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Population density: Belgium vs United Arab Emirates compared

Updated on by Georank

Belgium has a population density of 1,016 people per square mile compared to 430 people in the United Arab Emirates. Belgium has 27,661 sq ft of land per person vs 78,160 sq ft in the United Arab Emirates. Belgium and the United Arab Emirates rank 24th and 61st 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 0.14% of the population and 0.05% of the land area for the United Arab Emirates, making the population density in Belgium 136.4% higher than in the United Arab Emirates.

Population density by year

Belgium
United Arab Emirates

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belgium UAE
2026 1,016 430
2025 1,014 420
2024 1,007 401
2023 1,001 382
2022 992 367
2021 984 349
2020 980 343
2019 976 344
2018 971 341
2017 971 336
2016 968 326
2015 963 310
2014 957 293.9
2013 953 280.6
2012 948 269.6
2011 943 259.1
2010 930 250.5
2009 922 244.6
2008 914 229.8
2007 907 205.1
2006 901 182.7
2005 895 170.1
2004 890 161.5
2003 886 152.9
2002 882 144.3
2001 878 135.8
2000 875 127.4
1999 - 119.1
1998 - 110.9
1997 - 102.7
1996 - 94.7
1995 - 88.8
1994 - 84.9
1993 - 81
1992 - 77.1
1991 - 73.2
1990 - 69.2
1989 - 65.3
1988 - 61.3
1987 - 57.4
1986 - 53.5
1985 - 50.3
1984 - 47.6
1983 - 45
1982 - 42.5
1981 - 40.1
1980 - 37
1979 - 33.3
1978 - 29.5
1977 - 25.9
1976 - 22.5
1975 - 19.8
1974 - 17.8
1973 - 15.9
1972 - 14
1971 - 12.2
1970 - 10.4
1969 - 8.74
1968 - 7.27
1967 - 6.55
1966 - 6.34
1965 - 6.09
1964 - 5.82
1963 - 5.55
1962 - 5.29
1961 - 5.03

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belgium increased by 12.8%, compared to a 135.2% growth in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2006, Belgium ranked 20th by population density and is 24th now. The United Arab Emirates was 102nd in 2006 and ranks 61st out of 197 currently.

Population density comparison

Belgium UAE
Population density 1,016 ppl/mi² 430 ppl/mi²
Population density rank 24/197 61/197
Population
11967185
11885001
Land area 11,774 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Land area per capita 27,486 sq ft 66,398 sq ft
Rural population 12.3% 14%
Urban population 87.7% 86%
Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people 10.4% 56.9%

Share of urban population by year

Belgium
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Urban population
Belgium UAE
2025 87.7% 86%
2024 87.6% 85.8%
2023 87.6% 85.7%
2022 87.5% 85.5%
2021 87.4% 85.4%
2020 87.3% 85.2%
2019 87.1% 85%
2018 86.9% 84.9%
2017 86.7% 84.7%
2016 86.5% 84.5%
2015 86.2% 84.3%
2014 86% 84.1%
2013 85.7% 84%
2012 85.5% 83.8%
2011 85.2% 83.6%
2010 85% 83.4%
2009 84.7% 83.2%
2008 84.4% 83%
2007 84.1% 82.8%
2006 83.9% 82.6%
2005 83.6% 82.2%
2004 83.3% 81.5%
2003 83% 80.8%
2002 82.7% 80.3%
2001 82.3% 79.7%
2000 82% 79.3%
1999 81.7% 78.9%
1998 81.4% 78.6%
1997 81% 78.4%
1996 80.7% 78.3%
1995 80.3% 78.3%
1994 80% 78.3%
1993 79.6% 78.4%
1992 79.3% 78.4%
1991 78.9% 78.6%
1990 78.6% 78.7%
1989 78.2% 78.8%
1988 77.8% 79%
1987 77.4% 79.2%
1986 77.1% 79.3%
1985 76.7% 79.5%
1984 76.3% 79.7%
1983 75.9% 80%
1982 75.5% 80.3%
1981 75.1% 80.7%
1980 74.7% 81.1%
1979 74.3% 81.8%
1978 73.9% 82.6%
1977 73.5% 83.4%
1976 73.1% 83.9%
1975 72.7% 83.9%
1974 72.3% 83.7%
1973 71.9% 83.2%
1972 71.5% 82.6%
1971 71.1% 82%
1970 70.6% 81.2%
1969 70.2% 80.5%
1968 69.6% 79.8%
1967 69.1% 79.2%
1966 68.6% 78.5%
1965 68% 77.8%
1964 67.5% 77.1%
1963 67% 76.3%
1962 66.6% 75.5%
1961 66.2% 74.5%
1960 65.9% 73.5%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2005 to 2025, the share of urban population changed from 83.6% to 87.7% in Belgium and from 82.2% to 86% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2015–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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