Poverty indicators decline in Belgium, but regional gaps persist

Just over 1.9 million Belgians, or 16.5 per cent of the population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) in 2025, according to the survey on income and living conditions published on Thursday by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. This represents a significant decline compared with the AROPE rate of 20.1 per cent recorded in 2019.

Statbel sets the poverty threshold for a single person in Belgium in 2025 at 18,780 euro per year, or 1,565 euro per month. For a household with two adults and two dependent children, the threshold amounts to 3,287 euro per month.

In 2025, 10.9 per cent of Belgians had a disposable income below that threshold, risking monetary poverty. At the same time, 11 per cent lived in low work intensity households, where adults of working age worked less than 20 per cent of their potential over the previous twelve months. A further 4.9 per cent were unable to afford a range of everyday expenses considered necessary to maintain an acceptable standard of living.

One in five Belgian households faces energy poverty risk

Nearly one in five Belgian households, or about 19.8 per cent, is vulnerable to at least one form of energy poverty, according to new figures...

belganewsagency.eu

A person is classified as at risk of poverty or social exclusion if they face at least one of these three situations. Although all three indicators declined compared with 2024, the decreases were not large enough to be statistically significant, as the results are based on a sample survey extrapolated to the total population.

Compared with 2019, however, Statbel reports a statistically significant improvement. The AROPE rate fell from 20.1 per cent in 2019 to 16.5 per cent in 2025, while the share of people at risk of monetary poverty declined from 14.8 per cent to 10.9 per cent over the same period.

Regional gaps remain

Statbel's survey also highlights persistent regional disparities. Brussels records the highest deprivation levels across most indicators. For example, 40.7 per cent of residents are unable to cover unexpected expenses, compared with 31.6 per cent in Wallonia and 13.6 per cent in Flanders.

The Flemish Region consistently shows the lowest deprivation rates. For example, just 2.5 per cent of residents in Flanders were unable to pay their bills on time last year, compared with 9.1 per cent in Wallonia and 7.4 per cent in Brussels.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © IMAGEBROKER}

Related news

Many working Brussels residents still trapped in poverty, report warns

A large number of people in work in Brussels are living in poverty and facing deep uncertainty, according to a new report published on Tuesday by...

belganewsagency.eu