An observation to be tempered however since in terms of pure figures, the province of Luxembourg is in last place behind the ogres which are Hainaut (5,443; + 0.4%) and Liège (4,508; 6 0.41%) . The number of Walloon Brabançons increased by 3,093 people (+0.75%), while Namur saw an increase of 2,934 additional citizens (+0.59%). In total, our province therefore remains the least populated with its 293,647 inhabitants. That’s it for the basics.

Let’s go down a floor to focus on the numbers in our province. At the level of the five arrondissements first, Arlon is first in class with 926 more citizens (+ 1.45%), ahead of Neufchâteau (737; + 1.14%), Bastogne (544; + 1.09%). Marche-en-Famenne is far behind with only 222 additional citizens (+ 0.39%) while 4th place is taken by Virton (378; + 0.69%). These differences seem to be partly explained by the presence of the neighboring Grand Duchy.

Let us now come to the last level of these annual figures, the 44 municipalities that make up our province. With very different rankings depending on the number or percentage of additional people selected.

+ TO READ | Wallonia: comment on the population increase/decrease in your municipality between 2022 and 2023

Let’s start with the number, at the step of our map opposite. In number 1, the municipality of Arlon with 408 more inhabitants (+ 1.33%), ahead of Libramont (221; + 1.9%) and Aubange (218; + 1.26%). The Top 5 is completed by Bastogne (155, +0.93%) and Neufchâteau (151; +1.88%).

On the other side of the ranking, some…have lost citizens! This is the case for eight municipalities, led by La Roche-en-Ardenne (- 44; -1.05%), Bouillon (- 34; – 0.63%) and Chiny (- 13; – 0.25% ). Rendeux lost 5 citizens (-0.19%) while Bertogne, Meix-devant-Virton, Tenneville and Tellin each saw their population decrease by 4 inhabitants.

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Let’s continue with another look, more proportional, that of the percentage. In this little game, it is…Martelange who wins (+ 3.83%; 74). Tintigny (+ 3.02%; 132) and Herbeumont (+ 2.69%; 132) complete the podium. Unsurprisingly, La Roche also closes this ranking, behind Bouilon and Chiny.

Over 5 years, only 2 municipalities in negative

Let’s take a step back over the years, to analyze these figures over a period of 5 years (2018 – 2023). The first observation that emerges is that, over this period, only two municipalities experienced negative growth; La Roche (- 30; – 0.72%) and Meix (- 5; – 0.18%). The other municipalities which present a negative balance over the period 2022-2023 therefore all have a positive result over the last 5 years. Proof that the past year is not due to the illustration of an anchored phenomenon, Rendeux has, for example, seen its population increase by 103 people (+ 3.99%) during this period. Chiny has experienced an increase of 101 citizens (+ 1.95%).

And at the top of this 2018-2023 ranking? It is still Arlon in the lead in terms of additional people (1522; + 5.13%), ahead of Bastogne (878; + 5.51%), Aubange (688; + 4.08%), Libramont (639; + 5.71%) and Neufchâteau (521; +6.8%).

Proportionally, Martelange made the biggest leap with + 10.35% (188), ahead of Vaux-sur-Sûre (+ 8.83%; 499), Fauvillers (+ 7.46%; 168), Léglise (+ 7.14%; 383) and Manhay (+ 6.97%; 241).

Finally, let’s finish with the municipality that has experienced the least growth, without it being negative, over the 5-year period: Daverdisse. Indeed, there are 10 more people there between January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023. And…8 more people between 2018 and 2023. This still represents an increase of 0.58%. Daverdisse was and remained the least populated municipality in the province with 1,417 inhabitants. Which is very, very far from the 31,176 souls of the commune of Arlon.