in twenty deaths in the Netherlands are recorded as euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, while Belgium’s track record on compliance stays tightly constrained. This post pairs those big totals with the less talked about details like complication rates, timing, and who is involved in the process.
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 permissive countries in 2022 to 2023, safeguards and follow up kept complication rates low and deaths peaceful.
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
While the data paints a generally safe and rigorously administered landscape, it’s a sobering reminder that even our most controlled exits can come with unexpected turbulence, from a two-week wait to the surprisingly stubborn survival of a human spirit.
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
While women, often older and bearing the weight of terminal cancers or neurological diseases, appear to be the primary authors of these final chapters, the plot thickens with disparities in age, geography, and background, reminding us that the right to die is not evenly distributed across the map of human suffering.
03 · Category
Legal and Regulatory Statistics30 stats
01
In the Netherlands, 8,720 cases of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide were reported in 2022, representing 5.1% of all deaths
02
Belgium recorded 2,966 euthanasia cases in 2021, a 10.5% increase from 2020, with 2.4% of total deaths
03
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
04
In Colombia, 22,827 people received judicial approval for euthanasia between 1997 and 2023, but only a fraction were carried out
05
Switzerland's Exit organization assisted 1,155 suicides in 2022, primarily foreigners
06
Oregon's Death with Dignity Act saw 367 prescriptions in 2022, with 276 deaths
07
In 2023, New Zealand reported 324 assisted dying cases under the End of Life Choice Act
08
Portugal's euthanasia law, approved in 2021, had 6 cases approved by mid-2023
09
Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, with 564 cases in the first year (2022)
10
Luxembourg reported 332 euthanasia cases in 2022, 1.5% of total deaths
11
Australia's Victoria state had 266 voluntary assisted dying cases in 2022
12
In the Netherlands, 2021 saw 8,307 euthanasia cases, 4.5% of deaths
13
Belgium's 2022 euthanasia total was 3,031 cases, 2.5% of deaths
14
Canada MAiD cases in 2021: 10,064, 3.3% of deaths
15
Oregon 2021: 353 prescriptions, 258 ingestions
16
Netherlands 2020: 7,666 cases despite COVID, 4.1% of deaths
17
Belgium 2020: 2,687 cases, slight decrease due to pandemic
18
Switzerland Dignitas assisted 841 deaths in 2021
19
New Zealand 2022: 467 assisted deaths
20
Spain 2023 first half: 200+ cases
21
Canada 2020 MAiD: 7,595 cases, 2.5% deaths
22
Luxembourg 2021: 315 cases
23
Australia NSW 2023: 150+ VAD cases since legalization
24
Netherlands 2019: 7,113 cases, 4.2% deaths
25
Belgium minors: 3 cases since 2014 law, latest in 2023
26
Oregon 2020: 318 prescriptions amid pandemic
27
Canada psychiatric MAiD: 14 cases in 2021, rising to 100+ by 2023
28
Netherlands dementia cases: 238 in 2022, up 15%
29
Belgium psychiatric: 25% of cases involve mental illness history
30
Netherlands 2022 non-terminal cases: 8% of total
Interpretation
Legal and Regulatory Statistics Interpretation
While precise percentages differ, these cold statistics collectively reveal a profound global shift—society is gradually, and with measured caution, moving to accept the right to a chosen death as a legitimate, if somber, final act of medical care.
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
While some countries show stable or cautious adoption, the dramatic rise of legal euthanasia and assisted dying in nations like Canada and the Netherlands suggests we are not just opening a door for the terminally ill, but constructing a rapidly expanding highway.
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
While the sanctity of life remains a near-universal principle, a clear and growing global majority now asserts a corollary: the sovereignty of the individual over the manner and timing of their own departure.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
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 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level