Netherlands: end-of-life decisions 2021

This statistic shows the total number of end-of-life decisions in the Netherlands from 2001 to 2021, by medical decision. It shows that in 2021, compared to the previous years, the number of euthanasia cases increased to 9,038 cases.

Number of end-of-life decisions in the Netherlands from 2001 to 2021, by medical decision

Characteristic	Total administration of substance	Euthanasia	Assisted suicide	End-of-life without explicit request
2021	9,799	9,038	245	517
2015	7,254	6,672	150	431
2010	4,360	3,859	192	310
2005	2,960	2,297	113	551
2001	4,664	3,444	283	938

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Release date

May 2023

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Region

Netherlands

Survey time period

2001 to 2021

Supplementary notes

The figures include the results from a sample of declarations of causes of death of people who died in the months August to November and were at that time part of the Dutch population. The results of the sample are turned into annual figures.

The source defines euthanasia as the occurrence of death as a result of a substance prescribed by a medical professional with the explicit purpose to end the life of the patient. The patient cannot use the subscribed substance without assistance but the decision was made on request of the patient himself/herself.

The source defines assisted suicide as the occurrence of death as a result of a substance prescribed by a medical professional with the explicit purpose to end the life of the patient. In this case the patient uses the substance without assistance, and this decision was taken on the request of the patient himself/herself.

The source defines end-of-life without explicit request as the occurrence of death as a result of a substance prescribed by a medical professional with the explicit purpose to end the life of the patient, however, without the explicit request of the patient himself/herself.

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