Figures from the Federal Planning Bureau and the Federal Statistics Bureau Statbel show that while the number of people of working age (18-66) in Belgium will remain relatively stable during the next 10 years. Meanwhile, the number of people aged 67 and over is set to increase considerably. Life expectancy continues to rise, while the birth rate remains low.
Belgium has an aging population. An ever-growing number of people here are beyond retirement age (currently 66). This is not new and the issue of the aging population and the challenges it poses appears on numerous times in the federal coalition agreement, not least in the section devoted to pensions. While there are more and more older people, there are fewer and fewer younger people of working age and they are the ones that foot the bill for pensions and health care.
The latest population forecasts from the Federal Planning Bureau and Statbel show that the issue of the aging population is not going to be resolved any time soon. On the contary, during the forthcoming decade the population will age even more quickly than has hitherto been the case.
Currently, in Belgium there are 28 people aged 67 and over for every 100 people of working age (18 to 66). In 10 years’ time this will have risen to 37. By 2070 there will be 47 people aged 67 and over for every 100 people of working age. In other words there are currently between 3 and 4 people of working age for every 1 person that is aged 67 and over. By 2070 this will have fallen to just over 2.
Life expectancy will continue to rise
One of the major factors contributing to the phenomenon mentioned above is increased life expectancy. Currently life expectancy in Belgium is 84.77 years for women and 80.63 years for men.
By 2070 this will have risen to 89.9 years for women and 88.1 years for men. The difference in life expectancy between men and women is also set to narrow during the next 45 years.
Fertility rate to remain low
Meanwhile, the fertility rate will remain low. Since 2008 the average number of children born to women in Belgium has fallen from 1.86 to 1.46.
The expectation is that there will be a modest rise during the coming decades and that the fertility rate will then stabilise at around 1.6 children per woman.