People Live Longer, to 82.5 Years on Average. But Are They Preparing Well for Aging?

Life expectancy at birth in Belgium averaged 82.5 years in 2025, according to the latest figures from Statbel, the Belgian statistics office. This represents an increase of 54 days compared to the previous year.

While women continue to live longer, reaching an average of 84.4 years compared to men's 80.5 years, the gap between the sexes is steadily decreasing. The increase in life expectancy was more pronounced for men, gaining 101 days, while women gained only 3 days.

Regional disparities are significant. Flanders, the country's wealthiest region, boasts the highest life expectancy and the narrowest gender gap, with women living an average of 3.4 years longer than men. This contrasts with Wallonia, where the gap is 4.5 years, and Brussels, at 4.7 years.

Within Flanders, Flemish Brabant records the highest life expectancy at 83.9 years. Conversely, Hainaut province in Wallonia has the lowest, at 80.1 years, creating a difference of nearly four years between the province with the longest average lifespan and the one with the shortest.

Despite the increase in longevity, a significant portion of Belgians are not actively preparing for aging. A recent barometer survey found that two out of three people entering the 60+ age bracket are not taking concrete steps for their future. Only one in five seniors has initiated actions such as strengthening social networks, downsizing, planning retirement, or preparing legal documents like wills. Half of those over 60 also express fear of becoming dependent, a concern that has risen notably in recent years.