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Population in Belgium compared to Bulgaria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 6,441,421 people in Bulgaria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 6,359,449 in Bulgaria.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 1.87 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Bulgaria is the 112th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.08% for Bulgaria.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs -0.96% in Bulgaria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Bulgaria has declined from 7.6M to 6.36M (16.3% decline).

Belgium vs Bulgaria: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Bulgaria
2100 11,193,616 3,368,029
2099 11,211,908 3,392,444
2098 11,230,002 3,416,655
2097 11,246,180 3,440,938
2096 11,261,636 3,465,328
2095 11,277,513 3,489,216
2094 11,293,934 3,513,318
2093 11,309,421 3,537,356
2092 11,325,500 3,561,475
2091 11,339,887 3,585,597
2090 11,354,304 3,609,873
2089 11,368,748 3,634,642
2088 11,384,019 3,659,749
2087 11,399,441 3,685,668
2086 11,413,731 3,712,363
2085 11,427,305 3,739,898
2084 11,441,192 3,768,305
2083 11,454,476 3,797,217
2082 11,468,827 3,827,186
2081 11,480,917 3,857,721
2080 11,494,860 3,890,095
2079 11,507,804 3,923,403
2078 11,522,057 3,957,241
2077 11,534,819 3,992,168
2076 11,546,262 4,027,738
2075 11,558,154 4,064,356
2074 11,571,164 4,102,642
2073 11,584,391 4,141,518
2072 11,597,605 4,180,975
2071 11,611,079 4,221,261
2070 11,627,079 4,262,568
2069 11,643,296 4,304,304
2068 11,660,663 4,346,623
2067 11,677,909 4,389,924
2066 11,696,417 4,433,953
2065 11,716,114 4,478,521
2064 11,736,957 4,523,406
2063 11,758,738 4,568,385
2062 11,780,812 4,613,363
2061 11,804,421 4,658,825
2060 11,825,799 4,704,379
2059 11,847,336 4,749,738
2058 11,867,449 4,794,388
2057 11,890,466 4,839,236
2056 11,911,901 4,884,068
2055 11,931,594 4,929,309
2054 11,950,146 4,974,635
2053 11,968,395 5,020,162
2052 11,984,694 5,065,364
2051 11,998,099 5,110,833
2050 12,008,766 5,156,741
2049 12,017,817 5,202,941
2048 12,024,879 5,249,351
2047 12,029,815 5,296,642
2046 12,032,975 5,343,848
2045 12,034,718 5,391,354
2044 12,034,116 5,439,559
2043 12,032,908 5,488,407
2042 12,030,714 5,537,839
2041 12,026,814 5,588,510
2040 12,023,124 5,639,850
2039 12,018,547 5,692,028
2038 12,012,586 5,743,725
2037 12,005,650 5,796,645
2036 11,999,298 5,849,741
2035 11,992,761 5,902,025
2034 11,985,730 5,954,460
2033 11,977,334 6,007,050
2032 11,969,302 6,058,858
2031 11,960,910 6,111,118
2030 11,951,381 6,163,564
2029 11,939,712 6,214,784
2028 11,927,038 6,264,738
2027 11,913,457 6,313,255
2026 11,898,731 6,359,449
2025 11,881,020 6,402,394
2024 11,858,610 6,441,421
2023 11,779,946 6,446,596
2022 11,680,210 6,465,097
2021 11,586,195 6,507,301
2020 11,538,604 6,550,696
2019 11,488,980 6,616,726
2018 11,427,054 6,710,798
2017 11,375,158 6,803,468
2016 11,331,422 6,894,139
2015 11,274,196 6,984,225
2014 11,209,057 7,073,572
2013 11,159,407 7,160,005
2012 11,106,932 7,305,888
2011 11,038,264 7,348,328
2010 10,895,586 7,395,599
2009 10,796,493 7,444,443
2008 10,709,973 7,492,561
2007 10,625,700 7,545,338
2006 10,547,958 7,601,022
2005 10,478,617 7,658,972
2004 10,421,137 7,716,860
2003 10,376,133 7,775,327
2002 10,332,785 7,837,161
2001 10,286,570 8,009,142
2000 10,251,250 8,170,172
1999 10,226,419 8,210,624
1998 10,203,008 8,256,786
1997 10,181,245 8,312,068
1996 10,156,637 8,362,826
1995 10,136,811 8,406,067
1994 10,115,603 8,443,591
1993 10,084,475 8,472,313
1992 10,045,158 8,540,164
1991 10,004,486 8,632,367
1990 9,967,379 8,718,289
1989 9,937,697 8,876,972
1988 9,901,664 8,981,446
1987 9,870,234 8,971,359
1986 9,861,823 8,958,171
1985 9,858,308 8,960,547
1984 9,855,372 8,960,679
1983 9,855,520 8,939,738
1982 9,856,303 8,917,457
1981 9,858,982 8,891,117
1980 9,859,242 8,861,535
1979 9,848,382 8,825,940
1978 9,839,534 8,814,032
1977 9,830,358 8,804,183
1976 9,818,227 8,758,599
1975 9,800,700 8,720,742
1974 9,772,419 8,678,745
1973 9,741,720 8,620,967
1972 9,711,115 8,576,200
1971 9,673,162 8,536,395
1970 9,655,549 8,489,574
1969 9,646,032 8,434,172
1968 9,618,756 8,369,603
1967 9,580,991 8,310,226
1966 9,527,807 8,258,057
1965 9,463,667 8,204,168
1964 9,378,113 8,144,340
1963 9,289,770 8,078,145
1962 9,220,578 8,012,946
1961 9,183,948 7,943,118
1960 9,153,489 7,867,374

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/bulgaria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Bulgaria lost 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Bulgaria's population decreased by 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Bulgaria was ranked 95th in 2006 and ranked 112th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Belgium's population will grow by 0.89% to 12,008,766 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of Bulgaria will decrease by 18.9% to 5,156,741 people and rank change from 112th to 128th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.37M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Bulgaria
2100 -0.16% -0.72%
2099 -0.16% -0.71%
2098 -0.14% -0.71%
2097 -0.14% -0.7%
2096 -0.14% -0.68%
2095 -0.15% -0.69%
2094 -0.14% -0.68%
2093 -0.14% -0.68%
2092 -0.13% -0.67%
2091 -0.13% -0.67%
2090 -0.13% -0.68%
2089 -0.13% -0.69%
2088 -0.14% -0.7%
2087 -0.13% -0.72%
2086 -0.12% -0.74%
2085 -0.12% -0.75%
2084 -0.12% -0.76%
2083 -0.13% -0.78%
2082 -0.11% -0.79%
2081 -0.12% -0.83%
2080 -0.11% -0.85%
2079 -0.12% -0.86%
2078 -0.11% -0.87%
2077 -0.1% -0.88%
2076 -0.1% -0.9%
2075 -0.11% -0.93%
2074 -0.11% -0.94%
2073 -0.11% -0.94%
2072 -0.12% -0.95%
2071 -0.14% -0.97%
2070 -0.14% -0.97%
2069 -0.15% -0.97%
2068 -0.15% -0.99%
2067 -0.16% -0.99%
2066 -0.17% -1%
2065 -0.18% -0.99%
2064 -0.19% -0.98%
2063 -0.19% -0.97%
2062 -0.2% -0.98%
2061 -0.18% -0.97%
2060 -0.18% -0.95%
2059 -0.17% -0.93%
2058 -0.19% -0.93%
2057 -0.18% -0.92%
2056 -0.17% -0.92%
2055 -0.16% -0.91%
2054 -0.15% -0.91%
2053 -0.14% -0.89%
2052 -0.11% -0.89%
2051 -0.09% -0.89%
2050 -0.08% -0.89%
2049 -0.06% -0.88%
2048 -0.04% -0.89%
2047 -0.03% -0.88%
2046 -0.01% -0.88%
2045 0.005% -0.89%
2044 0.01% -0.89%
2043 0.02% -0.89%
2042 0.03% -0.91%
2041 0.03% -0.91%
2040 0.04% -0.92%
2039 0.05% -0.9%
2038 0.06% -0.91%
2037 0.05% -0.91%
2036 0.05% -0.89%
2035 0.06% -0.88%
2034 0.07% -0.88%
2033 0.07% -0.86%
2032 0.07% -0.86%
2031 0.08% -0.85%
2030 0.1% -0.82%
2029 0.11% -0.8%
2028 0.11% -0.77%
2027 0.12% -0.73%
2026 0.15% -0.67%
2025 0.19% -0.61%
2024 0.67% -0.08%
2023 0.85% -0.29%
2022 0.81% -0.65%
2021 0.41% -0.66%
2020 0.43% -1%
2019 0.54% -1.4%
2018 0.46% -1.36%
2017 0.39% -1.32%
2016 0.51% -1.29%
2015 0.58% -1.26%
2014 0.44% -1.21%
2013 0.47% -2%
2012 0.62% -0.58%
2011 1.31% -0.64%
2010 0.92% -0.66%
2009 0.81% -0.64%
2008 0.79% -0.7%
2007 0.74% -0.73%
2006 0.66% -0.76%
2005 0.55% -0.75%
2004 0.43% -0.75%
2003 0.42% -0.79%
2002 0.45% -2.15%
2001 0.34% -1.97%
2000 0.24% -0.49%
1999 0.23% -0.56%
1998 0.21% -0.67%
1997 0.24% -0.61%
1996 0.2% -0.51%
1995 0.21% -0.44%
1994 0.31% -0.34%
1993 0.39% -0.79%
1992 0.41% -1.07%
1991 0.37% -0.99%
1990 0.3% -1.79%
1989 0.36% -1.16%
1988 0.32% 0.11%
1987 0.09% 0.15%
1986 0.04% -0.03%
1985 0.03% -0.001%
1984 -0.002% 0.23%
1983 -0.008% 0.25%
1982 -0.03% 0.3%
1981 -0.003% 0.33%
1980 0.11% 0.4%
1979 0.09% 0.14%
1978 0.09% 0.11%
1977 0.12% 0.52%
1976 0.18% 0.43%
1975 0.29% 0.48%
1974 0.32% 0.67%
1973 0.32% 0.52%
1972 0.39% 0.47%
1971 0.18% 0.55%
1970 0.1% 0.66%
1969 0.28% 0.77%
1968 0.39% 0.71%
1967 0.56% 0.63%
1966 0.68% 0.66%
1965 0.91% 0.73%
1964 0.95% 0.82%
1963 0.75% 0.81%
1962 0.4% 0.88%
1961 0.33% 0.96%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/bulgaria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Bulgaria's population declined by 0.08%.

Live population counters

Belgium Bulgaria
Current population
11902714
6359449
Population rank 83/197 112/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.08%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
1.69 hours
One birth every
4.75 minutes
9.16 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
5.19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 -14
Annual growth/decline +78,664 -5,175
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% -0.08%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 171/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
2.97 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 -2,961
Net migration rank 28/196 106/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 299,100
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 98/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 99/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Bulgaria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -2,961
2024 - 36,243 - 524
2023 0 41,679 -43,837 5,173
2022 -2,336 118,615 -62,065 26,498
2021 5,793 24,017 -90,452 11,756
2020 -12,692 43,777 -65,507 30,167
2019 8,042 58,469 -46,317 -2,156
2018 7,999 50,604 -46,304 -3,873
2017 10,238 37,981 -45,583 -6,109
2016 14,731 28,090 -42,744 -9,482
2015 11,274 63,536 -44,699 -4,227
2014 21,297 37,472 -41,027 -2,180
2013 16,739 28,066 -37,948 -1,324
2012 18,882 45,001 -40,183 -26,334
2011 25,388 52,464 -37,477 -23,360
2010 23,970 105,232 -34,759 -21,668
2009 23,752 97,175 -26,800 -19,060
2008 22,491 66,470 -32,967 -17,595
2007 23,376 59,911 -37,727 -16,366
2006 21,096 53,574 -39,526 -15,184
2005 15,718 50,576 -42,124 -14,435
2004 16,673 35,143 -40,128 -13,604
2003 7,263 34,472 -44,319 -13,183
2002 7,233 39,404 -46,240 -12,735
2001 11,315 34,924 -44,050 -30,726
2000 12,302 13,952 -41,668 -26,211
1999 9,203 16,849 -39,411 -23,846
1998 9,183 12,517 -52,844 -23,262
1997 12,218 10,262 -58,185 -22,963
1996 12,188 15,684 -45,159 -21,520
1995 11,150 1,937 -42,030 -22,020
1994 12,139 17,636 -32,086 -20,984
1993 14,118 18,542 -24,569 -19,973
1992 20,090 25,941 -18,789 -120,552
1991 22,010 27,038 -14,675 -119,356
1990 19,935 8,299 -3,487 -116,817
1989 13,912 7,301 5,326 -114,705
1988 14,853 3,929 9,879 215
1987 11,844 3,525 8,971 357
1986 5,917 2,964 16,125 1,104
1985 2,958 2,165 11,649 -19,230
1984 4,927 1,697 20,610 -1,032
1983 2,956 1,252 21,455 -1,872
1982 7,885 1,100 24,077 -1,860
1981 11,831 2,826 29,341 -1,830
1980 10,845 11,482 30,129 -2,045
1979 11,818 11,277 40,599 -872
1978 7,872 10,828 44,070 -62,769
1977 8,847 10,460 47,543 -11,955
1976 1,964 10,360 56,055 -2,522
1975 0 9,652 54,941 -38,071
1974 7,818 8,924 64,223 -1,402
1973 11,690 8,684 57,760 -5,409
1972 18,451 8,384 47,169 -11,296
1971 21,281 7,992 52,925 -7,654
1970 23,173 19,393 61,125 -11,315
1969 21,221 20,072 63,256 -3,204
1968 20,199 19,809 69,468 -132
1967 31,618 19,492 49,861 -420
1966 36,206 18,985 54,504 -144
1965 39,748 18,243 58,249 -1,406
1964 51,580 17,687 66,783 505
1963 41,804 16,355 66,241 500
1962 42,414 14,829 64,104 499
1961 52,349 10,566 75,460 378
1960 40,275 9,893 76,314 -1,112

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/bulgaria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 11.3% of the population change in Belgium is from natural causes (a gain of 64,346 people) and 88.7% is from migration (a gain of 504,240 people). In Bulgaria 92.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 528,535 people) and 7.94% is from migration (a gain of 45,567 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 299,100 people or 4.4% in Bulgaria.

Biggest cities by population

Belgium
City Population
Brussels 1.25M
Antwerp 529K
Ghent 273K
Charleroi 204K
Liege 195K
Schaerbeek 133K
Anderlecht 121K
Bruges 119K
Namur 115K
Leuven 101K
Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/bulgaria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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