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Johan Leman, 25 April 2022

It is interesting to put numbers to the phenomenon of growing old in Brussels for people born outside of Belgium.

Brussels residents born in a country outside the EU:

Over-60s in 2020, Morocco: 23,338; Algeria: 1,324; Tunisia: 1,172; Turkey: 5,239; Congo: 7,083.

80-89-year-olds in 2021, Morocco: 3,304; Algeria: 201; Tunisia: 82; Turkey: 632; Congo: 694.

Brussels residents born outside Belgium but in an EU member state:

Over-60s in 2020, France: 10,716; Italy: 8,556; Spain: 5,434; Poland: 3,126; Romania: 2,922. And what puzzles me: San Marino: 1,724.

80 to 89 in 2021: France: 2,116; Italy: 1,630; Spain: 1,068; Poland: 336; Romania: 308; San Marino: 131.

There are, of course, many other countries in the game.

The Planning Bureau writes that there will be no population growth in Brussels between 2020 and 2030, but there will be from 2030 onwards. Between 2030 and 2070, an increase of 100,000 inhabitants is expected in Brussels-19. This includes a 5-year increase in life expectancy, to 86.9 years for men and 89.0 years for women, in 2070.

The +80 category will be twice as high in 2070 compared to 2021.

One may expect that especially 1000 Brussels, Schaarbeek, Molenbeek and Anderlecht will face a challenge in the reception of old Brussels residents born outside the EU and for the less well-off born outside Belgium but within the EU. For the reception of the more well-to-do old people born within the EU, the task will mainly be the one of Uccle and the 2 Woluwes.

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