Migration

International migration balance of 116,544 persons in 2022

Population
International migration balance of 116,544 persons in 2022

In 2022, the international migration balance for Belgium was 116,544: this means that more people immigrated to Belgium than emigrated.

This is what emerges from the figures of Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. The international migration balance, i.e. the difference between the number of immigrations and emigrations, was positive in 2022 (+116,544).

A positive international migration balance is in line with expectations, but the balance is more positive than normal. This can be explained by the large number of international immigrations[i] in 2022: 233,629 immigrations were recorded. In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 this number was 163,918, 166,894, 174,591, 144,169 and 165,534, respectively.

The higher number of immigrations is partly due to the war in Ukraine, as 57,514 (24.6%) immigrants are of Ukrainian nationality. In addition, 117,085 international emigrations[ii] were recorded in 2022, this is more in line with expectations. In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 this number was 119,382, 116,714, 119,560, 102,413 and 107,416, respectively.

In 2022, the international migration balance was the driving force behind population growth in Belgium. The strongly positive international migration balance compensated for the negative natural balance (difference between the number of births and deaths), and also ensured a solid population growth of 113,549 inhabitants, or 0.98%.

 

 


  1. International immigration consists of three movements:
    1. classic international immigration,
    2. change of register ‘in’ (transfer from the waiting register to the aliens’ register) and
    3. re-registration (following an automatic deletion).
  2. International migration consists of three movements:
    1. classic international emigration,
    2. change of register ‘out’ (transfer to the waiting register) and
    3. automatic deletion.
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Since 1988, migration data have come from the National Register. This is where the information from municipal population registers is centralised.

Internal migration statistics describe changes of residence within the country.

International migration statistics describe immigration from abroad and emigration abroad.

Since 1 February 1995, asylum seekers registered in the waiting register are no longer included in the resident population. They are included in the statistics on the evolution of the population only when they obtain the refugee status or are regularised on some other basis, in the category “register change”.

From 2007, “total international immigration” includes the following former categories:

  • “Migration Movements - Arrivals” (or “International immigration”)

  • “Register changes”

  • “Re-registrations after deletion”.

From 2007, “total international emigration” includes the following former categories:

  • “Migration Movements - Departures” (or “International emigration”)

  • “Automatically deleted population”

The migration balance is calculated as the difference between the total number of international immigrations and the total number of international emigrations