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Population in Belgium compared to the Central African Republic: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 5,330,690 people in the Central African Republic in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 5,753,659 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 2.07 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while the Central African Republic is the 118th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.07% for the Central African Republic.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +1.27% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.75M (31.4% growth).

Belgium vs Central African Republic: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium CAR
2100 11,193,616 19,066,004
2099 11,211,908 18,985,867
2098 11,230,002 18,901,154
2097 11,246,180 18,815,607
2096 11,261,636 18,724,783
2095 11,277,513 18,626,431
2094 11,293,934 18,526,390
2093 11,309,421 18,425,013
2092 11,325,500 18,316,437
2091 11,339,887 18,205,237
2090 11,354,304 18,087,725
2089 11,368,748 17,972,896
2088 11,384,019 17,848,943
2087 11,399,441 17,721,681
2086 11,413,731 17,585,946
2085 11,427,305 17,451,621
2084 11,441,192 17,310,863
2083 11,454,476 17,164,209
2082 11,468,827 17,014,388
2081 11,480,917 16,864,906
2080 11,494,860 16,708,761
2079 11,507,804 16,556,341
2078 11,522,057 16,396,395
2077 11,534,819 16,228,166
2076 11,546,262 16,055,590
2075 11,558,154 15,881,626
2074 11,571,164 15,710,778
2073 11,584,391 15,530,355
2072 11,597,605 15,350,553
2071 11,611,079 15,162,785
2070 11,627,079 14,968,105
2069 11,643,296 14,772,746
2068 11,660,663 14,575,859
2067 11,677,909 14,373,538
2066 11,696,417 14,170,754
2065 11,716,114 13,967,146
2064 11,736,957 13,761,777
2063 11,758,738 13,548,616
2062 11,780,812 13,336,037
2061 11,804,421 13,123,628
2060 11,825,799 12,906,496
2059 11,847,336 12,688,037
2058 11,867,449 12,467,461
2057 11,890,466 12,245,441
2056 11,911,901 12,023,522
2055 11,931,594 11,801,006
2054 11,950,146 11,578,020
2053 11,968,395 11,354,432
2052 11,984,694 11,131,786
2051 11,998,099 10,910,913
2050 12,008,766 10,689,058
2049 12,017,817 10,471,199
2048 12,024,879 10,252,433
2047 12,029,815 10,037,332
2046 12,032,975 9,822,499
2045 12,034,718 9,608,962
2044 12,034,116 9,397,018
2043 12,032,908 9,188,292
2042 12,030,714 8,982,316
2041 12,026,814 8,777,138
2040 12,023,124 8,570,085
2039 12,018,547 8,360,267
2038 12,012,586 8,151,599
2037 12,005,650 7,944,754
2036 11,999,298 7,736,415
2035 11,992,761 7,527,731
2034 11,985,730 7,316,613
2033 11,977,334 7,106,984
2032 11,969,302 6,898,917
2031 11,960,910 6,691,778
2030 11,951,381 6,488,327
2029 11,939,712 6,287,899
2028 11,927,038 6,086,983
2027 11,913,457 5,892,506
2026 11,898,731 5,702,177
2025 11,881,020 5,514,692
2024 11,858,610 5,330,690
2023 11,779,946 5,152,421
2022 11,680,210 5,098,039
2021 11,586,195 5,112,100
2020 11,538,604 5,026,628
2019 11,488,980 4,944,703
2018 11,427,054 4,878,657
2017 11,375,158 4,793,511
2016 11,331,422 4,713,663
2015 11,274,196 4,629,320
2014 11,209,057 4,623,182
2013 11,159,407 4,642,419
2012 11,106,932 4,610,848
2011 11,038,264 4,565,021
2010 10,895,586 4,492,995
2009 10,796,493 4,529,047
2008 10,709,973 4,558,984
2007 10,625,700 4,462,770
2006 10,547,958 4,377,579
2005 10,478,617 4,288,810
2004 10,421,137 4,192,826
2003 10,376,133 4,103,086
2002 10,332,785 4,006,077
2001 10,286,570 3,919,487
2000 10,251,250 3,833,416
1999 10,226,419 3,729,450
1998 10,203,008 3,628,827
1997 10,181,245 3,531,700
1996 10,156,637 3,435,965
1995 10,136,811 3,348,052
1994 10,115,603 3,257,954
1993 10,084,475 3,157,839
1992 10,045,158 3,058,831
1991 10,004,486 2,963,191
1990 9,967,379 2,871,910
1989 9,937,697 2,783,970
1988 9,901,664 2,713,965
1987 9,870,234 2,669,155
1986 9,861,823 2,634,258
1985 9,858,308 2,600,932
1984 9,855,372 2,568,610
1983 9,855,520 2,537,399
1982 9,856,303 2,507,375
1981 9,858,982 2,478,402
1980 9,859,242 2,450,535
1979 9,848,382 2,423,794
1978 9,839,534 2,397,961
1977 9,830,358 2,372,930
1976 9,818,227 2,348,566
1975 9,800,700 2,313,916
1974 9,772,419 2,269,338
1973 9,741,720 2,226,008
1972 9,711,115 2,183,769
1971 9,673,162 2,141,450
1970 9,655,549 2,097,505
1969 9,646,032 2,051,515
1968 9,618,756 2,005,100
1967 9,580,991 1,960,444
1966 9,527,807 1,918,082
1965 9,463,667 1,877,854
1964 9,378,113 1,839,583
1963 9,289,770 1,803,063
1962 9,220,578 1,768,115
1961 9,183,948 1,734,580
1960 9,153,489 1,702,346

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/central-african-republic | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while the Central African Republic gained 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. The Central African Republic was ranked 118th in 2006 and still ranked 118th 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 the Central African Republic will increase by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people and rank change from 118th to 96th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 19.1M people in 2100 for the Central African Republic.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium CAR
2100 -0.16% 0.42%
2099 -0.16% 0.45%
2098 -0.14% 0.45%
2097 -0.14% 0.49%
2096 -0.14% 0.53%
2095 -0.15% 0.54%
2094 -0.14% 0.55%
2093 -0.14% 0.59%
2092 -0.13% 0.61%
2091 -0.13% 0.65%
2090 -0.13% 0.64%
2089 -0.13% 0.69%
2088 -0.14% 0.72%
2087 -0.13% 0.77%
2086 -0.12% 0.77%
2085 -0.12% 0.81%
2084 -0.12% 0.85%
2083 -0.13% 0.88%
2082 -0.11% 0.89%
2081 -0.12% 0.93%
2080 -0.11% 0.92%
2079 -0.12% 0.98%
2078 -0.11% 1.04%
2077 -0.1% 1.07%
2076 -0.1% 1.1%
2075 -0.11% 1.09%
2074 -0.11% 1.16%
2073 -0.11% 1.17%
2072 -0.12% 1.24%
2071 -0.14% 1.3%
2070 -0.14% 1.32%
2069 -0.15% 1.35%
2068 -0.15% 1.41%
2067 -0.16% 1.43%
2066 -0.17% 1.46%
2065 -0.18% 1.49%
2064 -0.19% 1.57%
2063 -0.19% 1.59%
2062 -0.2% 1.62%
2061 -0.18% 1.68%
2060 -0.18% 1.72%
2059 -0.17% 1.77%
2058 -0.19% 1.81%
2057 -0.18% 1.85%
2056 -0.17% 1.89%
2055 -0.16% 1.93%
2054 -0.15% 1.97%
2053 -0.14% 2%
2052 -0.11% 2.02%
2051 -0.09% 2.08%
2050 -0.08% 2.08%
2049 -0.06% 2.13%
2048 -0.04% 2.14%
2047 -0.03% 2.19%
2046 -0.01% 2.22%
2045 0.005% 2.26%
2044 0.01% 2.27%
2043 0.02% 2.29%
2042 0.03% 2.34%
2041 0.03% 2.42%
2040 0.04% 2.51%
2039 0.05% 2.56%
2038 0.06% 2.6%
2037 0.05% 2.69%
2036 0.05% 2.77%
2035 0.06% 2.89%
2034 0.07% 2.95%
2033 0.07% 3.02%
2032 0.07% 3.1%
2031 0.08% 3.14%
2030 0.1% 3.19%
2029 0.11% 3.3%
2028 0.11% 3.3%
2027 0.12% 3.34%
2026 0.15% 3.4%
2025 0.19% 3.45%
2024 0.67% 3.46%
2023 0.85% 1.07%
2022 0.81% -0.28%
2021 0.41% 1.7%
2020 0.43% 1.66%
2019 0.54% 1.35%
2018 0.46% 1.78%
2017 0.39% 1.69%
2016 0.51% 1.82%
2015 0.58% 0.13%
2014 0.44% -0.41%
2013 0.47% 0.68%
2012 0.62% 1%
2011 1.31% 1.6%
2010 0.92% -0.8%
2009 0.81% -0.66%
2008 0.79% 2.16%
2007 0.74% 1.95%
2006 0.66% 2.07%
2005 0.55% 2.29%
2004 0.43% 2.19%
2003 0.42% 2.42%
2002 0.45% 2.21%
2001 0.34% 2.25%
2000 0.24% 2.79%
1999 0.23% 2.77%
1998 0.21% 2.75%
1997 0.24% 2.79%
1996 0.2% 2.63%
1995 0.21% 2.77%
1994 0.31% 3.17%
1993 0.39% 3.24%
1992 0.41% 3.23%
1991 0.37% 3.18%
1990 0.3% 3.16%
1989 0.36% 2.58%
1988 0.32% 1.68%
1987 0.09% 1.32%
1986 0.04% 1.28%
1985 0.03% 1.26%
1984 -0.002% 1.23%
1983 -0.008% 1.2%
1982 -0.03% 1.17%
1981 -0.003% 1.14%
1980 0.11% 1.1%
1979 0.09% 1.08%
1978 0.09% 1.05%
1977 0.12% 1.04%
1976 0.18% 1.5%
1975 0.29% 1.96%
1974 0.32% 1.95%
1973 0.32% 1.93%
1972 0.39% 1.98%
1971 0.18% 2.1%
1970 0.1% 2.24%
1969 0.28% 2.31%
1968 0.39% 2.28%
1967 0.56% 2.21%
1966 0.68% 2.14%
1965 0.91% 2.08%
1964 0.95% 2.03%
1963 0.75% 1.98%
1962 0.4% 1.93%
1961 0.33% 1.89%

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/central-african-republic | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.46%.

Live population counters

Belgium CAR
Current population
11902714
5753659
Population rank 83/197 118/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.07%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
2.95 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
2.2 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +488
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +178,269
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +3.46%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 9/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
35.9 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 -14,693
Net migration rank 28/196 143/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 94,556
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 132/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 135/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium CAR
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -14,693
2024 - 36,243 - -15,357
2023 0 41,679 190,325 -14,682
2022 -2,336 118,615 -49,456 -17,430
2021 5,793 24,017 124,408 -85,646
2020 -12,692 43,777 156,911 -24,745
2019 8,042 58,469 68,523 -36,849
2018 7,999 50,604 153,361 -52,954
2017 10,238 37,981 128,461 -58,584
2016 14,731 28,090 142,419 -52,607
2015 11,274 63,536 141,912 -63,045
2014 21,297 37,472 107,448 -174,051
2013 16,739 28,066 140,489 -112,382
2012 18,882 45,001 146,791 -111,764
2011 25,388 52,464 142,913 -86,281
2010 23,970 105,232 130,539 -43,126
2009 23,752 97,175 -130,613 -28,899
2008 22,491 66,470 128,627 -28,983
2007 23,376 59,911 123,137 -30,352
2006 21,096 53,574 118,882 -41,282
2005 15,718 50,576 113,534 -13,604
2004 16,673 35,143 108,548 -16,510
2003 7,263 34,472 105,540 -18,097
2002 7,233 39,404 100,588 5,992
2001 11,315 34,924 99,598 -33,006
2000 12,302 13,952 97,468 8,079
1999 9,203 16,849 96,108 6,284
1998 9,183 12,517 94,361 4,479
1997 12,218 10,262 93,378 2,034
1996 12,188 15,684 93,369 2,697
1995 11,150 1,937 92,748 -12,986
1994 12,139 17,636 90,943 9,496
1993 14,118 18,542 89,873 9,930
1992 20,090 25,941 88,939 9,269
1991 22,010 27,038 88,688 4,381
1990 19,935 8,299 87,507 1,995
1989 13,912 7,301 85,969 409
1988 14,853 3,929 84,654 -31,016
1987 11,844 3,525 83,408 -47,428
1986 5,917 2,964 81,149 -47,332
1985 2,958 2,165 79,266 -46,427
1984 4,927 1,697 77,395 -45,591
1983 2,956 1,252 75,399 -44,780
1982 7,885 1,100 73,330 -43,908
1981 11,831 2,826 71,391 -42,872
1980 10,845 11,482 68,759 -41,539
1979 11,818 11,277 66,104 -39,850
1978 7,872 10,828 63,285 -37,874
1977 8,847 10,460 60,436 -35,782
1976 1,964 10,360 57,725 -33,645
1975 0 9,652 55,106 -9,895
1974 7,818 8,924 53,777 -9,838
1973 11,690 8,684 52,525 -9,800
1972 18,451 8,384 51,390 -9,634
1971 21,281 7,992 50,142 -7,259
1970 23,173 19,393 48,690 -3,693
1969 21,221 20,072 47,066 -80
1968 20,199 19,809 45,377 474
1967 31,618 19,492 42,979 474
1966 36,206 18,985 40,804 474
1965 39,748 18,243 38,710 474
1964 51,580 17,687 36,878 474
1963 41,804 16,355 35,218 474
1962 42,414 14,829 33,731 474
1961 52,349 10,566 32,383 474
1960 40,275 9,893 31,131 474

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/central-african-republic | 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 the Central African Republic 66.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 94,556 people or 1.8% in the Central African Republic.

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
CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K

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/central-african-republic | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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