The total population in Belgium was estimated at 11.8 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Belgium Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The total population of Belgium was about 11.82 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the total population rose by approximately 1.96 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The total population will steadily rise by around 230 thousand people over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Belgium was reported at 383 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Belgium - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population growth (annual %) in Belgium was reported at 0.91372 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Belgium - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Belgium's largest cities in terms of population in 2024 were situated in Flanders. Approximately 544,759 people lived in Antwerpen, making it the biggest city in Belgium. This city was followed by Gent with 269,597 inhabitants in 2024. However, the third and fourth city with the most inhabitants were in the Belgian region of Wallonia. Indeed, Charleroi counted 204,322 inhabitants, and Bruxelles, 196,828 inhabitants.

Belgium's share of the population without access to a bank account decreased to a new low in 2021, according to a three-year survey. The decrease seemed especially fueled by the increase of the "unbanked" population - or those who did not have access to the services of a bank or another, similar financial organization - among the richest respondents. The share of respondents who were classified under the poorest 40 percent of the country, for example, grew from 1.1 percent in 2017 to 22 percent in 2021. The source does not mention whether the figures were rounded.

Population, female (% of total population) in Belgium was reported at 50.71 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Belgium - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Belgium population by age. The dataset can be utilized to understand the age distribution and demographics of Belgium.

Content

The dataset constitues the following three datasets

• Belgium, IL Age Group Population Dataset: A complete breakdown of Belgium age demographics from 0 to 85 years, distributed across 18 age groups
• Belgium, IL Age Cohorts Dataset: Children, Working Adults, and Seniors in Belgium - Population and Percentage Analysis
• Belgium, IL Population Pyramid Dataset: Age Groups, Male and Female Population, and Total Population for Demographics Analysis

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the Belgium, WI population pyramid, which represents the Belgium population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Belgium, WI, is 18.5.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Belgium, WI, is 41.1.
• Total dependency ratio for Belgium, WI is 59.6.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for Belgium, WI is 2.4.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the Belgium population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the Belgium for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the Belgium for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the Belgium for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Belgium Population by Age. You can refer the same here

From 2010 to 2025, the population growth of Belgium is expected to vary greatly. In 2020, the Belgian population increased by only 8,043 people. The forecast predicts that from 2021 to 2025, annual growth would increase by about 40,000 each year. In 2025, for instance, it was forecast that the population would grow by 44,402 people.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Belgium population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Belgium across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Belgium was 348, a 1.14% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Belgium population was 352, a decline of 0.28% compared to a population of 353 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Belgium decreased by 108. In this period, the peak population was 464 in the year 2003. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Belgium is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Belgium population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Belgium Population by Year. You can refer the same here

Historical chart and dataset showing total population for Belgium by year from 1950 to 2025.

Belgium BE: Population: Total data was reported at 11,787,423.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 11,680,210.000 Person for 2022. Belgium BE: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 10,024,822.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,787,423.000 Person in 2023 and a record low of 9,153,489.000 Person in 1960. Belgium BE: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Belgium – Table BE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics; (4) United Nations Statistics Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years).;Sum;Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

As of 2024, 77 percent of the Belgian population used instant messaging services. This figure represented an increase of approximately 148 percent compared to 2010. Overall, the share of the population sending and receiving messages online has remained at around 70 percent in recent years.

Population, male (% of total population) in Belgium was reported at 49.29 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Belgium - Population, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population ages 0-14, male (% of male population) in Belgium was reported at 16.9 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Belgium - Population ages 0-14, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2023, the population of Belgium numbered around 11.7 million. Most of these inhabitants lived in the Dutch-speaking Flemish Region, which was home to nearly half of Belgium’s population. The Walloon Region, broadly in line with the French-speaking part of Belgium, numbered roughly 3.68 million inhabitants, and another 1.24 million lived in Brussels and the surrounding areas (which are bilingual).  

 Population density by region 

Despite having the lowest number of inhabitants, the Brussels-Capital Region had the highest population density, at nearly 7,400 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2017. By comparison, this was less than 500 inhabitants in Flanders and just 214 in Wallonia.  

GDP per region  

Wallonia was not just the region with the lowest number of inhabitants per square kilometer, it also had the lowest GDP per capita. In 2019, the most recent available year, GDP per capita reached 30,236 euros in this region. In contrast, GDP per capita was nearly 2.5 times as high in Brussels, at 71,412 euros per capita.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Belgium population by age cohorts (Children: Under 18 years; Working population: 18-64 years; Senior population: 65 years or more). It lists the population in each age cohort group along with its percentage relative to the total population of Belgium. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution across children, working population and senior population for dependency ratio, housing requirements, ageing, migration patterns etc.

Key observations

The largest age group was 18 to 64 years with a poulation of 178 (62.24% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates.

Age cohorts:

• Under 18 years
• 18 to 64 years
• 65 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age cohort for the Belgium population analysis. Total expected values are 3 groups ( Children, Working Population and Senior Population).
• Population: The population for the age cohort in Belgium is shown in the following column.
• Percent of Total Population: The population as a percent of total population of the Belgium is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Belgium Population by Age. You can refer the same here

As of 2024, about 20 percent of the population in Belgium that used the internet during the past three months took an online course. This figure has been increasing gradually since 2007 when only three percent of adult internet users in Belgium took an online course.

Belgium BE: Net Migration data was reported at 36,243.000 Person in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 41,679.000 Person for 2023. Belgium BE: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging 18,243.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2024, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 118,615.000 Person in 2022 and a record low of 1,100.000 Person in 1982. Belgium BE: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Belgium – Table BE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Sum;