Belgium birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Belgium has a birth rate of 9.4 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.47 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Belgium was 2.54 children per woman — 1.73 times higher than in 2023.

Belgium birth rate statistics:

Belgium is ranked 155/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 186/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Belgium is 29.5 — it was 26.4 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3, a change from 27.9 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 24.4 in 1960 to 3.67 in 2023.
21.5% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.7% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Belgium by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.47	151
2022	1.53	147
2021	1.6	141
2020	1.55	148
2019	1.6	144
2018	1.62	144
2017	1.65	144
2016	1.68	148
2015	1.7	145
2014	1.74	144
2013	1.76	141
2012	1.8	139
2011	1.81	140
2010	1.86	139
2009	1.84	143
2008	1.85	142
2007	1.82	145
2006	1.8	145
2005	1.76	148
2004	1.72	152
2003	1.67	156
2002	1.65	155
2001	1.67	155
2000	1.67	158
1999	1.62	163
1998	1.6	164
1997	1.6	165
1996	1.59	167
1995	1.56	171
1994	1.56	173
1993	1.61	174
1992	1.65	176
1991	1.66	178
1990	1.62	181
1989	1.58	180
1988	1.57	182
1987	1.54	183
1986	1.54	185
1985	1.51	186
1984	1.54	185
1983	1.57	186
1982	1.61	187
1981	1.66	185
1980	1.68	184
1979	1.69	185
1978	1.69	187
1977	1.71	186
1976	1.73	188
1975	1.74	190
1974	1.83	189
1973	1.95	181
1972	2.09	177
1971	2.21	174
1970	2.25	175
1969	2.27	174
1968	2.31	173
1967	2.41	174
1966	2.52	173
1965	2.61	170
1964	2.71	168
1963	2.68	171
1962	2.59	172
1961	2.63	173
1960	2.54	176

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1972. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.61 — a 8.7% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	0	110,731	110,731
2022	-2,336	114,466	116,802
2021	5,793	118,179	112,386
2020	-12,692	114,232	126,924
2019	8,042	117,187	109,145
2018	7,999	118,841	110,842
2017	10,238	119,439	109,201
2016	14,731	122,379	107,648
2015	11,274	121,761	110,487
2014	21,297	125,541	104,244
2013	16,739	126,101	109,362
2012	18,882	127,729	108,847
2011	25,388	129,147	103,759
2010	23,970	129,657	105,687
2009	23,752	127,398	103,646
2008	22,491	127,448	104,957
2007	23,376	124,320	100,944
2006	21,096	122,356	101,260
2005	15,718	119,456	103,738
2004	16,673	117,758	101,085
2003	7,263	114,137	106,874
2002	7,233	112,627	105,394
2001	11,315	115,209	103,894
2000	12,302	116,864	104,562
1999	9,203	114,535	105,332
1998	9,183	114,273	105,090
1997	12,218	116,066	103,848
1996	12,188	116,801	104,613
1995	11,150	115,559	104,409
1994	12,139	116,329	104,190
1993	14,118	121,013	106,895
1992	20,090	124,559	104,469
1991	22,010	126,056	104,046
1990	19,935	123,595	103,660
1989	13,912	121,239	107,327
1988	14,853	119,810	104,957
1987	11,844	117,455	105,611
1986	5,917	117,355	111,438
1985	2,958	114,356	111,398
1984	4,927	115,307	110,380
1983	2,956	117,280	114,324
1982	7,885	120,246	112,361
1981	11,831	124,223	112,392
1980	10,845	124,226	113,381
1979	11,818	124,089	112,271
1978	7,872	122,994	115,122
1977	8,847	121,896	113,049
1976	1,964	120,764	118,800
1975	0	119,568	119,568
1974	7,818	124,109	116,291
1973	11,690	129,564	117,874
1972	18,451	135,955	117,504
1971	21,281	141,228	119,947
1970	23,173	141,936	118,763
1969	21,221	141,796	120,575
1968	20,199	142,357	122,158
1967	31,618	146,589	114,971
1966	36,206	151,492	115,286
1965	39,748	155,204	115,456
1964	51,580	161,303	109,723
1963	41,804	158,855	117,051
1962	42,414	154,905	112,491
1961	52,349	158,882	106,533
1960	40,275	153,778	113,503

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Belgium (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.06% annually. On average, 6,434 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0% — 0 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Belgium ranks 157/196 for absolute natural population change and 157/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Belgium compared to other countries

	Belgium	Rank
Fertility rate	1.47	151/196
Birth rate	9.4	155/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+0	157/196
Natural population change rate	+0%	157/196
Population growth	+0.67%	119/197
Age at first childbirth	29.5 years	25/137
Average age at childbearing	31.3 years	35/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	3.31	176/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	55.1	168/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	15.4	140/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	21.5%	168/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	65.4%	29/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.3%	68/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.004%	172/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.21%	165/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.3%	170/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.36%	166/192
Life expectancy	82.6 years	26/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	16.7	3.31	55.1	15.4
2025	16.8	3.42	56	15.4
2024	16.9	3.53	56.9	15.4
2023	17	3.7	57.6	15.3
2022	19.2	4.4	64.7	17.2
2021	20	4.62	67.3	17.8
2020	19.8	4.88	68.4	17
2019	20.1	5.2	70.3	17.2
2018	20.2	5.51	71.3	17.1
2017	20.6	5.87	74.2	17
2016	21	6.2	77.4	17
2015	21.2	6.64	79	16.9
2014	21.7	7.13	81.4	17.2
2013	21.9	7.49	83.6	17.1
2012	22.4	8.61	86.9	17.1
2011	22.6	9.36	89.8	16.9
2010	23.2	9.76	93.4	17
2009	22.9	10.2	94.6	16.5
2008	23	10.3	96.3	16.5
2007	22.7	10.3	95.2	16.1
2006	22.5	10.4	95.6	15.9
2005	22.1	10.5	94.4	15.5
2004	21.9	10.6	93.8	15.2
2003	21.4	10.7	91.9	14.7
2002	21.3	11	92.6	14.3
2001	21.8	11.8	95.5	14.4
2000	22.1	11.6	97	14.4
1999	21.8	10.7	95.8	13.9
1998	21.8	10.1	96.4	13.7
1997	22.2	9.98	98.2	13.8
1996	22.4	10	98.6	13.6
1995	22.3	9.82	97.8	13.2
1994	22.5	10.1	98.8	12.9
1993	23.4	11	103.5	12.7
1992	24.2	11.9	107.9	12.7
1991	24.5	12.1	110.2	12.3
1990	24.3	11.8	109.7	11.7
1989	23.8	11.3	107.8	11.2
1988	23.7	11.6	108	10.5
1987	23.3	11.5	107.4	9.86
1986	23.2	12.2	108.4	9.42
1985	22.7	12.7	107	8.83
1984	23	14.3	110.2	8.52
1983	23.3	16	112.9	8.41
1982	23.8	17.5	116.9	8.39
1981	24.4	18.9	121.1	8.49
1980	24.5	20.2	122.1	8.54
1979	24.4	21.7	122.2	8.58
1978	24.1	23.3	121.5	8.44
1977	24	24.8	121	8.42
1976	23.9	26.4	120.7	8.28
1975	23.7	27.4	121	8.32
1974	24.6	29.2	126	8.95
1973	25.9	30.7	132.9	9.77
1972	27.3	31.6	141.9	11
1971	28.5	32	148.9	12.3
1970	28.7	30.9	150.4	13.3
1969	28.5	30.4	149.3	14
1968	28.6	30.2	149.6	14.6
1967	29.5	31.3	154.8	15.5
1966	30.7	31.6	160.8	16.9
1965	31.9	30.1	165.2	18.3
1964	33.3	27.8	169.6	19.8
1963	33.4	26.4	168	20.1
1962	32.9	25	160.3	20.1
1961	33.7	24.7	160.1	20.6
1960	33	24.8	154.1	19.8

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Belgium by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 1.13% will be to women under age 20, 37.1% to women ages 20-29, and 61.8% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 3.12%, 67.3%, and 29.6%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Belgium	World
2100	12.8%	16.5%
2099	12.8%	16.6%
2098	12.9%	16.6%
2097	12.9%	16.7%
2096	12.9%	16.8%
2095	13%	16.8%
2094	13%	16.9%
2093	13.1%	17%
2092	13.1%	17%
2091	13.2%	17.1%
2090	13.2%	17.2%
2089	13.2%	17.2%
2088	13.3%	17.3%
2087	13.3%	17.4%
2086	13.3%	17.4%
2085	13.3%	17.5%
2084	13.3%	17.5%
2083	13.3%	17.6%
2082	13.3%	17.7%
2081	13.3%	17.7%
2080	13.2%	17.8%
2079	13.2%	17.8%
2078	13.2%	17.9%
2077	13.1%	17.9%
2076	13.1%	18%
2075	13%	18%
2074	13%	18.1%
2073	12.9%	18.2%
2072	12.9%	18.2%
2071	12.9%	18.3%
2070	12.9%	18.3%
2069	12.9%	18.4%
2068	12.9%	18.5%
2067	13%	18.6%
2066	13%	18.6%
2065	13.1%	18.7%
2064	13.1%	18.8%
2063	13.2%	18.9%
2062	13.3%	19.1%
2061	13.4%	19.2%
2060	13.5%	19.3%
2059	13.6%	19.4%
2058	13.7%	19.5%
2057	13.7%	19.6%
2056	13.8%	19.8%
2055	13.9%	19.9%
2054	13.9%	20%
2053	13.9%	20.1%
2052	14%	20.2%
2051	14%	20.3%
2050	13.9%	20.4%
2049	13.9%	20.5%
2048	13.8%	20.6%
2047	13.8%	20.7%
2046	13.7%	20.8%
2045	13.7%	20.9%
2044	13.6%	20.9%
2043	13.5%	21%
2042	13.4%	21.1%
2041	13.4%	21.2%
2040	13.3%	21.2%
2039	13.3%	21.3%
2038	13.3%	21.4%
2037	13.3%	21.5%
2036	13.5%	21.6%
2035	13.6%	21.8%
2034	13.7%	22%
2033	13.9%	22.2%
2032	14.1%	22.4%
2031	14.3%	22.7%
2030	14.5%	23%
2029	14.7%	23.3%
2028	15%	23.6%
2027	15.3%	23.9%
2026	15.6%	24.2%
2025	15.9%	24.6%
2024	16%	24.7%
2023	16.3%	25%
2022	16.5%	25.3%
2021	16.7%	25.6%
2020	16.8%	25.8%
2019	16.9%	26%
2018	16.9%	26.2%
2017	17%	26.4%
2016	17%	26.5%
2015	17%	26.6%
2014	17%	26.8%
2013	17%	26.9%
2012	17%	27%
2011	17%	27.1%
2010	16.9%	27.3%
2009	16.9%	27.5%
2008	16.9%	27.6%
2007	16.9%	27.9%
2006	17%	28.1%
2005	17.1%	28.5%
2004	17.2%	28.8%
2003	17.3%	29.2%
2002	17.5%	29.6%
2001	17.5%	30%
2000	17.6%	30.4%
1999	17.7%	30.8%
1998	17.7%	31.1%
1997	17.8%	31.5%
1996	17.9%	31.8%
1995	18%	32.1%
1994	18.1%	32.3%
1993	18.1%	32.5%
1992	18.2%	32.7%
1991	18.2%	32.9%
1990	18.1%	33%
1989	18.1%	33.2%
1988	18.2%	33.4%
1987	18.3%	33.6%
1986	18.6%	33.8%
1985	18.8%	34%
1984	19.1%	34.3%
1983	19.4%	34.6%
1982	19.6%	34.9%
1981	19.9%	35.2%
1980	20.3%	35.5%
1979	20.6%	35.9%
1978	21%	36.3%
1977	21.4%	36.7%
1976	21.8%	36.9%
1975	22.2%	37.1%
1974	22.6%	37.2%
1973	23%	37.3%
1972	23.3%	37.5%
1971	23.5%	37.6%
1970	23.6%	37.7%
1969	23.8%	37.8%
1968	23.9%	37.9%
1967	23.9%	38%
1966	24%	38%
1965	24%	38%
1964	23.9%	38%
1963	23.9%	37.8%
1962	23.8%	37.6%
1961	23.8%	37.5%
1960	23.7%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Belgium was 23.7% in 1960, 18.2% in 1992, and 16% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Belgium.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	4	197
2022	11	203
2021	7	242
2020	4	211
2019	4	207
2018	5	211
2017	5	215
2016	5	220
2015	5	228
2014	5	231
2013	6	235
2012	5	239
2011	6	247
2010	6	253
2009	6	258
2008	6	264
2007	7	269
2006	6	276
2005	7	283
2004	7	291
2003	7	301
2002	7	311
2001	8	321
2000	8	328
1999	8	340
1998	8	360
1997	8	358
1996	9	366
1995	9	371
1994	9	382
1993	9	389
1992	9	395
1991	9	395
1990	9	391
1989	9	401
1988	9	414
1987	9	429
1986	9	438
1985	9	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Belgium was 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.004% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 50% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Belgium	World
2023	0.36%	2.49%
2022	0.37%	2.59%
2021	0.38%	2.66%
2020	0.39%	2.75%
2019	0.39%	2.86%
2018	0.4%	2.97%
2017	0.4%	3.11%
2016	0.41%	3.22%
2015	0.41%	3.35%
2014	0.42%	3.48%
2013	0.42%	3.61%
2012	0.43%	3.77%
2011	0.44%	3.97%
2010	0.45%	4.11%
2009	0.46%	4.31%
2008	0.47%	4.5%
2007	0.48%	4.7%
2006	0.49%	4.92%
2005	0.5%	5.16%
2004	0.52%	5.43%
2003	0.53%	5.65%
2002	0.55%	5.94%
2001	0.57%	6.21%
2000	0.59%	6.48%
1999	0.61%	6.75%
1998	0.64%	7.05%
1997	0.67%	7.28%
1996	0.72%	7.52%
1995	0.77%	7.76%
1994	0.82%	7.98%
1993	0.87%	8.19%
1992	0.92%	8.46%
1991	0.96%	8.66%
1990	1%	8.81%
1989	1.03%	9.02%
1988	1.07%	9.31%
1987	1.1%	9.47%
1986	1.14%	9.81%
1985	1.18%	10.1%
1984	1.22%	10.4%
1983	1.27%	10.6%
1982	1.33%	10.8%
1981	1.39%	11%
1980	1.45%	11.4%
1979	1.52%	11.7%
1978	1.59%	12.2%
1977	1.67%	12.6%
1976	1.76%	13%
1975	1.86%	13.4%
1974	1.97%	13.8%
1973	2.08%	14.1%
1972	2.19%	14.5%
1971	2.3%	15.1%
1970	2.39%	15.2%
1969	2.48%	15.4%
1968	2.55%	15.6%
1967	2.62%	15.9%
1966	2.7%	16.1%
1965	2.79%	16.4%
1964	2.89%	16.6%
1963	3%	16.5%
1962	3.12%	16.7%
1961	3.25%	17%
1960	3.39%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Belgium was 3.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.36% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 5.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.