Belgium’s population will reach 13.2 million by 2070, up from 11.4 million on 1 January 2018, the National Planning Office said on Thursday in its latest demographic projections. It added that almost a quarter of all Belgians would be 67 years or older in 2070.
The Planning Office based its projections on the hypothesis that by 2030, the country’s fertility rate, which has been dropping since 2010, will increase gradually to 1.8 children for every woman – a rate observed before 2010.
In 2070, 7.7 million of Belgium’s inhabitants will live in Flanders, 4 million in Wallonia and 1.38 million in the Brussels-Capital Region, according to the Planning Office’s projections.
Persons aged 67 years or older will account for 23% of the population by 2070, up from 16% in 2018. Belgium currently has 1 person aged 67 or over for every 3.88 persons between the ages of 18 and 66, but by 2070, the ratio will be 1:2.5.
Baby boomers will increase the ageing of the population up to 2040. After that ageing will stabilise.
In 2070, single-person households will account for 42% of the population.
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The Brussels Times
