Five Belgians Euthanized Every Day in 2013

The number of people being euthanized in Belgium has reached record numbers, new research has found.

In the latest figures released by Sudpresse, Belgium’s leading French-speaking newspaper, 1,816 cases of euthanasia were reported in 2013 against 1,432 in 2012, an increase of 26.8%.

"You could say that currently there are 150 cases of euthanasia per month in Belgium or, even more telling, 5 people euthanized a day," the newspaper said.

Of the 1,816 cases, 51.7 were male patients and 48.3% were female.

Those aged between 70 and 90 make up 53.5% of the total, with 60-70 are 21%, with over 90 years 7% and less than 60 years, 15%.