Western Europe · Belgium
Belgium Demographics: Population Growth, Migration, Fertility and Age Structure
Belgium’s registered resident population reached 11,867,634 on 1 January 2026. The population added 42,083 people during 2025 even though deaths exceeded births for a fourth consecutive year. Positive international migration supplied the national increase, fertility remained at 1.43 children per woman, and 20.67% of residents were aged 65 or older.
Primary data: Statbel resident population, population movement, fertility, age structure and origin statistics; Belgian Federal Planning Bureau population projections.
Core Demographic Indicators
International Migration Offset a Natural Decrease in 2025
Belgium recorded 108,033 births and 112,923 deaths in 2025, producing a natural decrease of 4,890 people. International migration added 47,562 people. A statistical adjustment of −589 brought total population growth to 42,083.
The regional components were not uniform. Flanders and Wallonia gained population through both international and internal migration. Brussels-Capital retained a positive natural balance and a positive international migration balance, but an internal migration loss of 18,553 reduced its annual increase to 39 people.
| Area | Population, 1 Jan 2025 | Natural Balance | Internal Migration | International Migration | Statistical Adjustment | Total Growth | Population, 1 Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 11,825,551 | −4,890 | 0 | +47,562 | −589 | +42,083 | 11,867,634 |
| Flemish Region | 6,864,766 | −4,176 | +13,736 | +24,319 | −295 | +33,584 | 6,898,350 |
| Walloon Region | 3,704,990 | −5,817 | +4,817 | +9,255 | +205 | +8,460 | 3,713,450 |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 1,255,795 | +5,103 | −18,553 | +13,988 | −499 | +39 | 1,255,834 |
Components of Regional Population Change in 2025
Natural change, internal migration and international migration by Belgian region
Source: Statbel population movement statistics. Statistical adjustments are shown in the table but excluded from the chart.
How the Regional Balances Differ
- Flanders accounted for 33,584 of Belgium’s 42,083 additional residents in 2025.
- Wallonia’s natural decrease of 5,817 was larger than its internal migration gain, leaving international migration necessary for positive total growth.
- Brussels-Capital was the only region with more births than deaths, yet its internal migration balance was −18,553.
The Resident Population Added 599,724 People in Ten Years
Belgium’s registered resident population rose from 11,267,910 on 1 January 2016 to 11,867,634 on 1 January 2026. Growth remained positive in every annual interval shown, but the increase slowed to 42,083 in the latest year.
Belgium Resident Population, 2016–2026
Official population registered on 1 January of each year
Source: Statbel be.STAT resident population series.
| Year | Resident Population | Annual Change | Annual Change % | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11,267,910 | — | — | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2017 | 11,322,088 | +54,178 | +0.48% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2018 | 11,376,070 | +53,982 | +0.48% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2019 | 11,431,406 | +55,336 | +0.49% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2020 | 11,492,641 | +61,235 | +0.54% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2021 | 11,521,238 | +28,597 | +0.25% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2022 | 11,584,008 | +62,770 | +0.54% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2023 | 11,697,557 | +113,549 | +0.98% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2024 | 11,763,650 | +66,093 | +0.57% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2025 | 11,825,551 | +61,901 | +0.53% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| 2026 | 11,867,634 | +42,083 | +0.36% | Registered resident population on 1 January |
Annual change and annual percentage change are derived from consecutive official 1 January population counts. The 2016 row has no change value because the table begins in that year.
Immigration Exceeded Emigration by 47,562
Belgium registered 177,094 international immigrations and 129,532 international emigrations in 2025. Net international migration therefore equalled +47,562, down 28% from +66,044 in 2024.
People entering Belgium were younger than those leaving: the average age was 29.5 years for immigrants and 33.5 years for emigrants. Men represented 53.3% of immigrants and 56.6% of emigrants.
| Migration Measure | Count | Average Age | Male Share | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International immigration | 177,094 | 29.5 years | 53.3% | Entries recorded through international immigration, register changes into the resident population and re-registration |
| International emigration | 129,532 | 33.5 years | 56.6% | Departures recorded through international emigration, register changes out and automatic deletion |
| Net international migration | +47,562 | Not applicable | Not applicable | International immigration minus international emigration |
Migration accounting: immigration is a gross inflow, while net migration deducts people who left. The 177,094 immigration count should not be compared directly with the 42,083 increase in total population.
Belgian citizens formed the largest citizenship group among immigrants in 2025, with 22,776 arrivals. Romanian citizens accounted for 16,302, French citizens for 14,062 and Ukrainian citizens for 9,542. A person can be counted as an immigrant while holding Belgian citizenship because the statistic measures a cross-border residence movement rather than foreign nationality.
Fertility Held at 1.43 as Parenthood Shifted Later
Belgium recorded 108,033 births in 2025, 0.1% fewer than in 2024. The total fertility rate moved from 1.44 to 1.43 children per woman. Statbel classifies the 2025 fertility results as provisional and states that one year of near stability is not enough to establish a lasting change in direction.
Regional fertility ranged from 1.32 in Brussels-Capital to 1.48 in Flanders. The average age at childbirth reached 31.5 years for mothers and 34.4 years for fathers or co-parents.
Total Fertility Rate by Region, 2025
Period fertility measured as children per woman
Source: Statbel births and fertility 2025 provisional results.
| Area | Total Fertility Rate | Average Maternal Age | Average Age of Father or Co-parent | Data Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1.43 | 31.5 years | 34.4 years | 2025 provisional |
| Flemish Region | 1.48 | 31.4 years | 34.1 years | 2025 provisional |
| Walloon Region | 1.41 | 31.2 years | 34.1 years | 2025 provisional |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 1.32 | 32.4 years | 36.5 years | 2025 provisional |
By current nationality, the 2025 total fertility rate was 1.33 for women with Belgian nationality and 1.89 for women with foreign nationality. These categories describe current nationality rather than country of birth or parental origin.
Fertility interpretation: a total fertility rate of 1.43 is a period measure based on age-specific fertility rates observed in 2025. It does not mean that every woman will have exactly 1.43 children over her lifetime.
The 65+ Share Reached 20.67%
On 1 January 2026, 2,452,949 residents were aged 65 or older. The broad working-age group of 18–64 contained 7,110,012 people, while 2,304,673 residents were under 18.
The sex balance changes across age groups. Men slightly outnumbered women below age 65, while women represented 54.94% of the population aged 65 or older.
| Age Group | Female | Male | Total | Share of Population | Female Share | Males per 100 Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1,125,493 | 1,179,180 | 2,304,673 | 19.42% | 48.84% | 104.8 |
| 18–64 | 3,543,381 | 3,566,631 | 7,110,012 | 59.91% | 49.84% | 100.7 |
| 65+ | 1,347,603 | 1,105,346 | 2,452,949 | 20.67% | 54.94% | 82.0 |
| All ages | 6,016,477 | 5,851,157 | 11,867,634 | 100.00% | 50.70% | 97.3 |
Broad Age-Sex Structure, 2026
Registered resident population by broad age group and sex
Source: Statbel be.STAT, population by gender and broad age group on 1 January 2026. This is not a full population pyramid because five-year age groups are not used.
Ageing Accelerated Outside Brussels
The national share aged 65 or older rose from 16.03% in 1996 to 20.67% in 2026. The share aged 80 or older increased from 3.81% to 5.69%. Statbel’s old-age dependency ratio, which compares people aged 65+ with those aged 20–64, rose from 26.73 to 35.94.
Older Population Shares, 1996–2026
Share of Belgium’s population aged 65+ and 80+
Source: Statbel population structure statistics.
| Area | Year | Share Aged 65+ | Share Aged 80+ | Old-age Dependency Ratio | Aged 80+ as Share of 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 1996 | 16.03% | 3.81% | 26.73 | 23.76% |
| Belgium | 2026 | 20.67% | 5.69% | 35.94 | 27.52% |
| Flemish Region | 1996 | 15.65% | 3.70% | 25.79 | 23.62% |
| Flemish Region | 2026 | 22.06% | 6.35% | 38.97 | 28.77% |
| Walloon Region | 1996 | 16.32% | 3.71% | 27.74 | 22.71% |
| Walloon Region | 2026 | 20.57% | 5.13% | 35.88 | 24.94% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 1996 | 17.37% | 4.87% | 29.20 | 28.03% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 2026 | 13.36% | 3.73% | 21.16 | 27.93% |
Where the Age Structure Diverges
- Flanders had the highest 65+ share in 2026 at 22.06%, followed by Wallonia at 20.57%.
- Brussels-Capital moved in the opposite direction: its 65+ share fell from 17.37% in 1996 to 13.36% in 2026.
- The old-age dependency ratio reached 38.97 in Flanders, compared with 21.16 in Brussels-Capital.
Country of Birth and Origin Categories Produce Different Counts
Country of birth, current nationality and Statbel’s origin classification measure different characteristics. In 2026, 79.80% of residents were born in Belgium, leaving 20.20% born outside the country. The non-Belgian share was lower, at 13.8%, because nationality can change and many foreign-born residents hold Belgian citizenship.
| Measure | Count | Share | Statistical Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born in Belgium | Not stated in the selected release | 79.80% | Country of birth |
| Born outside Belgium | Not stated in the selected release | 20.20% | Derived as 100% minus the Belgium-born share |
| Belgian with Belgian background | 7,522,691 | 63.4% | Current and first registered nationality, plus parents’ first registered nationality |
| Belgian with foreign background | 2,709,811 | 22.8% | Current and first registered nationality, plus parents’ first registered nationality |
| Non-Belgian | 1,635,132 | 13.8% | Current nationality within the origin classification |
Do not combine these measures: a foreign-born resident can be Belgian, while a non-Belgian resident can have been born in Belgium. Origin categories also use parental nationality information and therefore answer a different question.
Migration-Led Growth Continues in the 2080 Projection
The Belgian Federal Planning Bureau projects a population of about 13.1 million in 2080. The natural balance remains negative across the projection period, while positive international migration maintains moderate national growth.
| Projection Measure | Projected Level | Period | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | About 13.1 million | 2080 | Official projection |
| Annual population growth | About 15,000 to 25,000 per year | Long-term path to 2080 | Projected annual change |
| Net international migration | Around +36,000 per year | From the 2030s | Projected migration balance |
| International immigration | Around 170,000 per year | Long term | Projected gross inflow |
| International emigration | Around 130,000 per year | Long term | Projected gross outflow |
These figures are scenario-based estimates. Their path depends on future fertility, mortality and migration assumptions and should not be read as guaranteed outcomes.
Belgium’s Demographic Pattern
International migration exceeded the natural decrease and accounted for the national population gain in 2025.
Flanders and Wallonia gained residents through internal and international migration, while Brussels-Capital lost residents to other Belgian regions.
The 2025 total fertility rate remained below the broad replacement-level benchmark, with the lowest regional value in Brussels-Capital.
The national 65+ share rose by 4.64 percentage points between 1996 and 2026, while Brussels-Capital recorded a lower 65+ share than thirty years earlier.
Data Sources and Methodology
Population counts refer to the registered resident population in Belgium’s National Register on 1 January. Population movement measures describe changes during the preceding calendar year. Annual changes in the 2016–2026 population table are derived from consecutive official counts. Broad age-group shares, female shares and sex ratios are calculated from Statbel’s published female and male counts.
The 2025 fertility results are provisional. Natural balance equals births minus deaths, while international migration balance equals immigration minus emigration. Total population growth also includes a statistical adjustment. Origin categories are not substitutes for country-of-birth or current-nationality measures. Projection values are scenario-based rather than observed counts.
| Source | Release or Data Year | Used For | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statbel population movement and population structure | 2025 movements; population on 1 January 2026 | Population growth, natural balance, regional migration balances, ageing shares, old-age dependency and country-of-birth shares | Registered resident population and annual demographic movements |
| Statbel be.STAT resident population series | 2016–2026 | Annual resident population series and regional totals | Registered resident population on 1 January |
| Statbel be.STAT population by gender and age group | 1 January 2026 | Broad age-sex counts and derived shares | Registered resident population by sex and broad age group |
| Statbel natality and fertility | 2025 provisional | Births, total fertility rate and parental ages | Live births and period fertility indicators |
| Statbel international migration | 2025 | Immigration, emigration, age, sex and citizenship composition of migration flows | Registered international migration movements |
| Statbel origin statistics | 1 January 2026 | Origin-group counts and current-nationality categories | Current and first registered nationality of individuals and parents |
| Belgian Federal Planning Bureau population projections | 2025–2080 projection edition | Population, migration and natural-balance outlook to 2080 | Official demographic projection |
Methodological Safety Note: The 11,867,634 population figure is a registered resident count on 1 January 2026, not a mid-year model estimate or census-night count. The 2025 fertility values are provisional. The 20–64 denominator used in Statbel’s old-age dependency ratio differs from the 18–64 working-age group in the broad age-sex table. Foreign-born, non-Belgian and foreign-background populations must remain separate because they use different classifications. Projection values describe one official scenario and may change when assumptions or source data are revised.