9.4% of the Belgian population is in a situation of material and social deprivation (MSD). This is what emerged from the latest figures[1] from the SILC 2025 survey on income and living conditions, which Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, carried out among more than 6,400 households. In other words, nearly one Belgian in ten does not have sufficient resources to cover at least 5 of the 13 essential aspects of daily life (heating, unexpected expenses, access to leisure activities, etc.), which severely limits their quality of life. The two most common problems are the ability to face unexpected expenses (of around €1,450) and to afford one week annual holiday away from home.
Moreover, 4.9% of the population is in a situation of severe material and social deprivation (SMSD) in 2025. In other words, nearly one Belgian in twenty does not have sufficient resources to cover at least 7 of the 13 essential aspects of daily life, which further exacerbates their precarious situation.
When we look at the 13 criteria that make up the indicators of material and social deprivation, we see that the two most common difficulties relate to the ability to face unexpected expenses and to afford one week annual holiday away from home. 22.1% of the Belgian population report being unable to face unexpected expenses (of around €1,450) and 19.5% report not being able to afford one week annual holiday away from home. At the other end of the scale, 0.8% of the Belgian population say they cannot afford an internet connection at home and 1.7% cannot afford two pairs of shoes.
The situation varies greatly from region to region
Brussels has the highest deprivation rates for most aspects: for example, 40.7% are unable to face an unexpected expense, versus 31.6% in Wallonia and 13.6% in Flanders. Generally speaking, the Flemish Region systematically has the lowest deprivation rates: for example, 2.5% for the inability to pay bills as scheduled, compared to 9.1% in Wallonia and 7.4% in Brussels. Wallonia is often in between, but remains above the national level for most indicators.
Table. Material and social deprivation criteria per region
| Inability to ... | Belgium | Brussels-Capital Region | Flemish region | Walloon region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pay the bills as scheduled | 5.1% | 7.4% | 2.5% | 9.1% |
| afford one week's holiday away from home every year | 19.5% | 32.3% | 13.0% | 27.3% |
| afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish at least every second day | 4.8% | 12.8% | 2.0% | 7.5% |
| face an unexpected financial expense | 22.1% | 40.7% | 13.6% | 31.6% |
| buy a car | 5.7% | 17.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| keep their home adequately warm (for financial reasons) | 4.2% | 9.6% | 1.4% | 7.6% |
| replace damaged or worn out furniture | 15.3% | 30.9% | 9.6% | 20.4% |
| replace worn out or old-fashioned clothes by new ones | 7.0% | 13.0% | 5.0% | 8.6% |
| have two pairs of shoes (including a pair of all-weather shoes) | 1.7% | 3.1% | 1.0% | 2.5% |
| afford an Internet connection at home | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| get together with friends/family (relatives) for a drink/meal at least once a month | 8.1% | 12.4% | 6.0% | 10.4% |
| regularly participate in a leisure activity such as sport, cinema, concert, etc. | 10.6% | 11.5% | 6.9% | 17.2% |
| spend a small amount of money each week on yourself | 11.4% | 20.8% | 6.1% | 18.0% |
The inability to pay the bills as scheduled
The inability to pay bills on time is one of the most direct signs of financial difficulties. In 2025, 5.1% of the Belgian population reported being unable to pay their bills (rent, mortgage, energy, water, etc.) on time for financial reasons.
This difficulty varies greatly depending on the region. The Walloon Region has the highest rates, particularly in the province of Hainaut, where 15.0% of the population is affected. The provinces of Liège (6.4%) and Namur (5.7%) also have levels above the national average. Conversely, the Flemish provinces generally have lower rates, particularly in West Flanders (1.9%), Flemish Brabant (2.0%) and Limburg (2.2%). The Brussels-Capital Region is above the national average, with 7.4% of people affected.
Some socio-economic characteristics are associated with a higher risk of late bill payments:
- The phenomenon affects low-skilled people (6.8%) more than highly-skilled people (2.3%).
- Labour market status is also a discriminating factor: 16.2% of unemployed people report being unable to pay their bills on time, compared with 4.1% of self-employed people, 2.9% of employees and 1.5% of retired people.
- Housing situation also plays an important role. Tenants are particularly vulnerable, with 10.0% in a situation of late payment, versus 3.2% of homeowners.
- Finally, in terms of household composition, single-parent families (9.6%) have higher rates than households composed of two adults with children (5.9%) and people living alone (4.9%).
[1] The confidence intervals for MSD 2025 were revised on 04/03/2026