Composition of the private household population in 2021
In 2021, about half of the Belgian population was living in a household consisting of a couple with children, and just over a fifth was living as a couple without children. People living alone account for 15.6% of the population and 11.3% of Belgians are single parents. This is what emerged from the 2021 Belgian Census.
Couples with children
In 2021, 5,304,466 Belgians were living in a household consisting in a couple with children; this includes married people, people in a registered partnership and cohabitants. In the Flemish Region, 3,119,254 people were living in a household consisting of a couple with children, compared to 1,653,683 in the Walloon Region and 531,529 in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Among the top 20 municipalities, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean shows the highest percentage of Belgians living in a household consisting of a couple with children (52%), followed by Anderlecht (49.3%), Mechelen (48.9%), Sint-Niklaas (47.7%) and Schaerbeek (46.9%).
In Antwerp there are 235,278 Belgians living in a household consisting of a couple without children, or 44.9% of the total population of private households. This figure is 79,397 or 42.9% in Brussels. In the country's three other largest cities, this percentage is 41.5% in Ghent, 41.2% in Charleroi and 35.7% in Liège.
Couples without children
In 2021, 2,590,701 Belgians were living as a couple without children; this includes married people, people in a registered partnership and cohabitants. In the Flemish Region, 1,690,591 people were living as a couple without children, compared to 729,930 in the Walloon Region and 170,180 in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Among the top 20 municipalities, Bruges shows the highest percentage of Belgians living in a couple without children (27.6%), followed by Hasselt (27.4%), Kortrijk (25.7%), Aalst (24.7%) and Sint-Niklaas (23.8%).
In Antwerp, 100,076 Belgians live in a couple without children, or 19.1% of the entire population in all private households. In the Brussels-Capital Region, this figure is 170,180, or 14.1%.
One-person households
In 2021, 1,778,065 Belgians were living in a one-person household, or 929,901 in the Flemish Region, 588,069 in the Walloon Region and 260,095 in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Among the top 20 largest municipalities, Ixelles shows the highest percentage of people living in a one-person household (35.6%), followed by Liège (27.2%), Brussels (24.5%) and Leuven (23.8%).
In Antwerp, 103,982 Belgians live in a one-person household, or 19.8% of the entire population in all private households. In the Brussels-Capital Region, this figure is 260,095, or 21.5%.
Lone parents
In 2021, 1,289,087 persons in Belgium were living in a household consisting of a single-parent family, or 603,830 in the Flemish Region, 508,654 in the Walloon Region and 176,603 in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Among the top 20 municipalities, Charleroi shows the highest percentage of people living in a household consisting of a single-parent family (18.6%), followed by Mons (16.8%) and Liège and La Louvière (both 16.5%).
In Antwerp, 57,001 persons live in a household consisting of a single-parent family, or 10.9% of the entire population in all private households. In the Brussels-Capital Region, this figure is 176,603, or 14.6%.
This indicator is calculated as the ratio between the number of one-person private households and all private households. This map shows the proportion of people living alone in the total households of the municipality.
A little over one third of households in the country consist of only one person. There are regional variations: one-person households account for just under half of the total number of households in the Brussels-Capital Region, but only for 37% in the Walloon Region and 32% in the Flemish Region. The municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region clearly distinguish themselves from the others. Ixelles ranks first: more than 3 households in 5 are one-person households. In addition to Brussels, provincial cities also have high figures: Liège, Leuven, Ghent, Antwerp and, in Wallonia, all the cities along the Sambre-Meuse line. The municipalities on the coast as well as those in the far south of the country and close to the French border are characterised by relatively high figures (one household in three consists of one person).
This indicator is calculated as the ratio between the number of private households consisting of a couple without children and all private households. This map shows the proportion of households consisting of a couple without children in each municipality.
Couples without children account for a quarter of all households in Belgium. This figure goes from 15% in the Brussels-Capital Region to 22% in Wallonia and 29% in Flanders.
At a more detailed geographical level, the municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region and along the Sambre-Meuse line are characterised by low figures. The same goes for all big cities in the country. Furthermore, the share of households consisting of a couple without children is in most cases higher in Flemish municipalities than in Walloon municipalities. The lowest figure is observed in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode: only 1 household out of 10 consists of a couple without children. The highest figure is registered in Koksijde: more than 1 household out of 3 consists of a couple without children.
This indicator is calculated as the ratio between the number of private households consisting of a couple with one or several children and all private households. This map shows the proportion of households consisting of a couple with one or several children in each municipality.
Couples with one or several children account for 27% of all households in Belgium. This proportion varies from 23% in the Brussels-Capital Region to 26% in the Walloon Region and 28% in the Flemish Region. Figures are the lowest in Brussels municipalities, in big cities and on the coast. Ixelles has the lowest percentage, only 13% of households in the municipality consist of a couple with one or several children. On the other hand, a group of municipalities around Léglise are characterised by high levels, as this municipality registers the highest figure with 43%.
This indicator is calculated as the ratio between the number of private households consisting of a single-parent family and all private households. This map shows the proportion of single-parent families in the total households of the municipality.
At national level, 1 household out of 10 consists of a single-parent family. This share is a little higher in Wallonia and in Brussels (12%) than in Flanders (8%).
This distinction observed at regional level is also clear at municipal level. This indicator shows relatively homogeneous levels among Flemish municipalities, but there are significant differences among Walloon municipalities. The province of Hainaut shows high percentages: the municipalities around Mons and Charleroi peaking at around 15%, with a maximum of 17% in Colfontaine.
This map shows the number of private households in each municipality.
Belgium has more than 5 million private households: 57% in Flanders, 32% in Wallonia and 11% in the Brussels-Capital Region.
The geographical representation of private households by municipality is naturally very similar to that of the total population. The largest numbers of households are found in the major urban areas: the Brussels-Capital Region, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège. On the other hand, the municipalities in the south of the Sambre-Meuse line, which are generally sparsely populated, count few households.
The average size of private households is calculated, within each municipality, as the ratio between the number of inhabitants and the number of households in the municipality.
In Belgium, households have on average 2.3 persons. The figures are the same in Flanders and Wallonia. However, in the Brussels-Capital Region, the average size of households is very slightly lower (2.2 persons).
At municipal level, the average number of persons per household varies from 1.7 to 2.7. It is the lowest in the Brussels municipalities and on the coast: Ixelles, Etterbeek, Saint-Gilles, Nieuwpoort, Blankenberge, Koksijde and Middelkerke have values below 1.9.
The Census 2021 in a nutshell
The Census 2021 is a snapshot of the population living in Belgium on 1 January 2021. It provides a wide range of figures on housing and demographic, socio-economic and educational characteristics of the citizens. The objective of the Census is twofold: to comply with the European regulation[1] and to produce statistics to address national specific needs (public services, international organizations, researchers, enterprises and private individuals).
Previously based on an exhaustive survey of all citizens, since 2011 the Census has been based exclusively on the use of administrative databases.
Definitions
The various statistical units
Population
The population taken into account for the Census 2021 is the residential population, as registered in the National Register of Natural Persons (RNPP) on 1 January 2021. The Belgian population includes Belgians and non-Belgians who have been allowed or authorised to settle or to stay in Belgium but does not include non-Belgians living on the territory for less than three months, asylum seekers and non-Belgians in an illegal situation[2].
Age
The age reached in completed years of age on 1 January 2021.
Place of usual residence
The place of residence is that registered in the National Register on 1 January 2021. So this is the place of legal residence.
The Belgian municipalities have changed between 2011 and 2021. In the comparisons shown on this website, the figures for 2011 are broken down according to the municipalities of 2021.
Locality
A locality is defined as a distinct population cluster, that is an area defined by population living in neighbouring or contiguous buildings. This area constitutes a group of buildings, none of which is separated from its nearest neighbour by more than 200 meters.
The Belgian municipalities have changed between 2011 and 2021. In the comparisons shown on this website, the figures for 2011 are broken down according to the municipalities of 2021.
Private households
This group includes people living alone in a dwelling and groups of several people living in the same dwelling and providing themselves with essentials for living.
So a private household is either:
- A one-person household, that is a person who lives alone in a separate housing unit or who occupies a separate room (or rooms) of a housing unit but does not join with any of the other occupants of the housing unit to form part of a multiperson household as defined below; or
- A multiperson household, that is a group of two or more persons who combine to occupy the whole or part of a housing unit and to provide themselves with food and possibly other essentials for living.
Household status
A distinction is made between persons living in a private household and persons not living in a private household.
The category “Persons living in a private household” includes persons in a family nucleus and persons not in a family nucleus, living alone or not.
The category “Persons not living in a private household” includes persons in an institutional household and persons not living in a private household (including homeless persons), but whose category was not stated.
An institutional household comprises persons whose need for shelter and subsistence are being provided by an institution. An institution is understood to be a legal body for the purpose of long-term inhabitation and provision of services to a group of persons. Institutions usually have common facilities shared by the occupants (baths, lounges, eating facilities, dormitories and so forth). A few examples: homes, convents, prisons, etc.
“Homeless persons” are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters (primary homelessness) or persons moving frequently between temporary accommodation (secondary homelessness).
Type of private household
Specification of the household of each individual.
Size of private household
Number of persons within the private household.
Remark
The comparison with the previous Census requires some caution: this publication is based on the Belgian population and the Census 2011 has as reference the European definition of the population.
Information on the difference between the Belgian population and the Census 2011 population
[1] COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2017/543 of 22 March 2017 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses as regards the technical specifications of the topics and of their breakdowns.