Unlike many other developed countries, Belgium is projected to continue growing throughout the rest of the 21st century. Belgium’s population is currently 11.59 million people, which is expected to grow to 12.48 million people by the end of 2099.
Belgium is growing at a low, steady pace of 0.44%, adding about 50,300 people to the population every year. This low population growth rate is good for a country that is already fairly densely populated. Belgium has a net migration of about 48,000 per year and a fertility rate of 1.71 births per woman.
Because of Belgium’s low fertility rate, the country is facing an aging population. The average age in Belgium is now 41.9 years and about 30% of the population is in or approaching retirement, foreshadowing very large pension obligations.
Belgium, although not one of the largest countries in Europe, still has showed significant growth in its population in the last few years. From 10,839,905 people in 2010 to around 11,095,000 in late 2012 and early 2013, it has shown a steady population increase per year. The most recent census in February 2015 found a population of 11.239 million.
The rate of growth in Belgium hasn't bee terribly high over the past century, steadily sitting around an annual growth rate of 0.50%, and this number is supposed to get smaller in the years to come. As of 2019, the growth rate in Belgium is 0.56%, which is expected to decrease to just 0.14% by 2050. With numbers this small, Belgium likely won't see an increase of over one million people in the next 30 years or so. Current projections say that the population will be 11,619,972 in 2020, 12,001,594 in 2030, 12,293,880 in 2040 and 12,488,233 in 2050.
| Belgium Population (as of 11/25/2023) | 11,698,260 |
| Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2023) | 11,686,140 |
| Births per Day | 320 |
| Deaths per Day | 304 |
| Migrations per Day | 66 |
| Net Change per Day | 82 |
| Population Change Since Jan. 1 | 26,978 |
Net increase of 1 person every 17.57 minutes
Population estimates based on interpolation of data from World Population Prospects
| One birth every 4.5 minutes | |
| One death every 4.73 minutes | |
| One immigrant every 21.82 minutes | |
| Net gain of one person every 17.57 minutes |
City | Population |
|---|---|
| Brussels | 1,019,022 |
| Antwerpen | 459,805 |
| Gent | 231,493 |
| Charleroi | 200,132 |
| Liege | 182,597 |
| Brugge | 116,709 |
| Namur | 106,284 |
| Leuven | 92,892 |
| Mons | 91,277 |
| Deurne | 78,747 |
Belgium is a country found in north western Europe along The North Sea, between the Netherlands and France with a surface area of 11,849 square miles (30,688 square kilometers). Belgium moderately populated for its size. Using the 2019 population of 11.56 million people, the calculated population density of Belgium is 975.6 people per square mile (376.7 people per square kilometer).
Most of the Belgium population are congested in the larger cities such as the capital, Brussels, as well as other major cities such as Liege, Ghent, and Oostende. These cities are the centers of economic activity for the country and thus provide plenty of employment opportunities to many people. Brussels has a population of 1.175 million with 7,025 people per square kilometer.
Provincially, the majority of the population is located in the Dutch-speaking northern region of Flanders with around 57.3% of people living there. Flanders is followed by Wallonia with 32.3% and Brussels with 10.4% of the population located in that region.
Year | Population | Growth Rate | Density (km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 8,834,526 | 0.5% | 291.76 | 43 | 12 |
| 1960 | 9,108,724 | 0.61% | 300.82 | 47 | 15 |
| 1965 | 9,412,087 | 0.66% | 310.84 | 52 | 16 |
| 1970 | 9,629,376 | 0.46% | 318.01 | 56 | 18 |
| 1975 | 9,763,430 | 0.28% | 322.44 | 57 | 21 |
| 1980 | 9,828,986 | 0.13% | 324.60 | 59 | 22 |
| 1985 | 9,880,534 | 0.1% | 326.31 | 67 | 24 |
| 1990 | 9,959,560 | 0.16% | 328.92 | 71 | 27 |
| 1995 | 10,095,198 | 0.27% | 333.39 | 74 | 27 |
| 2000 | 10,264,343 | 0.33% | 338.98 | 74 | 28 |
| 2005 | 10,516,978 | 0.49% | 347.32 | 76 | 30 |
| 2010 | 10,877,947 | 0.68% | 359.25 | 78 | 29 |
| 2015 | 11,248,303 | 0.67% | 371.48 | 79 | 32 |
| 2017 | 11,384,489 | 0.6% | 375.97 | 80 | 33 |
| 2018 | 11,448,595 | 0.56% | 378.09 | 81 | 32 |
| 2019 | 11,510,568 | 0.54% | 380.14 | 81 | 32 |
| 2020 | 11,561,717 | 0.44% | 381.83 | 81 | 33 |
| 2022 | 11,655,930 | 0.47% | 384.94 | 81 | 34 |
| 2023 | 11,686,140 | 0.41% | 385.94 | 82 | 34 |
Year | Population | Growth Rate | Density (km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11,686,140 | 0.41% | 385.94 | 82 | 34 |
| 2024 | 11,715,774 | 0.35% | 386.91 | 82 | 34 |
| 2025 | 11,744,521 | 0.31% | 387.86 | 82 | 34 |
| 2030 | 11,873,460 | 0.22% | 392.12 | 85 | 35 |
| 2035 | 11,978,613 | 0.18% | 395.59 | 88 | 35 |
| 2040 | 12,056,739 | 0.13% | 398.18 | 89 | 36 |
| 2045 | 12,097,719 | 0.07% | 399.53 | 91 | 38 |
| 2050 | 12,090,657 | -0.01% | 399.30 | 91 | 40 |
| 2055 | 12,044,981 | -0.08% | 397.79 | 93 | 42 |
| 2060 | 11,982,621 | -0.1% | 395.73 | 95 | 42 |
| 2065 | 11,923,188 | -0.1% | 393.76 | 95 | 42 |
| 2070 | 11,874,625 | -0.08% | 392.16 | 96 | 39 |
| 2075 | 11,827,278 | -0.08% | 390.60 | 96 | 40 |
| 2080 | 11,771,441 | -0.1% | 388.75 | 98 | 40 |
| 2085 | 11,704,191 | -0.11% | 386.53 | 98 | 40 |
| 2090 | 11,635,172 | -0.12% | 384.25 | 99 | 39 |
| 2095 | 11,575,677 | -0.1% | 382.29 | 99 | 40 |
41.6
Total
40.4
Male
42.8
Female
There are people over age 18 in Belgium.
Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 March 1991 |
| 2001 | 1 October 2001 |
| 2011 | 1 January 2011 |
| 2021 | 1 January 2021 |
Belgium is located in Western Europe where it borders France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Belgium is home to the European Union headquarters as well as NATO. The February 2015 census in Belgium found an official population of 11.239 million.
Belgium is a population that boasts diverse cultures and ethnicities. However, even with the burgeoning immigrant population, the majority of French-speaking individuals live in and around the capital city of Brussels, while the Flemish-speaking population is more restricted towards the Flanders side of the country. Due to job opportunities, the immigrant population mostly settles down in the large cities, where they can earn their living in an easier manner than in the suburban areas of the country.
In terms of ethnicity, the Flemish community is a majority in the country. More than 6 million inhabitants of Belgium are Flemish, while the French-speaking Walloon are a minority but make up the next biggest population group with around 3.5 million inhabitants. Apart from the two major population groups, there are small groups of minorities present in small pockets around the country, including the roughly 79,000 German-speaking residents who live near the Belgian-German border.
Among the immigrants, the largest group of inhabitants is from Morocco, with around half a million residents living all over Belgium. The next biggest ethnic group of immigrants is from Turkey, and these people are also present in significant numbers all over Belgium.
Overall, Belgium represents a rich group of inhabitants who belong to different ethnicities. It is a country that is showing steady growth and can provide support for its growing population numbers. The official languages include Dutch, French, and German.
In terms of religious followings, the Belgium population is relatively diverse, with 50% reporting an affiliation with Roman Catholics. Protestants and other Christians make up 2.5%, Muslims 5%, Jewish 0.4%, Buddhists 0.3%, and atheists 9.2%. The remaining 32.6% of the population have no religious affiliation.
The life expectancy in Belgium has continued to increase while the death rate has fallen. This has been mainly due to advances in the field of medicine, which has also ensured better healthcare for babies as well. The country is also providing better care during childbirth, leading to a higher rate of births as well. The life expectancy estimate as of 2016 was 80.5 years, which is a significant increase from previous years, with male life expectancy standing at 78 years and female life expectancy at 83 years. In 2018, the World Factbook reports a change of total life expectancy to 81.1, with males at 78.5 and females at 83.8 - showing a slow increase as time continues to pass.
Belgium became an independent nation in 1830 after parting ways politically with the Netherlands. Belgium has long been known for its neutrality policy but abandoned this for a time during World Wars I and II when they were invaded by Germany. The growth rate has remained pretty close to half of a percent annually, fairly consistently until the present day.