In 2024, 78,697 new cancer diagnoses were registered in Belgium, an increase of 1.4% compared with 2023. Behind this national figure hide regional differences: while the Brussels-Capital Region recorded a slight decrease (-0.6%, from 5,728 to 5,695), the number of diagnoses increased in Flanders (+1.3%, from 46,718 to 47,341) and Wallonia (+2.1%, from 25,139 to 25,661). Men still account for the largest share of diagnoses (54.3% are in men and 45.7% in women), although the gap between the sexes is gradually narrowing.
The top three most common cancers remain unchanged. Among men, prostate cancer continues to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer, followed by lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Among women, breast cancer remains by far the most common cancer. Lung cancer retains its position as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer, ahead of colorectal cancer.
Notably, the risk of prostate cancer, after years of increase (with the exception of 2020), appears to have stabilised since 2023 and even declined slightly. Estimates for 2025, however, point to a modest increase once again.
Among women, the risk of breast cancer remains relatively stable, although differences exist across age groups. The risk is decreasing among women aged 50 to 69, the target group for the population screening programme, remains stable among women under 50, and is increasing among women aged 70 and over.
Lung cancer shows contrasting trends. For men, the downward trend continues and is expected to persist in 2025. In contrast, for women, the number of diagnoses continues to rise. There is also encouraging news: survival rates for lung cancer continue to improve for both men and women.
Other cancer types show a mixed picture. Head and neck cancers continue to decline among men, mainly due to a reduction in laryngeal cancer, while incidence among women has stabilised. Pancreatic cancer, however, a disease generally associated with a poor prognosis, continues to increase among both men and women. Liver cancer, testicular cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer and tumours of the central nervous system are also increasing in number.
At the same time, the risk of several other cancers is declining, including stomach cancer for both men and women, uterine and ovarian cancer in women, and bladder cancer in men.
Established in 2005, the Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) has compiled data on cancer diagnoses since 1999 in Flanders and since 2004 across Belgium as a whole. These figures provide a crucial foundation for health policy, screening programmes, and scientific research. The latest data have been added to the drawing module where users can generate their own charts and tables.
These new insights highlight both the progress achieved and the continuing challenges in the fight against cancer, while reaffirming the importance of targeted prevention, screening and innovation in healthcare.
