Mortality rates are twice as high among people living in Belgium's poorest neighbourhoods compared to those in the wealthiest areas, according to a recent study by Mutualité Chrétienne.
In affluent areas, only 0.7% of the population died on average in 2022, as against 1.4% in the poorest areas, according to the Christian mutual fund.
The study also highlights a significant disparity in long-term disability rates between rich and poor, with individuals in poorer neighbourhoods two and a half times more likely to be disabled: a 167% difference (16% compared to 6%).
“The impact of one’s occupation is clearly visible here," notes Elise Derroitte, Vice President of Mutualité Chrétienne. "In poorer areas, people often engage in manual jobs where the risk of becoming disabled is higher.”
Since 2009, there has been a rise of around 43% in incapacity across income groups.
This indicates that “the issue is widespread and related not just to living standards but also to the worsening conditions of work,” says Derroitte.
“Nowadays, major causes of incapacity and disability are not cancers or other illnesses but musculoskeletal and mental health disorders, often directly linked to work,” she explains.
