Last updated on 7-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study sodium intake?
- Sodium is a mineral that helps muscles and heart contract and allows nerve cells to carry nerve impulses between the brain and the body. It is also important in maintaining the balance of the body fluids, thereby playing a key role in the control of blood pressure.
- While dietary sources of sodium vary greatly, it is often consumed as sodium chloride (i.e., table salt). Most sodium comes from processed and restaurant foods. Diets high in sodium (and, particularly, sodium chloride) are associated with higher risk of specific health conditions, including higher blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases (i.e., heart attack or strokes).
- Excessive intake of sodium should be avoided. The European Food Safety Authority has noted that the habitual intake of sodium for populations in Europe is high and exceeds nutritional requirements. Current average sodium intake levels are directly linked to increased blood pressure, as well as a risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases.
How do we study it?
- Habitual intake of sodium was analysed using the SPADE® program. A detailed description of the methodology for deriving the habitual sodium intake, the type of reference values used and the age-and-gender-specific values of these references can be found here.
- It is important to note that the habitual sodium intake is underestimated in this survey, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), it is recommended to have a habitual sodium intake from food of at least: 800 mg/day for children aged 3 years, 1000 mg/day for children aged 4-8 years, 1300 mg/day for children and adolescents aged 9 to 13 years, and 1500 mg/day for older adolescents and adults aged 14 years and over.
- In order to gain insight into the proportion of the population whose intake is above the safe and adequate sodium intake level, the distribution of sodium intake was evaluated in relation to the reference values set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These values range from 1100 mg/day in children aged 3 to 2000 mg/day for children, adolescents and adults above 10 years of age.
KEY RESULTS
On average, the sodium intake in the population is 2076 mg/day, with 52% of the population exceeding the recommended safe and adequate intake levels
Men have a higher mean sodium intake (2318 mg/day) than women (1840 mg/day)
The mean sodium intakes increases with age in men, while it stays stable across age groups in women
Individuals in Wallonia have a lower mean sodium intake (1958 mg/day) than those in Flanders (2164 mg/day)
The mean sodium intake in the population aged 3-64 years decreased from 2299 mg/day 2014-2015 to 2079 mg/day in 2022-2023
By age and sex
Mean sodium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- The mean sodium intake differs by age and sex.
- Overall, the mean sodium intake is higher in adolescents (2041 mg/day), adults aged 18-64 years (2151 mg/day) and older adults (2067 mg/day) than in children (1723 mg/day). However, these differences are driven mostly by men, as the average intake for women remains relatively the same across all age groups.
- In addition, men have a higher mean sodium intake (2318 mg/day) than women (1840 mg/day). This sex difference is specifically observed among adolescents (aged 10-17), adults (aged 18-64), and older adults (aged 65 and over), but not among children (aged 3-9).
Comparison of sodium intake (in mg/day) by the population aged 3 years and older with age-specific adequate intake values, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The sodium intake was adequate in the general population aged 3 years and above, but also for each sex and age group.
- Please note that the term ‘adequate’ does not exclude the fact that a certain percentage of the population has an excessive intake of sodium.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with sodium intake (mg/day) above the age-specific safe and adequate recommended levels, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- In alignment with the average sodium intake levels, there is a significant difference in the proportion of men and women whose sodium intake is above the recommended safe and adequate level. This proportion is higher in men (66%) than it is in women (39%), specifically among adolescents (aged 10-17), adults (aged 18-64) and older adults (aged 65 and above).
- There are no sex differences in the proportion of individuals above the safe and adequate sodium intake levels among children. However, irrespective of sex, the proportion of individuals exceeding the age-specific safe and adequate recommended level of sodium intake is greater among children (64%) than it is among adolescents (49%), adults (54%), and older adults (49%).
By educational level
Mean sodium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- The mean sodium intake is relatively stable across all education groups, ranging from 2104 mg/day in individuals with a low educational level, to 2083 mg/day in individuals with a medium level of education and to 2014 mg/day in those with a high educational level.
Comparison of sodium intake (in mg/day) by the population aged 3 years and older with age-specific adequate intake values, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The sodium intake was adequate in each education group.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with sodium intake (mg/day) above the age-specific safe and adequate recommended intake levels, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
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The proportion of individuals consuming above the safe and adequate level of sodium is relatively stable across all education groups, ranging from 52% in individuals with a low educational level, to 55% in individuals with a medium level of education and to 50% in those with a high educational level.
By region
Mean sodium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- The mean sodium intake is lower in Wallonia (1958 mg/day) than in Flanders (2164 mg/day).
Comparison of sodium intake (in mg/day) by the population aged 3 years and older with age-specific adequate intake values, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The sodium intake was adequate both in Flanders and in Wallonia.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with sodium intake (mg/day) above the age-specific safe and adequate recommended intake levels, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- The proportion of individuals with a sodium intake above the safe and adequate levels is lower in Wallonia (45%) than in Flanders (58%).
By year
Mean sodium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method.
- The mean sodium intake in the population aged 3 to 64 years decreased from 2299 mg/day in 2014-2015 to 2079 mg/day in 2022-2023.
Comparison of sodium intake (in mg/day) by the population aged 3 years and older with age-specific adequate intake values, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The sodium intake in the population aged 3 to 64 years was adequate in 2014-2015 and 2022-2023.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with sodium intake (mg/day) above the age-specific safe and adequate recommended intake levels, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- It is important to note that sodium intake is underestimated, as salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded during the 24h-recall method
- The proportion of individuals with a sodium intake higher than the safe and adequate recommended levels decreased from 66% in 2014-2015 to 53% in 2022-2023.
Contribution of food and supplements
Contribution of foods and supplements to sodium intake, in the population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Salt added during food preparation or at the table was not systematically recorded in the 24-hour recall method; therefore, its contribution to total sodium intake is not included in this graph.
- Cereal and cereal products contribute 25% to sodium intake in the population followed by meat, meat products and substitutes (24%), milk, milk-based products and substitutes (13%), and condiments, spices, sauces and yeast (12%).
- Dietary supplements account for 0% of total sodium intake.
- The contribution of salt added during food preparation or at the table could not be estimated due to limitations in data collection.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Micronutrients: Sodium, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/micronutrients-minerals-and-trace-elements/sodium