Average incomes are lowest in Brussels-Capital Region

Seven of Belgium’s ten poorest municipalities are located in the Brussels-Capital Region, according to figures from the FPS Economy. Sint-Joost-ten-Node/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (pictured) has the lowest average income in the country, and Sint-Martems-Latem, just outside of Ghent, has the highest.

The new figures take into account the net income of all Belgian municipalities, or the income minus all deductible expenses, and are based on information from the annual tax returns.

The figures show that of the country’s 10 municipalities with the lowest income, seven of them are located in the Brussels-Capital Region. Sint-Joost-ten-Node/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, with an average per capita income of €8,242, is the lowest in Belgium, followed by Sint-Jans-Molenbeek/Molenbeek-Saint-Jean and Schaerbeek/Schaarbeek. Anderlecht, Sint-Gillis/Saint-Gilles, Brussels City and Koekelberg are also included among the seven poorest municipalities.

The figures also reveal large regional differences. Flanders, with an average annual income of €17,765, is far above the national average of €16,651. In Wallonia, the average income is €15,736 and in Brussels it is €13,312, both well below the national average.