Economy, jobs and prices in Bruxelles, Belgium: official figures
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.
What is the average income per tax return in City of Brussels?
124,239 income tax returns were filed by residents of the City of Brussels for income year 2023, with an average net taxable income of €26,430 per return (the 2nd lowest among the 8 largest Belgian cities; Belgian average €37,275).
Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bruxelles?
The unemployment rate in Bruxelles was 11.7% in 2023 (11.9% for women, 11.6% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Bruxelles?
725,758 jobs were based in Bruxelles in 2025; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (36% of jobs) and professional, scientific and administrative services (19%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Bruxelles?
Tourist accommodation in Bruxelles recorded 1,782,873 nights in 2020, 72% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Bruxelles?
There were 316 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Average net taxable income per resident in the City of Brussels rose by 38.1% between income years 2013 and 2023, from €12,079 to €16,683 (Belgium: +37.2%), the fastest growth of the 8 largest Belgian cities. Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copy
- Residents of the City of Brussels declared 3.28 billion euros of net taxable income in 2023, 1.2% of the Belgian total, while they made up 1.7% of the population counted in the tax statistics. Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copy
- Earnings from work, pensions and benefits (professional income) made up 96.3% of net taxable income in the City of Brussels in 2023, and taxable real estate income 1.9% (Belgium: 98.0% and 1.5%). Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 72% of residents of Bruxelles were satisfied with public transport. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 33% of residents of Bruxelles agreed that it is easy to find a good job in the city. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Bruxelles compares with other cities in Belgium
Net taxable income per resident (2023)
Bruxelles ranks 8 of 8, highest first. Belgium's eight largest cities (the municipality itself).
| Rank | City | Net taxable income per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Brugge | €25,820 |
| 3 | Gent | €24,043 |
| 4 | Namur | €22,702 |
| 5 | Antwerpen | €20,370 |
| 6 | Liège | €19,002 |
| 7 | Charleroi | €16,725 |
| 8 | Bruxelles | €16,683 |
Growth in net taxable income per resident, 2013-2023 (2023)
Bruxelles ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | City | Growth in net taxable income per resident, 2013-2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruxelles | 38.1% |
| 2 | Gent | 37.6% |
| 3 | Brugge | 36.1% |
| 4 | Antwerpen | 35.4% |
| 5 | Louvain | 34.5% |
| 6 | Liège | 34.0% |
| 7 | Namur | 32.2% |
Unemployment rate (2023)
Bruxelles ranks 3 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleroi | 14.3% |
| 2 | Liège | 13.0% |
| 3 | Bruxelles | 11.7% |
| 4 | Namur | 9.3% |
| 5 | Antwerpen | 7.4% |
| 6 | Gent | 5.4% |
| 7 | Brugge | 3.3% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2025)
Bruxelles ranks 7 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brugge | 472 |
| 2 | Namur | 470 |
| 3 | Charleroi | 437 |
| 4 | Liège | 434 |
| 5 | Gent | 400 |
| 6 | Antwerpen | 400 |
| 7 | Bruxelles | 316 |
Tourist nights (2020)
Bruxelles ranks 1 of 4, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruxelles | 1,782,873 |
| 2 | Antwerpen | 725,493 |
| 3 | Brugge | 711,720 |
| 4 | Gent | 501,209 |
More on Bruxelles: overview · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · all cities in Belgium
Sources
- 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_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- 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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