On 1 January 2023, Belgium had 11,697,557 legal inhabitants. Last year, the Belgian population has grown by 113,594 inhabitants, or by 0.98%. So the population growth was much higher than normal, with a growth rate of about 0.5%.

The population growth can be explained by a limited statistical adjustment (-208) and two key demographic phenomena:

• A negative natural balance (-2,787). A negative natural balance is exceptional. In 2020, a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, this balance was also negative (-13,111). But before that, we have to go back to the early 1940s to find a negative natural balance. The natural balance, also before COVID-19, had been showing a declining trend for several years. This downward trend could and can be mainly explained by a declining trend in the number of births.
   
• A positive international migration balance (+116,554). A positive international migration balance is in line with expectations, but the balance is more positive than normal. This can be explained by the large number of international immigrations in 2022: 233,629 immigrations were recorded. The higher number of immigrations is partly due to the war in Ukraine, as 57,514 (24.6%) immigrants are of Ukrainian nationality. In addition, 117,085 international emigrations were recorded in 2022, this is more in line with expectations. 

For further information, including on population developments in the Flemish Region, the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region as well as in the provinces, please read the press release from statbel.