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Rabat – A new report from Belgium’s Federal Migration Center, Myria, places the Moroccan community at the heart of the country’s migration story, not only in numbers but in profile, pace, and presence across regions.
Titled “Migration in Figures and Rights,” the study does more than map statistics and sketches a portrait of a community that has taken root across generations, with families, careers, and identities that now form part of Belgium’s social fabric.
Belgium counted nearly 11.8 million residents at the start of 2025. Among them, one in four has a foreign first nationality, meaning their original nationality at the time of registration in the national system. Within this group, Moroccans stand out as one of the most visible and established non-European communities.
The figures reveal a clear pattern. People from outside the European Union now make up the majority of those with a foreign background. They also tend to be younger. This youth factor shapes the country’s demographic balance and points to long-term societal impact.
Across Belgium’s regions, Moroccan families have settled in distinct yet interconnected ways. Flanders hosts the largest share, followed by Wallonia and Brussels. In each of these regions, the Moroccan presence tells a story of continuity rather than recent arrival.
That continuity shows most clearly in citizenship trends. Moroccans rank first among those who acquire Belgian nationality in both Flanders and Brussels, and second in Wallonia. Behind these rankings lie thousands of personal decisions, years spent working, studying, raising children, and choosing to belong.
Youth and stability
What sets the Moroccan community apart is not only its size but its balance. Men and women appear in nearly equal numbers across all regions. Age also plays a defining role. Compared to other nationalities, Moroccans who obtain Belgian citizenship tend to be younger, which suggests a community still in motion, still building.
This relative youth translates into the everyday realities of young professionals entering the workforce, families shaping neighborhoods, and a generation that moves between cultures with ease.
Migration flows reflect this steady presence. In 2024, Belgium recorded more than 7,400 new arrivals from Morocco. The number does not dominate overall migration figures, yet it signals consistency. Over the past decade, arrivals have followed a gradual upward path rather than sharp spikes.
The data shows that women slightly outnumber men among recent arrivals, which further reinforces the image of family-based migration rather than isolated movement.
Residence permits offer another lens into this reality. Moroccan nationals rank second among recipients, just behind Ukrainians. Most permits stem from family reunification, which remains the primary legal pathway for many. Education and employment follow, though at lower levels.
At the same time, overall migration to Belgium has slowed. Fewer arrivals from Ukraine after the initial wave of displacement have reshaped the broader picture. Yet the Moroccan presence does not follow this decline. It moves at its own rhythm, steady, rooted, and less dependent on sudden geopolitical shifts.
The Myria report ultimately paints a picture that goes beyond policy debates to show a community that has moved from migration to permanence.
