Bruxelles: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Bruxelles: Net taxable income averaged €16,683 per resident in the City of Brussels in income year 2023, 29% below the Belgian average of €23,352; that was the lowest of the 8 largest Belgian cities.
- Health in Bruxelles: The infant mortality rate was 3206.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Bruxelles: 17.8% of the tax returns filed in the City of Brussels for 2023 declared no taxable income at all, the highest share of the 8 largest Belgian cities (Belgium: 7.1%).
- Government budget and revenue in Bruxelles: Personal income tax assessed on the 2023 incomes of the City of Brussels totalled 705 million euros, or €3,582 per resident, the 2nd lowest of the 8 largest Belgian cities (Belgium: €5,342).
- Government and politics in Bruxelles: PS topped the Brussels Parliament vote in the City of Brussels on 9 June 2024 with 21.3% of valid list votes, ahead of PTB (20.4%) and MR (16.6%).
What is the population of Bruxelles?
Bruxelles, the capital of Belgium, had 1,253,178 inhabitants (urban agglomeration) on 1 January 2023, according to an official estimate (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Bruxelles rank among cities in Belgium?
Of the 8 cities the UN table lists for Belgium (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is the largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Bruxelles?
Women and girls made up 50.7% of residents (635,466 female, 617,712 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyWhat is the population of Bruxelles?
Bruxelles had 1,271,709 residents on 1 January 2025 according to the EU Urban Audit; 17.7% were under 15 and 13.0% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Bruxelles growing?
The population grew by 9.7% between 2012 and 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Bruxelles?
126,538 students were enrolled in higher education in Bruxelles in 2022, 103 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 63% of residents of Bruxelles were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
Who runs Bruxelles?
In Belgium, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Municipal council elected for six years (last October 2024); mayor (bourgmestre/burgemeester) formally appointed by the region from the elected councillors. Local roads, civil status, local police (in police zones), social welfare centres (CPAS/OCMW), primary schools, planning.
How local power works in Belgium
Cities of a similar size in Belgium
Up a level: all cities in Belgium · Belgium · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- FPS Home Affairs, Elections directorate: Elections of 9 June 2024: official results by commune (Flemish, Walloon and Brussels parliaments, Chamber and European Parliament), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 df4c8c932aff…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Statbel (Belgian statistical office): Fiscal statistics on income subject to personal income tax, by municipality of residence, income years 2005-2023 (TF_PSNL_INC_TAX_MUNTY), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5ff459c06f5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Statbel (Belgian statistical office): Equivalent administrative disposable income and administrative risk of poverty by municipality, income years 2015-2023 (DataLab), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8fd608fc02ca…)
- Statbel (Belgian statistical office): Real estate sales according to the nature of the property in the deed of sale, by municipality, arrondissement, province and region, 2010-2026, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd4fa1121df7…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
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