What are the main countries of origin? Morocco in the lead
Last October, Morocco remained the main contributor with 450 nationalizations in October, consolidating its historic position as the leading country of origin for new Belgian citizens. This figure represents 8.8% of nationality acquisitions this month. Syria follows closely with 321 nationalizations, reflecting the continuing impact of humanitarian crises and migratory waves in recent years.
Romania, for its part, ranks third with 279 acquisitions, a reflection of European intra-community migrations. In fourth position, we find Afghanistan with 224 nationalizations, highlighting the recent arrival of refugees linked to conflicts in this region.
Marked differences between Regions
With 3,221 nationalizations in October, Flanders leads the Belgian regions in terms of volume. Geographical and cultural proximity also explains the strong presence of nationalizations for the Netherlands (147).
In Brussels, the 1,157 nationalizations in October reveal African dominance, with Morocco (179), Guinea (70) and Cameroon among the most represented. Europe (Romania, 80) and Asia (Syria, 80) are not left out.
Wallonia recorded 762 nationalizations. The dominant profiles reflect its migratory history:
- Italy: 109 nationalizations
- Morocco: 105 nationalizations
- France: 65 nationalizations
African nationalities also continue to grow, with 83 Cameroonians becoming Belgians.
An evolution punctuated by ups and downs
Since 1992, acquisitions of Belgian nationality have experienced significant fluctuations, reflecting changes in migration policies and international crises. In the 1990s, the figures reached peaks, with a peak of 61,990 acquisitions in 2000, due to legislative relaxations facilitating access to Belgian nationality.
Between 2013 and 2014, a drastic drop took place, with naturalizations falling from 34,801 to 18,726 (-46%). Since then, the decade 2010-2020 shows a gradual recovery, reaching 55,213 acquisitions in 2023, one of the highest figures in three decades.
Which provinces give citizenship the most?
The provincial analysis over more than 30 years (1992-2023) reveals marked differences depending on the territories:
-- Brussels-Capital : The district recorded 352,580 acquisitions, a figure well above that of the other provinces, confirming its role as a central migratory center.
- Province of Liège : In Wallonia, Liège dominates with 125,972 acquisitions, due to its industrial past and the historical settlement of Italian and Moroccan populations. The district of Liège alone concentrates 91,640 acquisitions.
- Province of Hainaut : It ranks second in Wallonia with 89,120 acquisitions, always linked to historical worker immigration.
- Province of Antwerp : Flanders is represented by Antwerp, with 118,450 acquisitions, a figure which reflects the importance of the port and regional economic activity.
- Province of Luxembourg : At the bottom of the scale, this rural province records only 12,454 acquisitions, reflecting low migratory attractiveness.
The year 2000: record acquisitions
The year 2000, which remains the absolute record with 61,990 acquisitions, shows significant regional disparities. Brussels-Capital is well ahead with 27,650 acquisitions, or nearly 45% of the national total. This figure reflects the role of the capital as an economic and migratory center.
Flanders, with 20,340 acquisitions, displays significant diversity, mixing European, African and Asian nationalities. Finally, Wallonia, with 14,000 acquisitions, is distinguished by a strong presence of Italian and Moroccan nationalities, linked to the industrial heritage.
Africa and Europe at the head of the continents
Africa remains the main historical contributor. In 2000, almost half of naturalizations (47.5%) concerned people from the African continent. This proportion decreased slightly in 2023 (30.2%), but it remains significant, with countries like Morocco and Algeria in the lead.
Europe occupies second place with 36.5% of acquisitions in 2023, notably thanks to the Romanians and Bulgarians after their accession to the European Union in 2007.
Asia, although less dominant, shows spectacular progress. Between 2000 and 2023, the number of acquisitions by people from Asia quadrupled, largely due to the crises in Syria and Afghanistan.
Brussels and Liège at the top of the cities
Historically, the Brussels-Capital district dominates the statistics, with 352,580 acquisitions of nationality since 1992. The region benefits from its economic attractiveness and its role as a European political center, attracting migrants from all over the world.
In Wallonia, it is the province of Liège which displays the highest figures, with 125,972 acquisitions over the same period. This is explained by the economic weight of the region and its industrial past, which has welcomed significant migratory flows, particularly Italians and Moroccans.
