More than 12,500 new Brussels residents in 2015

The population of the Brussels-Capital Region increased by 1.1% in 2015, bringing the region's total population up to 1,187,890 inhabitants. Of the 19 districts, the greatest population increase was seen in the City of Brussels and Schaerbeek, writes Bruzz.

Brussels now has 12,717 more inhabitants than a year ago, which is the highest growth rate of the Belgian regions, according to data from the Statistical Office of the FPS Economy.

A large part of the capital's growth is due to births: Brussels welcomed 8,885 babies last year. In addition, the region received 17,309 new residents as a result of international migration. But it also experienced a strong negative internal migration, with as many as 13,336 residents moving from Brussels to Flanders or Wallonia in 2015.