International migration

In the course of 2023, the Flemish Region experienced 94,700 immigrations from abroad and 60,500 emigrations abroad. This results in a positive international migration balance (open definition) of rounded 34,200 units. Both the number of immigrations and the net migration were lower in 2023 than in 2022. This can be attributed to the war in Ukraine, which led to a flow of refugees to our country and the rest of Europe in 2022.

International migration to and from the Flemish Region has been showing a positive balance for many years. In the 1990s this was still quite limited (with balances around +5,000). The balance has risen sharply since 2001. In 2010 there was an adjustment to the counting methods, which resulted in a high positive balance for international migration for that year (+34,000). The balance subsequently shrank and rose again from 2014 onwards. In recent years there has been an increase in both international immigration and emigration, with a sharp peak in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and a trough in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. This indicates increased international mobility among the population.

Total international immigration (or influx) can be divided into 3 groups:

• Immigrations from abroad (outside Belgium) in the strict sense
• Re-registrations (open definition) in the population register after a previous official striking-off (open definition)
• Transfers from a waiting register (open definition) to a regular population register.

International immigrations in the strict sense made up the largest part of total international immigration to the Flemish Region in 2023 (81%). This was followed by transfers from the waiting register (10%) and re-registrations (9%).

The total international emigration (or departure) also includes 3 components:

• Emigrations abroad (outside Belgium) in the strict sense
• Official striking-offs from the population register
• Transfers from a regular population register to a waiting register.

In 2023, emigrations in the strict sense accounted for just under 55% of the total number of international emigration movements and official cancellations accounted for more than 45%. The share of transfers to a waiting register was very limited (less than 0.5%).

International migrants can be divided according to nationality into Belgians, EU citizens (without Belgians) and non-EU citizens. In 2023, non-EU citizens made up 46% of the group immigrating from abroad to the Flemish Region. This is followed by the group of EU citizens (without Belgians) (44%) and then the Belgians (10%).

EU citizens account for 47% of emigrations, Belgians and non-EU citizens 27% and 26% respectively.

In 2023, Romanians were at the very top of the top 10 nationalities in total international immigration to the Flemish Region, followed by Belgians, Ukrainians and Dutch. The top 10 includes 3 non-European nationalities (Turkey, Morocco and Afghanistan).

Women have a clear predominance among Ukrainians who have emigrated. With other nationalities it is usually the other way around. Only among Moroccan immigrants there are more women than men.

In almost all Flemish municipalities, the balance for international migration in the period 2021-2023 was positive. The balance was negative only for Tervuren, Kraainem and Hoeilaart. For Herstappe, the balance was 0.

At the border with the Netherlands in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg, there were several municipalities with high positive balances. This is also the case in parts of South-West Flanders. Leuven, Wellen and Kortessem had the highest balances (>20 per 1,000 inhabitants).

The share of international immigration in relation to the population in the Flemish Region in 2022 was lower than the European Union (EU) average. The Belgian figure is higher due to the high score for the Brussels Capital Region, a hub for international migration. The European figure refers to 2022, a year with many Ukrainian refugees in various EU countries.