Which Brussels communes have large immigrant communities?

In Brussels, significant populations of immigrants from outside western Europe reside primarily in the central part of the city. Specifically, these communities are concentrated in the communes of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Saint-Gilles, Schaerbeek, and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.1

These areas reflect the city's increased ethnic and religious diversity, which has grown since the post-World War II era through the arrival of laborers from countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco, and Turkey, as well as migrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For instance, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is noted for its important Turkish community, while Schaerbeek features a high concentration of mosques and Eastern Orthodox churches.1

It is important to note that the demographic landscape of Brussels is also shaped by a large international population of European Union personnel. Unlike the central immigrant communities, these residents often settle in more affluent communes, such as Ixelles, Etterbeek, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.1