Last year, Brussels once again saw far more residents moving out of the region than arriving from other places in Belgium. In 2025, 37,000 Brussels residents moved to Flanders or Wallonia, whilst only 19,000 people made the reverse move. At the same time, a total of 74,882 Belgians moved to another region, according to an analysis by the federation of estate agents, the CIB, based on figures from the Belgian interior ministry.
The figures for 2025 are just below those of record year 2024, when 75,658 Belgians moved to another region. Nevertheless, the number is still a third higher than in 2011, when there were 56,824 moves.
The figures show that migration flows between the regions have remained at a very high level for several years. Since 2022, the figure has consistently exceeded 70,000 moves.
Large outflow from Brussels
What is striking is the continuing large exodus from Brussels. Last year, for example, 37,000 residents left the capital to settle in Flanders or Wallonia. Only 19,000 people made the reverse move, resulting in a net outflow of 18,000 residents.
“Brussels remains an attractive place to study, work and build a career. But as soon as people start a family or look for more living space, many look beyond the borders of the region. We have been seeing this pattern for years and it is only getting stronger,” says Kristophe Thijs, Director of Communications at CIB.
Flanders is king
Flanders, meanwhile, remains the biggest magnet. Not only have more than 23,000 people from Brussels been moving to Flanders every year for years, but the influx from Wallonia is also growing, with more than 10,000 Walloon residents moving to Flanders for the first time in 2025. Conversely, the number of people moving from Flanders to Wallonia is also at a record high (8,771).
According to the CIB, alongside affordability and housing availability, remote working also plays a role. “Remote working has reshuffled the deck. The daily commute is less of a burden than it was a few years ago. As a result, people are increasingly opting for a home that better suits their stage of life and budget, even if it is located in a different region. This explains why mobility between the regions continues to increase year on year.”