Belgium has experienced a significant population growth of more than 113,000 people over the past year, reaching a total of 11,697,557 inhabitants, according to the latest data from Statbel.
The population increase in 2022 was nearly double the usual rate, as reported by the Belgian statistics office on Thursday. The main driving force behind this surge is international migration, particularly due to the war in Ukraine.
The substantial influx of immigrants, totaling 233,629 individuals, can largely be attributed to the war in Ukraine. Among these immigrants, there were 57,514 individuals with Ukrainian citizenship. The number of emigrants, which stood at 117,085, remained relatively stable compared to the pre-pandemic period.
In terms of absolute numbers, the Flemish region experienced the highest population growth, with over 75,000 additional inhabitants last year, including more than 33,000 Ukrainian migrants. However, in terms of percentage growth, Brussels witnessed the most significant increase, with a growth rate of +1.52%. The Walloon region gained 19,080 inhabitants in the same period.
Antwerp emerged as the fastest-growing province in Belgium, with a population growth rate of 1.29%. Following closely behind in the Flemish region were the provinces of Flemish Brabant (1.20%), East Flanders (1.13%), and Limburg (1.02%). In Wallonia, all provinces, except Luxembourg (+1.02%), experienced a lower population growth compared to the Flemish provinces.
More deaths than births were recorded in Belgium during this period. While the international migration balance (immigration versus emigration) showed a positive figure (+116,554) in 2022, the natural balance (births versus deaths) displayed a negative figure (-2,787). This is an exceptional occurrence, according to Statbel. Apart from the year 2020, which marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent year with a negative natural balance dates back to the 1940s.
The negative natural balance is primarily driven by a decrease in the number of births. In 2022, Belgium recorded 113,593 births, the lowest figure in at least six years. Statbel attributes this decline to the aging population, significant excess mortality during the summer months, and the impact of the flu virus, all contributing to the high number of deaths last year. Photo by Dpsu.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.