France Approves Euthanasia Law as Belgium’s Data Shows Steady Growth
The French National Assembly approved a bill creating a right to “aide à mourir” (assisted dying) on June 30, 2026, with 295 votes in favor and 232 against. The legislation, which now moves to the Senate for a solemn vote scheduled for July 15, defines the practice as encompassing both euthanasia and assisted suicide. This development follows debate, with Belgium’s long-term data offering insights into the potential trajectory of such policies.
Belgium’s Euthanasia Statistics
Belgium’s Federal Control and Evaluation Commission on Euthanasia (CFCEE) reported 4,486 euthanasia cases in 2025, up from 236 cases in 2003. A 2025 study in JAMA Network Open attributed this surge primarily to the country’s aging population rather than expanded legal criteria. The research, led by Jonas Wels of the Belgian Health Data Agency, analyzed 33,604 cases from 2002 to 2023, finding an average annual growth rate of about 7%. However, the study emphasized that current data does not confirm a shift in eligibility standards, citing incomplete physician reports as a limitation.
Comparative Trends: Netherlands and Canada’s Diverging Paths
The Netherlands, which legalized euthanasia in 2002, recorded 9,068 cases in 2023—up from 1,933 in 2005—according to the Regional Evaluation Committees on Euthanasia (RTE). Like Belgium, the increase correlates with an aging demographic, though the Netherlands’ rate of 5.4% of total deaths in 2023 remains higher than Belgium’s 4% in 2025. Canada, meanwhile, introduced a broader framework in 2021, allowing assisted dying for individuals whose death is not reasonably foreseeable under its “Track 2” system. In 2024, these cases accounted for 4.4% of total requests, per Health Canada, with an annual rise of 17%.
France’s Legal Framework: Strict Criteria Amid Ongoing Debate
France’s proposed law outlines five eligibility criteria: majority, stable residency, a grave and incurable illness, advanced or terminal phase, and refractory suffering. These parameters aim to restrict access. The debate in France centers on whether this access corresponds to the initial legal framework.
Global Perspectives: Aging Populations Drive Policy Changes
The comparison shows that each legislation follows its own trajectory. In Oregon, where only physician-assisted suicide is legal, the median patient age reached 74 in 2025, according to the Oregon Health Authority. This aligns with Belgium and the Netherlands, where aging populations correlate with higher usage rates. Canada is today the only country to have extended its legal framework beyond the end of life.