Population by age and gender

The population pyramid of the Flemish Region in 2024 showed the typical profile of an ageing population: a wide top and a narrow base.

The 55-64 age group is the largest age group in the legally resident population (open definition) . These are men and women born in the 60s, the peak years of the baby boom.

The age group of centenarians at the top of the pyramid counts more than 1,600 members. The broader age group of over-85s accounts for 3.3% of the total population.

The group younger than 5 years, at the base of the pyramid, is smaller than the age group of 5 to 9 year olds. This shrinkage refers to the declining number of births in recent years.

Overall, there were more women than men in the Flemish Region in the beginning of 2024: 102 women per 100 men. Among the older population, the prevalence of women was even greater. There were 119 women per 100 men among the over-65s, 177 women per 100 men among the over-85s and 429 women per 100 men among the centenarians.

Since 2000, the share of the population aged 67 and over has risen from 15% in 2000 to 19% in 2024. The share of those younger than18 fell from 21% in 2000 to 19% in 2024. The share of the broad middle group (18-66 years old) also decreased: from 65% in 2000 to 62% in 2024.

The age group of 18-24 year olds (potential flow of ‘young adults’ into the labour market) is noticeably smaller than the age group of 60-66 year olds (potential flow of ‘seniors’ out of the labour market). In 2024, there were 83 young adults (18-24) per 100 seniors (60-66); in 2000, there were 113 young adults per 100 seniors.

In 102 of the 300 municipalities in the Flemish Region, the proportion of the population aged 67 and above was more than 20% in 2024. In 29 municipalities, that share was lower than 17%.

In the coastal municipalities of Koksijde, Nieuwpoort, Knokke-Heist, De Haan, Middelkerke, De Panne and Blankenberge, more than 30% of the population is 67 years or older. The proportion of 67-year-olds was lowest in Machelen, Vilvoorde, Drogenbos, Antwerp, Zaventem, Spiere-Helkijn, Ghent and Niel (less than 15% each).

In general, the population is somewhat more aged in the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Ardennes, in the south-eastern part of Flemish Brabant and parts of Limburg, as well as in municipalities on the eastern side of the city of Antwerp.

The proportion of over-67s in the usually resident population (open definition) in the Flemish Region (18.6%) was close to the EU27 average in 2023 (18.8%). Due to the younger population of the Brussels-Capital Region (11.3%), Belgium (17.3%) scored somewhat lower. The highest proportion of over-67s was found in Italy (21.5%) an Portugal (21.3%), the lowest in Luxembourg (12.9%).

The proportion of over-85s in the usually resident population was 3.2% in the Flemish Region in 2023, which was slightly above the EU27 average (3%). Also in this respect the Flemish Region ranked above the other two Belgian regions. The share of over-85s for Belgium was almost equal to the EU27 average (2.9%). The highest proportion of over-85s was for Italy (3.8%), the lowest for Slovakia (1.5%).