Air passengers in Belgium
Belgium: Air passengers was 11.39 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Belgium, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 11.39 million for air passengers in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.1% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Belgium peaked at 14.28 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.37 million, in 1970.
That places Belgium 47th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.37 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.40 million | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 1.46 million | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 1.56 million | +7.2% |
| 1974 | 1.61 million | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 1.59 million | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 1.68 million | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 1.84 million | +9.4% |
| 1978 | 1.98 million | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 2.04 million | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 1.97 million | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 2.05 million | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 2.00 million | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 1.96 million | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 2.03 million | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 2.19 million | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 2.23 million | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 2.36 million | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 2.60 million | +10.3% |
| 1989 | 2.81 million | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 3.13 million | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 3.02 million | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 3.15 million | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 3.65 million | +16.0% |
| 1994 | 4.19 million | +14.9% |
| 1995 | 5.00 million | +19.3% |
| 1996 | 5.17 million | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 6.87 million | +32.8% |
| 1998 | 8.75 million | +27.3% |
| 1999 | 9.97 million | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 10.74 million | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 8.49 million | -20.9% |
| 2002 | 2.34 million | -72.4% |
| 2003 | 2.90 million | +24.0% |
| 2004 | 3.26 million | +12.4% |
| 2005 | 3.34 million | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 3.64 million | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 4.08 million | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 5.88 million | +44.2% |
| 2009 | 4.86 million | -17.3% |
| 2010 | 7.53 million | +55.0% |
| 2011 | 8.64 million | +14.7% |
| 2012 | 9.51 million | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 9.52 million | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 10.54 million | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 11.47 million | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 12.55 million | +9.3% |
| 2017 | 13.68 million | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 13.64 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 14.28 million | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 3.52 million | -75.3% |
| 2021 | 5.40 million | +53.5% |
| 2022 | 10.17 million | +88.1% |
| 2023 | 11.39 million | +12.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 11.39 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 11.39 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.87 million, 2.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -75.3% | 14.28 million | 3.52 million |
| 2002 | -72.4% | 8.49 million | 2.34 million |
| 2022 | +88.1% | 5.40 million | 10.17 million |
| 2010 | +55.0% | 4.86 million | 7.53 million |
| 2021 | +53.5% | 3.52 million | 5.40 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.65 million | 1.37 million | 2.04 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.22 million | 1.96 million | 2.81 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.29 million | 3.02 million | 9.97 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.95 million | 2.34 million | 10.74 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.13 million | 7.53 million | 14.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.62 million | 3.52 million | 11.39 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Belgium?
- Air passengers in Belgium was 11.39 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 14.28 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.37 million in 1970.
- How does Belgium rank for air passengers?
- Belgium ranks 47th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.