Health in Friesland (NL), Netherlands: official figures
Life expectancy at birth was 81.7 years in 2024 (81.9 for the Netherlands); 8th highest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
How far is the nearest GP in Friesland?
The nearest GP practice was on average 1.6 km by road from home for residents of Friesland in 2025, above the national figure of 1.1 km; that is the longest among the 12 provinces.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many GP practices are there in Friesland?
The average resident of Friesland had 3.8 GP practices within 3 km in 2025, against 7.7 nationally.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow far is the nearest hospital in Friesland?
Residents of the province of Friesland lived on average 12.8 km by road from the nearest hospital in 2025, the longest among the 12 provinces and above the national figure of 7.2 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many hospitals are there near Friesland?
An average resident of Friesland had 0.9 hospitals within 20 km in 2025, compared with 4.3 nationally.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhere is the out-of-hours GP in Friesland?
The nearest out-of-hours GP post (huisartsenpost) was on average 10.7 km from home in the province of Friesland in 2024, above the national figure of 7.0 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the death rate in Friesland?
The crude death rate in Friesland was 10.7 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2025, 4th highest among the 12 provinces; it reflects the age of the population as much as its health.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the most common cause of death in Friesland?
Cancer caused 29.3% of deaths among residents of Friesland in 2024, above the national figure of 27.7%.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in Friesland?
Heart and circulatory diseases accounted for 22.9% of deaths in Friesland in 2024, against 22.2% nationally.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many elderly people live in Friesland?
People aged 80 or over, the group that uses most care, made up 6.2% of the population of the province of Friesland on 1 January 2026, above the national figure of 5.3%; that is 4th highest among the 12 provinces, up from 5.2% in 2020.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the death rate in Friesland (NL)?
The age-standardised death rate from all causes was 1,017.8 per 100,000 people in 2021, compared with 1,011.7 nationally and 1,073.4 in the EU; 5th lowest of 10 provinces in Netherlands. Age-standardised rates allow fair comparison between places with older and younger populations.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of cancer in Friesland (NL)?
Cancer killed 238.7 people per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), against 247.6 for the Netherlands as a whole and 233.1 across the EU; 2nd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 290.7.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in Friesland (NL)?
The age-standardised death rate from heart attacks, strokes and other circulatory diseases was 233.4 per 100,000 in 2023, against 220.6 for the Netherlands as a whole and 312.9 across the EU; 3rd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 282.7.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of respiratory disease in Friesland (NL)?
Respiratory diseases caused 82.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), against 81.0 for the Netherlands as a whole and 75.2 across the EU; 4th highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 76.6.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in Friesland (NL)?
The age-standardised suicide rate was 14.0 per 100,000 in 2023, against 10.4 for the Netherlands as a whole and 10.4 across the EU; 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 13.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Friesland (NL)?
Accidents, injuries, violence and other external causes killed 60.5 per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), against 66.9 for the Netherlands as a whole and 49.4 across the EU; the lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 45.6.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Friesland (NL)?
2.8 babies in every 1,000 born alive died before their first birthday in 2024, compared with 3.3 nationally and 3.5 in the EU; 2nd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2014 it was 4.3.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many doctors are there in Friesland (NL)?
There were 246 doctors per 100,000 people in 2024, compared with 396 nationally; 3rd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people go to hospital in Friesland (NL)?
Hospitals discharged 7,577 in-patients per 100,000 people in 2021, compared with 7,377 nationally; 5th highest of 10 provinces in Netherlands. In 2012 it was 11,770.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die on the roads in Friesland (NL)?
Road accidents killed 53 people per million residents in 2024, compared with 37 nationally; 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2014 it was 45.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is life expectancy for men and women in Friesland (NL)?
Women in Friesland (NL) could expect to live to 83.3 and men to 80.1 at 2024 death rates, a gap of 3.2 years.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow long do people live after 65 in Friesland (NL)?
People who reached 65 could expect 20.0 more years of life in 2024 (the Netherlands: 19.9).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Friesland (NL) compares with other provinces
Average road distance to a GP practice (km) (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average road distance to a GP practice (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friesland (NL) | 1.6 km |
| 2 | Drenthe | 1.6 km |
| 3 | Zeeland | 1.5 km |
| 4 | Groningen | 1.3 km |
| 5 | Overijssel | 1.3 km |
| 6 | Flevoland | 1.3 km |
| 7 | Gelderland | 1.2 km |
Average road distance to a hospital (km) (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average road distance to a hospital (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friesland (NL) | 12.8 km |
| 2 | Flevoland | 10.7 km |
| 3 | Zeeland | 10.6 km |
| 4 | Groningen | 10.3 km |
| 5 | Overijssel | 9.0 km |
| 6 | Drenthe | 8.9 km |
| 7 | Gelderland | 8.8 km |
Deaths per 1,000 residents (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 4 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 12.0 |
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 12.0 |
| 3 | Zeeland | 11.3 |
| 4 | Friesland (NL) | 10.7 |
| 5 | Groningen | 10.5 |
| 6 | North Brabant | 10.1 |
| 7 | Gelderland | 10.0 |
Residents aged 80 or older (%) (2026)
Friesland (NL) ranks 4 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 80 or older (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zeeland | 6.9% |
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 6.8% |
| 3 | Drenthe | 6.4% |
| 4 | Friesland (NL) | 6.2% |
| 5 | North Brabant | 5.6% |
| 6 | Gelderland | 5.5% |
| 7 | Overijssel | 5.4% |
Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) (2021)
Friesland (NL) ranks 6 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Drenthe | 1,043.9 |
| 4 | Flevoland | 1,032.6 |
| 5 | Overijssel | 1,029.9 |
| 6 | Friesland (NL) | 1,017.8 |
| 7 | Gelderland | 1,014.1 |
| 8 | North Brabant | 1,001.0 |
| 9 | Zeeland | 997.9 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Friesland (NL) ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gelderland | 248.6 |
| 7 | North Brabant | 248.6 |
| 8 | Zeeland | 246.6 |
| 9 | North Holland | 243.8 |
| 10 | South Holland | 238.7 |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | 238.7 |
| 12 | Utrecht | 237.3 |
Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Friesland (NL) ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 236.6 |
| 2 | Groningen | 233.8 |
| 3 | Friesland (NL) | 233.4 |
| 4 | North Brabant | 230.6 |
| 5 | Gelderland | 229.2 |
| 6 | Overijssel | 228.4 |
| 7 | Flevoland | 228.2 |
Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Friesland (NL) ranks 4 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Groningen | 97.4 |
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 94.3 |
| 3 | Overijssel | 84.5 |
| 4 | Friesland (NL) | 82.2 |
| 5 | North Brabant | 81.7 |
| 6 | South Holland | 80.3 |
| 7 | Gelderland | 80.3 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Friesland (NL) ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Groningen | 16.2 |
| 2 | Friesland (NL) | 14.0 |
| 3 | Zeeland | 12.0 |
| 4 | Limburg (NL) | 11.8 |
| 5 | North Brabant | 11.3 |
| 6 | North Holland | 10.7 |
| 7 | Overijssel | 10.6 |
Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 (2023)
Friesland (NL) ranks 12 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gelderland | 64.2 |
| 7 | North Brabant | 63.5 |
| 8 | Flevoland | 63.4 |
| 9 | Utrecht | 63.2 |
| 10 | Overijssel | 62.7 |
| 11 | Zeeland | 61.3 |
| 12 | Friesland (NL) | 60.5 |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)
Friesland (NL) ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Utrecht | 3.4 |
| 7 | North Brabant | 3.2 |
| 8 | Overijssel | 2.9 |
| 9 | Limburg (NL) | 2.9 |
| 10 | North Holland | 2.8 |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | 2.8 |
| 12 | Zeeland | 2.1 |
Doctors per 100,000 people (2024)
Friesland (NL) ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Doctors per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Limburg (NL) | 383 |
| 7 | Drenthe | 313 |
| 8 | Overijssel | 290 |
| 9 | North Brabant | 282 |
| 10 | Friesland (NL) | 246 |
| 11 | Zeeland | 164 |
| 12 | Flevoland | 127 |
Hospital in-patient discharges per 100,000 (2021)
Friesland (NL) ranks 5 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital in-patient discharges per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 8,084 |
| 3 | Zeeland | 7,901 |
| 4 | Groningen | 7,833 |
| 5 | Friesland (NL) | 7,577 |
| 6 | Overijssel | 7,535 |
| 7 | North Brabant | 7,535 |
| 8 | Gelderland | 7,468 |
Road deaths per million people (2024)
Friesland (NL) ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Road deaths per million people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 55 |
| 2 | Friesland (NL) | 53 |
| 3 | Gelderland | 50 |
| 4 | Zeeland | 48 |
| 5 | Overijssel | 46 |
| 6 | North Brabant | 43 |
| 7 | Groningen | 40 |
More on Friesland (NL): overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the Netherlands
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy at birth, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62800ed9bbb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_acci: Victims in road accidents by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a183ad1f888d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_minfind: Infant mortality rates by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 60cbafea3657…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_co_disch2t: Hospital discharges by diagnosis and NUTS 2 region (in-patients), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d93487a1c1f9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_cd_asdr2: Causes of death: standardised death rate by NUTS 2 region of residence, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 308c4b705d5d…)
- Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS): Regionale kerncijfers Nederland (table 70072ned): provinces, COROP areas and selected municipalities, 2014-2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d2b63aac3a26…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy by age, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f5a2a33406b9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_rs_physreg: Physicians by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4ff68eb77f8b…)
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