In 2021, the international migration balance for Belgium was 58,118, so more people immigrated to Belgium than emigrated. This is what emerged from the figures of Statbel, the Belgian statistical office.
If we compare this migration balance with previous years, we see an increase of 39% compared to the - atypical - year 2020, when the net migration was 41,756 persons. There is also a 6% increase compared to 2019, when the balance was 55,031 persons. Nevertheless, the increase in the international migration balance is not the result of an increased number of immigrations, but rather of a slower recovery in emigrations, if we compare with the pre-COVID period. International immigration to Belgium is still lower in absolute figures than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The international migration balance is calculated by subtracting the number of international emigrations from the number of international immigrations.
So, for 2021: 165,534 immigrations – 107,416 emigrations = 58,118 persons.
If we compare that with previous years:
2020: 144,169 immigrations – 102,413 emigrations = 41,756 persons
2019: 174,591 immigrations – 119,560 emigrations = 55,031 persons.
Both immigrations and emigrations are even lower in 2021. But especially the significantly lower number of emigrations causes an increase in the final international migration balance.