This paper investigates divergences in levels of affective polarization across Belgian regions around the 2019 elections. Elaborating on the relative deprivation theory, we analyse the role of current and long- term socio-economic regional inequalities and of geographical distance separating regions. Empirically, we aggregate individual-level measures of affective polarization at the Belgian NUTS-3 level and use a gravity approach to explore the determinants of regional divergences. Our results show that regional variations in affective polarization are best explained by a current rural–urban divide and by how regions have performed economically in the last years. We also show that geographical proximity matters and reinforces the effects of economic deprivation. ; Research on Political Polarisation in the European Parliament ; RoPP-EP ; Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions; Individual Fellowship at the Université libre de Bruxelles; IFatULB; Grant Agreement number: 801505 ; info:eu-repo/semantics/published