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Population density: Belgium vs Somalia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population density of 1,011 people per square mile compared to 83.9 people in Somalia. Belgium has 27,855 sq ft of land per person vs 361,073 sq ft in Somalia. Belgium and Somalia rank 24th and 152nd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Belgium has 0.15% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.23% of the population and 0.42% of the land area for Somalia, making the population density in Belgium 1,105% higher than in Somalia.

Population density by year

Belgium
Somalia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belgium Somalia
2026 1,011 83.9
2025 1,009 81.2
2024 1,007 78.5
2023 1,001 75.8
2022 992 73.5
2021 984 71.3
2020 980 68.7
2019 976 66.2
2018 971 63.8
2017 971 61.6
2016 968 59.2
2015 963 57
2014 957 55.1
2013 953 53.1
2012 948 51.4
2011 943 51
2010 930 50.6
2009 922 49.4
2008 914 48.2
2007 907 46.7
2006 901 45.3
2005 895 43.9
2004 890 42.4
2003 886 40.9
2002 882 39.4
2001 878 38
2000 875 36.5
1999 - 35.1
1998 - 33.7
1997 - 32.3
1996 - 31.2
1995 - 30.1
1994 - 29
1993 - 27.6
1992 - 26.8
1991 - 28.1
1990 - 29.2
1989 - 29.4
1988 - 29.9
1987 - 29.8
1986 - 28.8
1985 - 27.6
1984 - 26.5
1983 - 25.6
1982 - 24.8
1981 - 24.7
1980 - 24.5
1979 - 22.5
1978 - 19.9
1977 - 18.5
1976 - 18
1975 - 17.6
1974 - 17.1
1973 - 16.7
1972 - 16.3
1971 - 15.8
1970 - 15.4
1969 - 15
1968 - 14.6
1967 - 14.3
1966 - 13.9
1965 - 13.5
1964 - 13.2
1963 - 12.8
1962 - 12.5
1961 - 12.2

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belgium increased by 12.2%, compared to a 85.2% growth in Somalia.

In 2006, Belgium ranked 20th by population density and is 24th now. Somalia was 162nd in 2006 and ranks 152nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Belgium
Somalia
1x
Year Urban population
Belgium Somalia
2024 87.6% 54.6%
2023 87.6% 54.1%
2022 87.5% 53.5%
2021 87.4% 52.9%
2020 87.3% 52.3%
2019 87.1% 51.6%
2018 86.9% 51%
2017 86.7% 48.4%
2016 86.5% 45.9%
2015 86.2% 43.9%
2014 86% 42.4%
2013 85.7% 41.3%
2012 85.5% 40.3%
2011 85.2% 39.4%
2010 85% 38.6%
2009 84.7% 37.8%
2008 84.4% 37.2%
2007 84.1% 36.6%
2006 83.9% 36%
2005 83.6% 35.5%
2004 83.3% 35%
2003 83% 34.5%
2002 82.7% 34%
2001 82.3% 33.5%
2000 82% 33.1%
1999 81.7% 32.6%
1998 81.4% 32.2%
1997 81% 31.8%
1996 80.7% 31.4%
1995 80.3% 31.1%
1994 80% 30.7%
1993 79.6% 30.4%
1992 79.3% 30%
1991 78.9% 29.7%
1990 78.6% 29.4%
1989 78.2% 29.1%
1988 77.8% 28.8%
1987 77.4% 28.5%
1986 77.1% 28.2%
1985 76.7% 28%
1984 76.3% 27.7%
1983 75.9% 27.5%
1982 75.5% 27.3%
1981 75.1% 27.1%
1980 74.7% 26.8%
1979 74.3% 26.6%
1978 73.9% 26.4%
1977 73.5% 26.1%
1976 73.1% 25.8%
1975 72.7% 25.5%
1974 72.3% 25.2%
1973 71.9% 24.8%
1972 71.5% 24.3%
1971 71.1% 23.8%
1970 70.6% 23.2%
1969 70.2% 22.7%
1968 69.6% 22.1%
1967 69.1% 21.5%
1966 68.6% 20.9%
1965 68% 20.3%
1964 67.5% 19.7%
1963 67% 19.2%
1962 66.6% 18.7%
1961 66.2% 18.2%
1960 65.9% 17.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/somalia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 83.3% to 87.6% in Belgium and from 35% to 54.6% in Somalia.

Densely populated cities

Belgium
City Population
Brussels 1.25M
Antwerp 529K
Ghent 273K
Charleroi 204K
Liege 195K
Schaerbeek 133K
Anderlecht 121K
Bruges 119K
Namur 115K
Leuven 101K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/somalia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2013–2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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