Quick facts
Brussels overview
Brussels (orange) and the other large cities of Belgium
Brussels lies in Brussels Capital in Belgium at 50.85°N, 4.35°E, about 28 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Brussels (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Belgium: the next largest cities are Antwerp (529,247), Gent (265,086), Charleroi (200,132). Together, the three largest cities hold 15.4% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Mechelen, about 21 km away, followed by Aalst (24 km).
Belgium as a whole has a live population of 11,779,476 (+0.1% a year) and ranks #83 of 238 countries — see the Belgium population page for the full statistics and the Belgium atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Brussels
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mechelen Flanders | 21 km | 77,530 |
| Aalst Flanders | 24 km | 77,534 |
| Leuven Flanders | 25 km | 101,032 |
| Dendermonde Flanders | 26 km | 45,673 |
| Lokeren Flanders | 38 km | 41,438 |
| Sint-Niklaas Flanders | 38 km | 69,010 |
| Berchem Flanders | 38 km | 43,511 |
| Borgerhout Flanders | 40 km | 46,087 |
Largest cities in Belgium
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Brussels?
Brussels has about 1,019,022 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Brussels the capital of Belgium?
Yes — Brussels is the national capital of Belgium.
How big is Brussels compared with the rest of Belgium?
Its 1,019,022 residents are 8.7% of the 11,779,476 people living in Belgium today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Brussels?
In Brussels Capital, Belgium, at latitude 50.85 and longitude 4.35, 28 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Mechelen (21 km), Aalst (24 km), Leuven (25 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Brussels Population 2026 — Belgium. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/belgium/brussels/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/belgium/brussels/">Brussels Population 2026 — Belgium</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.