Brussels population set to decline after decades of growth
The population of the Brussels-Capital Region is expected to decline slightly in the coming years, reaching just under 1.25 million by 2034. The projections by the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (BISA) represent a break with decades of growth.
Between 2004 and 2024, the Brussels region's population increased by around a quarter, growing from 1 million to 1.25 million inhabitants. This growth is expected to stop over the next decade, mainly due to residents of Brussels moving to other parts of Belgium.
According to the projections, the nineteen municipalities of Brussels are expected to lose 2,400 inhabitants between 2024 and 2034. There are significant differences between the municipalities: ten are expected to grow, while the population in the other nine is expected to decline.
Mild growth in Brussels city
The municipality with the largest population, the city of Brussels, is expected to reach 200,000 inhabitants in 2034, representing growth of 1.6 per cent, or an additional 3,200 people, over ten years. Evere is expected to experience the largest growth, at 7 per cent — an additional 3,200 inhabitants — reaching 48,415 in 2034.
Growth is also expected in Anderlecht, Ixelles, Etterbeek, Ganshoren, Koekelberg, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Uccle and Forest. The number of inhabitants in all other municipalities is expected to fall.
Large households moving out
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is expected to see the largest relative decline of 10.3 per cent, or 2,800 inhabitants, while Schaarbeek is expected to see the largest absolute decline of 5,900 inhabitants, or 4.5 per cent. Saint-Gilles is expected to see a 7 per cent population drop.
BISA predicts that the ongoing replacement of large households by smaller ones will continue in these three municipalities. From around 1950 onwards, many families from abroad settled in these areas, often in small rented properties. Since the 2010s, they have started moving out in order to find larger homes. Smaller households, including many single people, have moved in instead.
Collignon Square in Schaerbeek, Brussels. The municipality is expected to see the largest absolute decline in population of 5,900 people over the next decade © PHOTO BELGIAN_FREELANCE
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