With 108,150 births in 2024, the birth rate in Belgium registers a decrease of 1.9% compared to 2023 (110,198 births), confirming the downward trend that began after the peak in 2010. Furthermore, this level observed in 2024 is the lowest registered since 1942. Since records of the number of births began, only five years have recorded fewer births than 2024: 1916, 1917, 1918, 1941 and 1942, all years of war. Indeed, apart from a slight rebound in 2021, linked to post-COVID catch-up, the birth rate has continued to decline. This is what emerged from the latest figures on birth rates and fertility published by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office.
A general decline, but varying across regions
The decline affects the entire country, but to varying degrees: it is more pronounced in Wallonia (-3.9%) than in Brussels and Flanders, where it is limited to 1.1% and 0.9% respectively.
At national level, the total fertility rate (TFR[1] is estimated at 1.44 children per woman (versus 1.47 in 2023), with disparities according to nationality: 1.33 for women of Belgian nationality and 1.89 for women of foreign nationality. It is the lowest in the Brussels-Capital Region (1.34), while Wallonia and Flanders are closer to the national values, with a TFR of 1.43 and 1.48 children per woman respectively.
Later parenthood, especially in Brussels and the surrounding area
The average age at childbirth reached 31.4 years in 2024, while it rose to 34.3 years for fathers or co-parents.
In the Flemish Region, the average age of mothers is 31.3 years. It varies between 32.0 in Flemish Brabant, which is the highest age in the region, and 30.7 in West Flanders, where mothers are the youngest in Flanders. In Wallonia, the average is 31.1 years. Walloon Brabant stands out with 32.8 years, the national record, while Hainaut has the lowest figure: 30.6 years. In Brussels, mothers are on average 32.3 years old, making Brussels the region with the highest age at childbirth. Among fathers or co-parents, the hierarchy is similar: they are the oldest in Brussels (36.4 years), followed by Wallonia (34.1 years).They are the youngest in Flanders: 34.0 years.
[1] The total fertility rate is the average number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.