- Fiscal statistics on income based on tax year 2019, income 2018
- In 2018, the net taxable income of the Belgians amounted on average to 18,768 euros
- The Flemish Region remains the region with the highest income
- Brussels remains the region with the lowest average income
- In 2018, Flemish Brabant was still the province with the highest average income per capita, followed by Walloon Brabant and East Flanders
- At local level, Sint-Martens-Latem is the leading municipality in terms of average income per capita. It is 62.2% above the Belgian average
- The lowest average income can be found in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, where the income per capita is 49.4% below the national average
Remarks
Income refers to the net taxable income. These figures are calculated based on personal tax declarations and comprise the taxable income from professions, replacement income, pensions, dividends, the cadastral income and support benefits. Untaxed income (such as child allowance and social benefits) are not included in taxable income. The average income in this press release was calculated by dividing the total net taxable income by the total Belgian population (0 to 100+ years). The average income per return amounted to 33,421 euros. Additional figures can be found on: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/households/taxable-income#figures. The reference period of the data is always the income year 2018 and the tax year 2019. The fiscal statistics are established according to the taxpayer's place of residence.
1. Flemish people have the highest income, people from Brussels trail behind
In 2018, the average net taxable income per capita stood at 18,768 euros. A breakdown of this figure by region reveals that the income per capita was the highest in the Flemish Region. With 20,125 euros, the average income in Flanders was 7.2 % above the national average. The inhabitants of the Walloon and Brussels-Capital Regions were considerably lagging behind financially. The average income in the Walloon Region was 5.8% below the Belgian average, whereas people from the Brussels-Capital Region made even 21.8% less on a yearly basis.
| Average income per capita (in EUR) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
| Belgium | 17,019 | 17,684 | 17,698 | 17,824 | 18,331 | 18,768 |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 13,525 | 13,839 | 13,831 | 13,980 | 14,372 | 14,668 |
| Flanders | 18,163 | 18,949 | 18,970 | 19,102 | 19,636 | 20,125 |
| Wallonia | 16,104 | 16,671 | 16,684 | 16,787 | 17,281 | 17,672 |
| Table 1: Average income per capita, by region | ||||||
2. The two provinces of Brabant are the richest provinces
| Province | Average income per capita (in EUR) |
|---|---|
| Province of Flemish Brabant | 21,963 |
| Province of Walloon Brabant | 21,576 |
| Province of East Flanders | 20,436 |
| Province of West Flanders | 19,725 |
| Province of Antwerp | 19,621 |
| Province of Limburg | 18,793 |
| Province of Luxembourg | 18,328 |
| Province of Namur | 18,285 |
| Province of Liège | 17,401 |
| Province of Hainaut | 16,360 |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 14,668 |
| National average | 18,768 |
| Table 2: Average income per capita in the ten provinces and in the Brussels-Capital Region | |
As in previous years, Flemish Brabant was in 2018 again the province with the highest average income per capita, i.e. 21,963 euros per capita. With 21,576 euros, the average income per capita in the province of Walloon Brabant also exceeded the 21,000 euros mark. East Flanders completed the top three with an average annual income of 20,436 euros per capita.
3. Sint-Martens-Latem has the highest income, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode ranks last
With an average income of 30,439 euros per capita, Sint-Martens-Latem was the municipality with the highest income. In this municipality, people have an income that was on average 62.2 % higher than the national average.
| Municipality | Average income per capita (in EUR) | % above the national average |
|---|---|---|
| Sint-Martens-Latem | 30,439 | 62.2% |
| Keerbergen | 28,222 | 50.4% |
| Lasne | 27,780 | 48.0% |
| Oud-Heverlee | 27,513 | 46.6% |
| Knokke-Heist | 27,005 | 43.9% |
| Schilde | 26,972 | 43.7% |
| De Pinte | 26,925 | 43.5% |
| Koksijde | 26,677 | 42.1% |
| Hove (Antwerp) | 26,539 | 41.4% |
| Bierbeek | 25,717 | 37.0% |
| National average | 18,768 | - |
| Table 3: The ten municipalities with the highest average income per capita | ||
Municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region were well represented at the other side of the scale. With an average of 9,491 euros, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is the Belgian municipality with the lowest income. The average income of an inhabitant of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode was 49.4 % below the national average. Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Anderlecht, Farciennes, Schaarbeek, Dison, Koekelberg and Brussels are seven other Belgian municipalities where the per capita average income is at least 30% below the national average. Mesen, in West Flanders, is with an average of 14,261 euros the municipality with the lowest income in the Flemish Region.
| Municipality | Average income per capita (in EUR) | % below the national average |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Josse-ten-Noode | 9,491 | -49,4% |
| Molenbeek-Saint-Jean | 10,643 | -43,3% |
| Anderlecht | 11,786 | -37,2% |
| Farciennes | 11,974 | -36,2% |
| Schaarbeek | 12,389 | -34,0% |
| Dison | 12,526 | -33,3% |
| Koekelberg | 12,908 | -31,2% |
| Brussels | 13,029 | -30,6% |
| Colfontaine | 13,537 | -27,9% |
| Charleroi | 13,539 | -27,9% |
| National average | 18,768 | - |
| Table 4: The ten municipalities with the lowest average income per capita | ||
Additional figures
This press release sheds light on only a few aspects of income for tax purposes. Other interesting figures, such as breakdowns by age groups or by sex, are available at https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/households/taxable-income#figures Next to numerous downloadable files, our dynamic application allows you to compose tables according to your own preferences.