International migration

In 2022, there were about 118,700 immigrations to the Flemish Region and 54,100 emigrations abroad. This resulted in a positive international migration balance (open definition) of approximately 64,600 units. Both the number of immigrations and the migration balance were much higher in 2022 than in previous years. This can be attributed to the war in Ukraine, which created an influx of refugees into our country and the rest of Europe.

International migration from and to the Flemish Region has shown a positive balance for many years. In the 1990s, this balance was rather limited (around +5,000). Since 2001, the balance has risen sharply. In 2010, there was an adjustment in counting methods, resulting in a high positive balance for international migration (+34,000) for that year. Afterwards, the balance shrank before rising again from 2014. In recent years, there was an increase in both international immigration and emigration. This indicates an enhanced international mobility among the population.

In 2020 however, there was a noticeable drop in both the number of immigrations and emigrations. This drop is related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures that were in force during the pandemic.

Total international immigration can be broken down into 3 groups:

• Immigration from abroad (outside Belgium) in the strict sense
• Re-registration (open definition) in the population register after a previous official striking-off (open definition)
• Transfer from a waiting register (open definition) to a regular population register

International immigration in the strict sense accounted for the lion’s share of international immigration to the Flemish Region (86%) in 2022. Re-registrations (6%) and transfers (8%) accounted for the rest.

Total international emigration also has 3 components:

• Emigration abroad (outside Belgium) in the strict sense
• Official striking-off from the population register
• Transfer from a regular population register to a waiting register.

Emigrations in the strict sense represented in 2022 almost 6 out of 10 cases within the overall context of international emigration. Over 4 out of 10 cases were official striking-offs. The share of transfers to a waiting register was very limited (0.3%).

International migrants can be divided by nationality into Belgians, EU citizens (excluding Belgians) and non-EU citizens. Non-EU citizens made up more than 55% of the group immigrating to the Flemish Region from abroad in 2022. This was followed by the group of EU citizens (excluding Belgians) (37%) and then Belgians (8%).

Belgians are, in relative terms, more prominent in international emigration (29%), while non-EU citizens are much less so (23%).

For years the international migration balance has been negative for Belgians. In 2022 the balance was -6,500. The balance was positive for the other nationality groups. It was almost +18,000 for EU citizens and more than 53,000 for non-EU citizens.

Ukrainians were at the very top of the top 10 nationalities in total international immigration to the Flemish Region in 2022. At a large distance, they are followed by Romanians, Belgians, Dutch and Bulgarians. The top 10 includes 3 non-European nationalities (Turkey, Morocco and Afghanistan).

Women have a clear predominance among immigrant Ukrainians. Among the other nationalities, it is generally the reverse. Only among the immigrant Moroccans, women also outnumber men.

In almost all Flemish municipalities, the international migration balance was positive for the period 2020-2022. For 5 out of 300 municipalities the balance was negative: Wachtebeke, Tervuren, Hoeilaart, Linkebeek and Zemst. For Herstappe the balance was 0.

Near the border with the Netherlands, in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg, there were several municipalities with a distinctly positive balance. This was also the case in parts of southern West Flanders. The 6 municipalities with the highest positive balances (> 12 per 1,000) were Ghent, Hamont-Achel, Baarle-Hertog, Hoogstraten, Antwerp and Leuven.

The international immigration in relation to the population for the Flemish Region was in 2021 close to the European average. The Belgian rate was higher due to the higher immigration rate for the Brussels-Capital Region, a hub for international migration. The European figure refers to 2021, i.e. before the war in Ukraine. Figures for 2022 are not yet available for all EU countries.