Quick facts
Belgium population overview
Belgium is the 11th most populous of 50 countries and territories in Europe. The United Nations put the population at 11,768,173 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.1% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 39 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 101,206 births (8.6 per 1,000 people) and 115,328 deaths (9.8 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 29,420 people. The infant mortality rate is 2.7 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 9,153,489 in 1960 to 11,941,781 in 2025 — a change of +30.5%, or +0.4% per year on average. It peaked at 11,941,781 in 2025 and has declined 1.4% since.
Demographically, the median age is 42.1 years; life expectancy at birth is 82.6 years; women have on average 1.4 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 15.7% of residents are under 15 and 21% are 65 or older (2025); 87.7% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Brussels. Belgium covers 30,689 km², giving a population density of about 384 people per km². GDP was $725.47B in 2025 — about $60,750 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Belgium population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) | 11,779,434 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 11,768,173 |
| World rank | #83 of 238 |
| Rank in Europe | #11 of 50 |
| Share of world population | 0.1% |
| Annual growth rate | +0.1% |
| Births per year est. | 101,206 |
| Deaths per year est. | 115,328 |
| Net migration per year est. | +29,420 |
| Birth rate | 8.6 per 1,000 |
| Death rate | 9.8 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality | 2.7 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio | 97.5 males per 100 females |
| Median age | 42.1 years |
| Life expectancy | 82.6 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 | 1.4 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 | 87.7% |
| Surface area 2023 | 30,689 km² |
| Population density | 384 per km² |
| Capital | Brussels |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 | $725.47B |
| GDP per capita 2025 | $60,750 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Belgium population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 11,779,434 | – | – |
| 2025 | 11,941,781 | +83,171 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 11,858,610 | +78,664 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 11,779,946 | +99,736 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 11,680,210 | +94,015 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 11,586,195 | +47,591 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 11,538,604 | +264,408 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 11,274,196 | +378,610 | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 10,895,586 | +416,969 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 10,478,617 | +227,367 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 10,251,250 | +114,439 | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 10,136,811 | +169,432 | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 9,967,379 | +109,071 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 9,858,308 | -934 | 0% |
| 1980 | 9,859,242 | +58,542 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 9,800,700 | +145,151 | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 9,655,549 | +191,882 | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 9,463,667 | +310,178 | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 9,153,489 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
About Belgium
Population over time
- From 9,153,489 in 1960 to 11,779,434 today — up 28.7%.
- Population peaked at 11,941,781 in 2025 and is down 1.4% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +0.6% per year.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 82.3 years (2024), up 12.6 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.4 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 9.2 births vs 9.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Deaths outnumber births — natural decrease of 0.3 per 1,000 a year.
Age structure
- 15.7% of the population is under 15 and 21% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 12% in 1960 — the population is aging.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 86.65 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 148.7 Mt in 1979 — down 41.7% since.
- Per person: 7.31 t in 2024, vs 14.45 t in 1970.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 4,077.8 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 15.1% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 11.7% of final energy in 2021 (+10.4 points since 1990).
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 22.6% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 22% to 22.6% since 2000 — roughly 186 km² of forest gained.
Urban population (% of total)
- 87.7% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 65.9% in 1960 (+21.8 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: medium–high — freshwater withdrawals are 35.8% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 1,027 m³ in 2022, down 21.4% since 1961.
Economy
- GDP: $725.47B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 57.4% since 2015.
- That works out to $60,750 per person.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 5.9% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 2.5% in 2025.
Internet & mobile
- 95.8% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 103.9 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
Belgium in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Belgium in 2026?
As of October 2026, Belgium has an estimated population of 11,779,434. The United Nations estimated 11,768,173 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.1% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Belgium growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.1% per year — roughly 39 more people every day. Each year there are about 101,206 births and 115,328 deaths, with net migration of +29,420.
What is the population density of Belgium?
About 384 people per square kilometre: 11,779,434 people living on 30,689 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Belgium?
The median age is 42.1 years, and life expectancy at birth is 82.6 years. 15.7% of the population is under 15 and 21% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Belgium rank by population?
Belgium is the 83rd most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 11th in Europe, with 0.1% of the global population.
How has the population of Belgium changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 9,153,489; by 2025 it had grown to 11,941,781 (+30.5%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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JordanSources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.1%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.