Belgium Records Over 78,000 New Cancer Diagnoses in 2024, an Unprecedented High

Belgium recorded 78,697 new cancer diagnoses in 2024, the highest number ever documented and the first time the 78,000 threshold has been crossed, according to new figures published by the Belgian Cancer Registry. The 1.4% increase over 2023 underscores a growing health challenge facing the country as its population ages and expands.

Regional Disparities

The national figure masks significant regional variation. Flanders recorded 47,341 cases, a 1.3% increase from the previous year, while Wallonia saw a sharper rise of 2.1% to 25,661 cases. In contrast, the Brussels-Capital Region experienced a slight decline of 0.6%, dropping from 5,728 to 5,695 diagnoses, as RTBF reported.

Men continue to account for a larger share of diagnoses at 54.3%, compared to 45.7% for women, though the gap is gradually narrowing.

Most Common Cancers

The top three most frequently diagnosed cancers remain unchanged. Among men, prostate cancer ranks first, followed by lung cancer and colorectal cancer. For women, breast cancer remains by far the most diagnosed, ahead of lung cancer and colorectal cancer.

A notable trend highlighted by the Registry is that after several years of increase — with the exception of 2020 — the risk of developing prostate cancer appears to be stabilizing since 2023 and even slightly decreasing. However, estimates for 2025 point to a limited new increase.

Breast cancer risk remains globally stable but varies by age. It is decreasing among women aged 50 to 69, the target group for organized screening programs, while increasing among women aged 70 and older.

Diverging Lung Cancer Trends

Lung cancer presents contrasting trends by gender. Incidence continues to decline in men but keeps rising in women, reflecting historical smoking patterns. Encouragingly, survival rates are improving for both sexes, according to the Registry.

Cancers on the Rise and in Decline

Several cancer types are showing increasing incidence: pancreatic cancer, which carries a generally poor prognosis, is rising in both men and women, as are liver cancer, testicular cancer, non-melanoma skin cancers, and central nervous system tumors.

Conversely, the risk is decreasing for stomach cancer in both sexes, uterine and ovarian cancer in women, and bladder cancer in men. Head and neck cancers are declining in men while stabilizing in women.

Twenty Years of Data

The Belgian Cancer Registry, established in 2005, now holds two decades of comprehensive cancer data. In a special publication marking its 20th anniversary, the Registry reported that there are now approximately 20,000 more cancer diagnoses per year than 20 years ago, as detailed in BCR’s Role in Cancer Control – Celebrating 20 Years.

Between 2004 and 2023, annual new diagnoses (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) increased from 32,395 to 42,140 in men (+30%) and from 26,059 to 35,204 in women (+35%).

Drivers of the Increase

Population growth and aging are the primary drivers behind the rising number of cancer cases. Belgium has approximately 1.3 million more inhabitants since 2004, a 13% increase, and people aged 60 and over now represent one-quarter of the population but three-quarters of all cancer diagnoses.

However, in women specifically, there is also an increased risk of cancer averaging 0.6% per year, suggesting factors beyond demographics are at play.

Survival Improvements

Despite the rising incidence, there is positive news on survival. Mortality risk has clearly decreased over the past 20 years. The highest 20-year net survival rates are seen in thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and breast cancer. Lung and pancreatic cancer remain prognostically unfavorable but show clear improvements in five-year net survival.

Looking Ahead

The BCR published cancer incidence projections in April 2026 indicating that the number of new diagnoses is expected to continue rising through 2035, driven primarily by demographic trends. These figures will likely inform ongoing debates about healthcare funding in Belgium, as the country faces the dual challenge of managing an increasing cancer burden while ensuring sustainable investment in prevention, early detection, and treatment infrastructure.

The record numbers underscore the importance of continued investment in organized screening programs, which have already demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing incidence of colorectal, cervical, and targeted breast cancers. As the L’Avenir noted, this milestone serves as both a warning and a call to action for policymakers and healthcare providers alike.