Are there more and more people in Belgium?
For over 30 years, SIRIUS Insight has been closely monitoring the changing characteristics of the Belgian households. Our company, an expert in geomarketing, therefore has the most advanced and detailed data on the Belgian market. Population changes affect every merchant and non-merchant company that has direct contact with the end consumer.
Through a series of articles on Belgian demographics, you will discover the changes in the population structure over the last ten years and how these changes affect you. The first essential question: is the Belgian population growing?
Yes, the Belgian population is increasing every year. In 2021, there were almost 600.000 more inhabitants than in 2011. The total population is now 11,5 million. Over a single decade, the population of Belgium has grown by 5%. The regional distribution of the Belgian population is as follows: 57% in Flanders, 32% in Wallonia and 11% in Brussels.
If we look closely at the demographic data for the last ten years, we can see that the population increase is happening throughout the entire country, but not at the same pace. Brussels is where the number of inhabitants is increasing the fastest. Between 2011 and 2021, its population increased by 9%, while Flanders and Wallonia saw increases of 5% and 3% respectively.
At a more granular level, we can see important differences between the growth rates of each of the provinces. After Brussels, the most marked increases in the number of inhabitants occurred in Flemish Brabant, Luxembourg and Antwerp. The population of Flemish Brabant grew by 7%, while the other two provinces saw increases of 6%. Conversely, the province of Hainaut now has only 2% more inhabitants than in 2011.
Growth in the number of inhabitants, and therefore in the number of consumers, causes changes in the needs of the population. These needs relate to schools, healthcare, trades and services of different kinds. For merchant and non-merchant actors like yourselves, it is essential to understand the local variations, as well as the impact on the services you offer.
With 30 years’ experience, SIRIUS Insight can help you to define and locate your target group. We help businesses in all sectors to develop an efficient network of points of contact that meets the needs of your target group. We have the most up-to-date and advanced data on Belgian consumers, while respecting their privacy. Contact us if you would like to obtain quality support or have access to our different types of detailed data.
Look out for more articles soon on the changing Belgian population. We will be examining changes in the age of the population, types of household and income. Don’t want to miss anything? Sign up immediately for our newsletter.
