According to figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics Statbel more than one in three people living in Belgium are either foreign nationals or Belgian citizens of foreign descent. There are currently 11.82 people living in Belgium of whom 4.25 are foreign nationals or Belgians with their roots in another country.
According to Statbel’s figures 22.1% of the population is made up of Belgians of foreign descent, while 13.8% of the people that live here are foreign nationals. Among the Belgians with foreign roots, half were born outside Belgium and later successfully applied for citizenship. The other half have at least one parent that was born abroad.
There are big regional differences. In the Brussels-Capital Region just 22% of the population is made up of Belgians with a fully Belgian background (themselves and both their parents born here). This compares with 64% in Wallonia and 72% in Flanders. The Brussels-Capital Region also has the highest proportion of foreign nationals (37%).
Belgium has become more diverse
During the past two decades Belgium’s population has steadily become more diverse. In 2005 79% of the population had a fully Belgian background. This has since fallen to 64%. During the same period the percentage of the population that is made up of Belgians with foreign roots increased from 12.4% to 22% and the percentage of foreigners within the population as a whole almost doubled.
Diversity is greatest among the younger age demographics. Currently, just 51% of children and teenagers in Belgium have a fully Belgian background. This compares with 85% of senior citizens. 54% of those that are not of Belgian descent have their roots in countries outside the EU.