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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 1,406,585,000 people in China in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 1,403,335,670 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 117.3 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.58% per year vs +0.23% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (7.04% growth).

Belgium vs China: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium China
2100 11,250,862 633,662,382
2099 11,269,247 644,307,192
2098 11,287,433 655,044,881
2097 11,303,694 665,876,462
2096 11,319,229 676,803,171
2095 11,335,187 687,828,883
2094 11,351,692 698,966,872
2093 11,367,258 710,235,681
2092 11,383,419 721,640,723
2091 11,397,881 733,187,178
2090 11,412,370 744,903,105
2089 11,426,889 756,812,472
2088 11,442,238 768,893,004
2087 11,457,739 781,128,909
2086 11,472,102 793,508,970
2085 11,485,745 806,043,039
2084 11,499,703 818,709,832
2083 11,513,055 831,420,518
2082 11,527,480 844,177,036
2081 11,539,632 856,996,835
2080 11,553,646 869,821,040
2079 11,566,656 882,622,985
2078 11,580,982 895,372,147
2077 11,593,809 908,082,676
2076 11,605,311 920,776,984
2075 11,617,264 933,459,600
2074 11,630,340 946,141,456
2073 11,643,635 958,870,128
2072 11,656,916 971,639,931
2071 11,670,459 984,469,009
2070 11,686,541 997,391,342
2069 11,702,841 1,010,450,818
2068 11,720,297 1,023,633,867
2067 11,737,631 1,036,979,285
2066 11,756,233 1,050,453,924
2065 11,776,031 1,064,051,499
2064 11,796,981 1,077,787,979
2063 11,818,873 1,091,571,021
2062 11,841,060 1,105,429,748
2061 11,864,790 1,119,286,514
2060 11,886,277 1,133,115,260
2059 11,907,924 1,146,818,251
2058 11,928,140 1,160,340,554
2057 11,951,275 1,173,596,480
2056 11,972,819 1,186,578,041
2055 11,992,614 1,199,197,172
2054 12,011,260 1,211,403,028
2053 12,029,602 1,223,160,257
2052 12,045,984 1,234,474,716
2051 12,059,458 1,245,255,938
2050 12,070,180 1,255,501,171
2049 12,079,277 1,265,281,319
2048 12,086,376 1,274,572,888
2047 12,091,336 1,283,393,445
2046 12,094,512 1,291,830,414
2045 12,096,264 1,299,855,379
2044 12,095,660 1,307,510,531
2043 12,094,445 1,314,885,869
2042 12,092,240 1,322,032,311
2041 12,088,320 1,328,936,491
2040 12,084,611 1,335,577,799
2039 12,080,011 1,341,989,157
2038 12,074,019 1,348,134,255
2037 12,067,048 1,354,107,817
2036 12,060,663 1,359,866,705
2035 12,054,093 1,365,387,904
2034 12,047,026 1,370,679,807
2033 12,038,587 1,375,744,986
2032 12,030,514 1,380,528,766
2031 12,022,079 1,385,048,521
2030 12,012,501 1,389,269,809
2029 12,000,773 1,393,241,425
2028 11,988,034 1,396,917,178
2027 11,974,384 1,400,271,033
2026 11,959,583 1,403,335,670
2025 11,941,781 1,406,585,000
2024 11,858,610 1,408,975,000
2023 11,779,946 1,410,710,000
2022 11,680,210 1,412,175,000
2021 11,586,195 1,412,360,000
2020 11,538,604 1,411,100,000
2019 11,488,980 1,407,745,000
2018 11,427,054 1,402,760,000
2017 11,375,158 1,396,215,000
2016 11,331,422 1,387,790,000
2015 11,274,196 1,379,860,000
2014 11,209,057 1,371,860,000
2013 11,159,407 1,363,240,000
2012 11,106,932 1,354,190,000
2011 11,038,264 1,345,035,000
2010 10,895,586 1,337,705,000
2009 10,796,493 1,331,260,000
2008 10,709,973 1,324,655,000
2007 10,625,700 1,317,885,000
2006 10,547,958 1,311,020,000
2005 10,478,617 1,303,720,000
2004 10,421,137 1,296,075,000
2003 10,376,133 1,288,400,000
2002 10,332,785 1,280,400,000
2001 10,286,570 1,271,850,000
2000 10,251,250 1,262,645,000
1999 10,226,419 1,252,735,000
1998 10,203,008 1,241,935,000
1997 10,181,245 1,230,075,000
1996 10,156,637 1,217,550,000
1995 10,136,811 1,204,855,000
1994 10,115,603 1,191,835,000
1993 10,084,475 1,178,440,000
1992 10,045,158 1,164,970,000
1991 10,004,486 1,150,780,000
1990 9,967,379 1,135,185,000
1989 9,937,697 1,118,650,000
1988 9,901,664 1,101,630,000
1987 9,870,234 1,084,035,000
1986 9,861,823 1,066,790,000
1985 9,858,308 1,051,040,000
1984 9,855,372 1,036,825,000
1983 9,855,520 1,023,310,000
1982 9,856,303 1,008,630,000
1981 9,858,982 993,885,000
1980 9,859,242 981,235,000
1979 9,848,382 969,005,000
1978 9,839,534 956,165,000
1977 9,830,358 943,455,000
1976 9,818,227 930,685,000
1975 9,800,700 916,395,000
1974 9,772,419 900,350,000
1973 9,741,720 881,940,000
1972 9,711,115 862,030,000
1971 9,673,162 841,105,000
1970 9,655,549 818,315,000
1969 9,646,032 796,025,000
1968 9,618,756 774,510,000
1967 9,580,991 754,550,000
1966 9,527,807 735,400,000
1965 9,463,667 715,185,000
1964 9,378,113 698,355,000
1963 9,289,770 682,335,000
1962 9,220,578 665,770,000
1961 9,183,948 660,330,000
1960 9,153,489 667,070,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while China's population increased by 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Belgium's population will grow by 0.86% to 12,070,180 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium China
2100 -0.16% -1.65%
2099 -0.16% -1.64%
2098 -0.14% -1.63%
2097 -0.14% -1.61%
2096 -0.14% -1.6%
2095 -0.15% -1.59%
2094 -0.14% -1.59%
2093 -0.14% -1.58%
2092 -0.13% -1.57%
2091 -0.13% -1.57%
2090 -0.13% -1.57%
2089 -0.13% -1.57%
2088 -0.14% -1.57%
2087 -0.13% -1.56%
2086 -0.12% -1.56%
2085 -0.12% -1.55%
2084 -0.12% -1.53%
2083 -0.13% -1.51%
2082 -0.11% -1.5%
2081 -0.12% -1.47%
2080 -0.11% -1.45%
2079 -0.12% -1.42%
2078 -0.11% -1.4%
2077 -0.1% -1.38%
2076 -0.1% -1.36%
2075 -0.11% -1.34%
2074 -0.11% -1.33%
2073 -0.11% -1.31%
2072 -0.12% -1.3%
2071 -0.14% -1.3%
2070 -0.14% -1.29%
2069 -0.15% -1.29%
2068 -0.15% -1.29%
2067 -0.16% -1.28%
2066 -0.17% -1.28%
2065 -0.18% -1.27%
2064 -0.19% -1.26%
2063 -0.19% -1.25%
2062 -0.2% -1.24%
2061 -0.18% -1.22%
2060 -0.18% -1.19%
2059 -0.17% -1.17%
2058 -0.19% -1.13%
2057 -0.18% -1.09%
2056 -0.17% -1.05%
2055 -0.16% -1.01%
2054 -0.15% -0.96%
2053 -0.14% -0.92%
2052 -0.11% -0.87%
2051 -0.09% -0.82%
2050 -0.08% -0.77%
2049 -0.06% -0.73%
2048 -0.04% -0.69%
2047 -0.03% -0.65%
2046 -0.01% -0.62%
2045 0.005% -0.59%
2044 0.01% -0.56%
2043 0.02% -0.54%
2042 0.03% -0.52%
2041 0.03% -0.5%
2040 0.04% -0.48%
2039 0.05% -0.46%
2038 0.06% -0.44%
2037 0.05% -0.42%
2036 0.05% -0.4%
2035 0.06% -0.39%
2034 0.07% -0.37%
2033 0.07% -0.35%
2032 0.07% -0.33%
2031 0.08% -0.3%
2030 0.1% -0.29%
2029 0.11% -0.26%
2028 0.11% -0.24%
2027 0.12% -0.22%
2026 0.15% -0.23%
2025 0.7% -0.17%
2024 0.67% -0.12%
2023 0.85% -0.1%
2022 0.81% -0.01%
2021 0.41% 0.09%
2020 0.43% 0.24%
2019 0.54% 0.36%
2018 0.46% 0.47%
2017 0.39% 0.61%
2016 0.51% 0.57%
2015 0.58% 0.58%
2014 0.44% 0.63%
2013 0.47% 0.67%
2012 0.62% 0.68%
2011 1.31% 0.55%
2010 0.92% 0.48%
2009 0.81% 0.5%
2008 0.79% 0.51%
2007 0.74% 0.52%
2006 0.66% 0.56%
2005 0.55% 0.59%
2004 0.43% 0.6%
2003 0.42% 0.62%
2002 0.45% 0.67%
2001 0.34% 0.73%
2000 0.24% 0.79%
1999 0.23% 0.87%
1998 0.21% 0.96%
1997 0.24% 1.03%
1996 0.2% 1.05%
1995 0.21% 1.09%
1994 0.31% 1.14%
1993 0.39% 1.16%
1992 0.41% 1.23%
1991 0.37% 1.37%
1990 0.3% 1.48%
1989 0.36% 1.54%
1988 0.32% 1.62%
1987 0.09% 1.62%
1986 0.04% 1.5%
1985 0.03% 1.37%
1984 -0.002% 1.32%
1983 -0.008% 1.46%
1982 -0.03% 1.48%
1981 -0.003% 1.29%
1980 0.11% 1.26%
1979 0.09% 1.34%
1978 0.09% 1.35%
1977 0.12% 1.37%
1976 0.18% 1.56%
1975 0.29% 1.78%
1974 0.32% 2.09%
1973 0.32% 2.31%
1972 0.39% 2.49%
1971 0.18% 2.78%
1970 0.1% 2.8%
1969 0.28% 2.78%
1968 0.39% 2.65%
1967 0.56% 2.6%
1966 0.68% 2.83%
1965 0.91% 2.41%
1964 0.95% 2.35%
1963 0.75% 2.49%
1962 0.4% 0.82%
1961 0.33% -1.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while China's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Belgium China
Current population
11967185
1403335670
Population rank 83/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 16.9%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
13.2 seconds
One birth every
4.82 minutes
3.31 seconds
One death every
4.67 minutes
2.88 seconds
Daily growth/decline +228 -6,548
Annual growth/decline +83,171 -2,390,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 174/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 -268,126
Net migration rank 28/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -268,126
2024 -3,557 36,243 -1,394,886 -318,992
2023 0 41,679 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 -2,336 118,615 -847,305 -293,846
2021 5,793 24,017 480,203 -379,749
2020 -12,692 43,777 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 8,042 58,469 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 7,999 50,604 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 10,238 37,981 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 14,731 28,090 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 11,274 63,536 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 21,297 37,472 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 16,739 28,066 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 18,882 45,001 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 25,388 52,464 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 23,970 105,232 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 23,752 97,175 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 22,491 66,470 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 23,376 59,911 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 21,096 53,574 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 15,718 50,576 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 16,673 35,143 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 7,263 34,472 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 7,233 39,404 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 11,315 34,924 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 12,302 13,952 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 9,203 16,849 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 9,183 12,517 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 12,218 10,262 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 12,188 15,684 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 11,150 1,937 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 12,139 17,636 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 14,118 18,542 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 20,090 25,941 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 22,010 27,038 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 19,935 8,299 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 13,912 7,301 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 14,853 3,929 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 11,844 3,525 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 5,917 2,964 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 2,958 2,165 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 4,927 1,697 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 2,956 1,252 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 7,885 1,100 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 11,831 2,826 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 10,845 11,482 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 11,818 11,277 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 7,872 10,828 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 8,847 10,460 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 1,964 10,360 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 0 9,652 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 7,818 8,924 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 11,690 8,684 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 18,451 8,384 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 21,281 7,992 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 23,173 19,393 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 21,221 20,072 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 20,199 19,809 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 31,618 19,492 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 36,206 18,985 19,282,187 4,165
1965 39,748 18,243 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 51,580 17,687 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 41,804 16,355 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 42,414 14,829 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 52,349 10,566 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 40,275 9,893 -3,048,510 -16,927

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 7.28% of the population change in Belgium is from natural causes (a gain of 39,492 people) and 92.7% is from migration (a gain of 503,011 people). In China 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

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
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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