Urbanization Growth in Belgium from 1990 to 2023

Belgium has one of the highest urbanization rates globally, starting from 96.4% in 1990. By 2000, it had reached 97.1%, reflecting Belgium’s highly urbanized structure where a majority of the population resides in metropolitan areas such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. The steady increase continued over the years, reaching 98.0% in 2017. Belgium’s stable economic growth, high living standards, and well-developed infrastructure have supported this trend. In 2023, the urbanization rate stood at 98.2%, indicative of Belgium’s largely urban population and limited rural areas, a result of the country's compact geography and robust urban planning.