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Population in Belgium compared to the Congo: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 6,332,961 people in the Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 6,681,829 in the Congo.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 1.78 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while the Congo is the 109th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.08% for the Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.68M (74.1% growth).

Belgium vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Congo
2100 11,193,616 20,197,393
2099 11,211,908 20,056,338
2098 11,230,002 19,909,990
2097 11,246,180 19,763,169
2096 11,261,636 19,613,556
2095 11,277,513 19,462,505
2094 11,293,934 19,309,823
2093 11,309,421 19,154,254
2092 11,325,500 18,993,517
2091 11,339,887 18,831,137
2090 11,354,304 18,666,035
2089 11,368,748 18,500,705
2088 11,384,019 18,328,408
2087 11,399,441 18,156,542
2086 11,413,731 17,982,556
2085 11,427,305 17,810,599
2084 11,441,192 17,634,115
2083 11,454,476 17,455,922
2082 11,468,827 17,273,447
2081 11,480,917 17,095,916
2080 11,494,860 16,913,187
2079 11,507,804 16,731,545
2078 11,522,057 16,545,390
2077 11,534,819 16,360,458
2076 11,546,262 16,175,508
2075 11,558,154 15,984,378
2074 11,571,164 15,794,071
2073 11,584,391 15,599,735
2072 11,597,605 15,404,494
2071 11,611,079 15,207,921
2070 11,627,079 15,011,471
2069 11,643,296 14,810,543
2068 11,660,663 14,612,051
2067 11,677,909 14,415,033
2066 11,696,417 14,213,222
2065 11,716,114 14,012,829
2064 11,736,957 13,813,071
2063 11,758,738 13,611,733
2062 11,780,812 13,407,155
2061 11,804,421 13,206,406
2060 11,825,799 13,006,970
2059 11,847,336 12,808,144
2058 11,867,449 12,611,185
2057 11,890,466 12,415,316
2056 11,911,901 12,219,298
2055 11,931,594 12,024,601
2054 11,950,146 11,826,644
2053 11,968,395 11,629,783
2052 11,984,694 11,433,645
2051 11,998,099 11,236,927
2050 12,008,766 11,041,020
2049 12,017,817 10,846,652
2048 12,024,879 10,651,879
2047 12,029,815 10,455,019
2046 12,032,975 10,260,138
2045 12,034,718 10,065,444
2044 12,034,116 9,872,742
2043 12,032,908 9,677,498
2042 12,030,714 9,483,953
2041 12,026,814 9,288,673
2040 12,023,124 9,097,986
2039 12,018,547 8,908,556
2038 12,012,586 8,720,599
2037 12,005,650 8,534,256
2036 11,999,298 8,350,011
2035 11,992,761 8,167,940
2034 11,985,730 7,986,915
2033 11,977,334 7,806,956
2032 11,969,302 7,629,621
2031 11,960,910 7,454,630
2030 11,951,381 7,285,238
2029 11,939,712 7,119,031
2028 11,927,038 6,956,345
2027 11,913,457 6,795,830
2026 11,898,731 6,639,560
2025 11,881,020 6,485,440
2024 11,858,610 6,332,961
2023 11,779,946 6,182,885
2022 11,680,210 6,035,104
2021 11,586,195 5,892,183
2020 11,538,604 5,752,791
2019 11,488,980 5,616,661
2018 11,427,054 5,483,118
2017 11,375,158 5,351,011
2016 11,331,422 5,222,536
2015 11,274,196 5,097,581
2014 11,209,057 4,975,880
2013 11,159,407 4,857,099
2012 11,106,932 4,740,450
2011 11,038,264 4,609,724
2010 10,895,586 4,462,290
2009 10,796,493 4,281,219
2008 10,709,973 4,113,517
2007 10,625,700 3,980,430
2006 10,547,958 3,837,409
2005 10,478,617 3,696,393
2004 10,421,137 3,565,554
2003 10,376,133 3,445,753
2002 10,332,785 3,350,771
2001 10,286,570 3,272,537
2000 10,251,250 3,151,345
1999 10,226,419 3,032,874
1998 10,203,008 2,952,061
1997 10,181,245 2,887,862
1996 10,156,637 2,826,785
1995 10,136,811 2,749,461
1994 10,115,603 2,673,144
1993 10,084,475 2,595,124
1992 10,045,158 2,519,465
1991 10,004,486 2,449,229
1990 9,967,379 2,380,560
1989 9,937,697 2,313,558
1988 9,901,664 2,247,653
1987 9,870,234 2,183,473
1986 9,861,823 2,120,602
1985 9,858,308 2,059,311
1984 9,855,372 1,999,528
1983 9,855,520 1,950,321
1982 9,856,303 1,910,430
1981 9,858,982 1,869,759
1980 9,859,242 1,828,985
1979 9,848,382 1,788,524
1978 9,839,534 1,748,089
1977 9,830,358 1,707,568
1976 9,818,227 1,667,225
1975 9,800,700 1,627,032
1974 9,772,419 1,582,301
1973 9,741,720 1,533,680
1972 9,711,115 1,486,468
1971 9,673,162 1,441,039
1970 9,655,549 1,397,638
1969 9,646,032 1,356,182
1968 9,618,756 1,316,519
1967 9,580,991 1,278,691
1966 9,527,807 1,242,534
1965 9,463,667 1,207,880
1964 9,378,113 1,174,816
1963 9,289,770 1,143,263
1962 9,220,578 1,113,175
1961 9,183,948 1,084,389
1960 9,153,489 1,056,732

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/congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while the Congo gained 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. The Congo was ranked 125th in 2006 and ranked 109th 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 Congo will increase by 65.2% to 11,041,020 people and rank change from 109th to 95th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 20.2M people in 2100 for the Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Congo
2100 -0.16% 0.7%
2099 -0.16% 0.74%
2098 -0.14% 0.74%
2097 -0.14% 0.76%
2096 -0.14% 0.78%
2095 -0.15% 0.79%
2094 -0.14% 0.81%
2093 -0.14% 0.85%
2092 -0.13% 0.86%
2091 -0.13% 0.88%
2090 -0.13% 0.89%
2089 -0.13% 0.94%
2088 -0.14% 0.95%
2087 -0.13% 0.97%
2086 -0.12% 0.97%
2085 -0.12% 1%
2084 -0.12% 1.02%
2083 -0.13% 1.06%
2082 -0.11% 1.04%
2081 -0.12% 1.08%
2080 -0.11% 1.09%
2079 -0.12% 1.13%
2078 -0.11% 1.13%
2077 -0.1% 1.14%
2076 -0.1% 1.2%
2075 -0.11% 1.2%
2074 -0.11% 1.25%
2073 -0.11% 1.27%
2072 -0.12% 1.29%
2071 -0.14% 1.31%
2070 -0.14% 1.36%
2069 -0.15% 1.36%
2068 -0.15% 1.37%
2067 -0.16% 1.42%
2066 -0.17% 1.43%
2065 -0.18% 1.45%
2064 -0.19% 1.48%
2063 -0.19% 1.53%
2062 -0.2% 1.52%
2061 -0.18% 1.53%
2060 -0.18% 1.55%
2059 -0.17% 1.56%
2058 -0.19% 1.58%
2057 -0.18% 1.6%
2056 -0.17% 1.62%
2055 -0.16% 1.67%
2054 -0.15% 1.69%
2053 -0.14% 1.72%
2052 -0.11% 1.75%
2051 -0.09% 1.77%
2050 -0.08% 1.79%
2049 -0.06% 1.83%
2048 -0.04% 1.88%
2047 -0.03% 1.9%
2046 -0.01% 1.93%
2045 0.005% 1.95%
2044 0.01% 2.02%
2043 0.02% 2.04%
2042 0.03% 2.1%
2041 0.03% 2.1%
2040 0.04% 2.13%
2039 0.05% 2.16%
2038 0.06% 2.18%
2037 0.05% 2.21%
2036 0.05% 2.23%
2035 0.06% 2.27%
2034 0.07% 2.31%
2033 0.07% 2.32%
2032 0.07% 2.35%
2031 0.08% 2.33%
2030 0.1% 2.33%
2029 0.11% 2.34%
2028 0.11% 2.36%
2027 0.12% 2.35%
2026 0.15% 2.38%
2025 0.19% 2.41%
2024 0.67% 2.43%
2023 0.85% 2.45%
2022 0.81% 2.43%
2021 0.41% 2.42%
2020 0.43% 2.42%
2019 0.54% 2.44%
2018 0.46% 2.47%
2017 0.39% 2.46%
2016 0.51% 2.45%
2015 0.58% 2.45%
2014 0.44% 2.45%
2013 0.47% 2.46%
2012 0.62% 2.84%
2011 1.31% 3.3%
2010 0.92% 4.23%
2009 0.81% 4.08%
2008 0.79% 3.34%
2007 0.74% 3.73%
2006 0.66% 3.81%
2005 0.55% 3.67%
2004 0.43% 3.48%
2003 0.42% 2.83%
2002 0.45% 2.39%
2001 0.34% 3.85%
2000 0.24% 3.91%
1999 0.23% 2.74%
1998 0.21% 2.22%
1997 0.24% 2.16%
1996 0.2% 2.81%
1995 0.21% 2.85%
1994 0.31% 3.01%
1993 0.39% 3%
1992 0.41% 2.87%
1991 0.37% 2.88%
1990 0.3% 2.9%
1989 0.36% 2.93%
1988 0.32% 2.94%
1987 0.09% 2.96%
1986 0.04% 2.98%
1985 0.03% 2.99%
1984 -0.002% 2.52%
1983 -0.008% 2.09%
1982 -0.03% 2.18%
1981 -0.003% 2.23%
1980 0.11% 2.26%
1979 0.09% 2.31%
1978 0.09% 2.37%
1977 0.12% 2.42%
1976 0.18% 2.47%
1975 0.29% 2.83%
1974 0.32% 3.17%
1973 0.32% 3.18%
1972 0.39% 3.15%
1971 0.18% 3.11%
1970 0.1% 3.06%
1969 0.28% 3.01%
1968 0.39% 2.96%
1967 0.56% 2.91%
1966 0.68% 2.87%
1965 0.91% 2.81%
1964 0.95% 2.76%
1963 0.75% 2.7%
1962 0.4% 2.65%
1961 0.33% 2.62%

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/congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.43%.

Live population counters

Belgium Congo
Current population
11902714
6681829
Population rank 83/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.08%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
3.5 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
2.78 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
13.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +411
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +150,076
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +2.43%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 31/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
2.93 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 -2,999
Net migration rank 28/196 108/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 385,589
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 91/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 6.1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 86/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -2,999
2024 - 36,243 - -2,491
2023 0 41,679 150,486 -995
2022 -2,336 118,615 147,076 -995
2021 5,793 24,017 144,241 -4,476
2020 -12,692 43,777 143,492 -4,472
2019 8,042 58,469 139,513 -6,268
2018 7,999 50,604 142,704 -8,856
2017 10,238 37,981 141,973 -11,601
2016 14,731 28,090 141,358 -14,783
2015 11,274 63,536 141,539 -18,207
2014 21,297 37,472 141,674 -21,598
2013 16,739 28,066 142,080 -24,605
2012 18,882 45,001 142,464 -26,643
2011 25,388 52,464 140,371 5,262
2010 23,970 105,232 136,908 12,318
2009 23,752 97,175 126,904 86,014
2008 22,491 66,470 120,711 1,774
2007 23,376 59,911 112,459 31,239
2006 21,096 53,574 106,876 35,475
2005 15,718 50,576 101,344 38,337
2004 16,673 35,143 96,577 25,412
2003 7,263 34,472 91,326 26,280
2002 7,233 39,404 88,497 -16,140
2001 11,315 34,924 84,876 -764
2000 12,302 13,952 78,491 79,780
1999 9,203 16,849 76,204 2,470
1998 9,183 12,517 72,450 10,500
1997 12,218 10,262 66,149 -20,704
1996 12,188 15,684 75,628 1,085
1995 11,150 1,937 74,189 3,747
1994 12,139 17,636 72,857 1,850
1993 14,118 18,542 71,119 10,218
1992 20,090 25,941 69,973 0
1991 22,010 27,038 68,534 1,966
1990 19,935 8,299 67,241 -395
1989 13,912 7,301 65,944 1,214
1988 14,853 3,929 64,629 22
1987 11,844 3,525 63,183 525
1986 5,917 2,964 61,669 367
1985 2,958 2,165 60,359 182
1984 4,927 1,697 59,028 0
1983 2,956 1,252 58,120 -18,720
1982 7,885 1,100 57,036 -16,664
1981 11,831 2,826 56,603 -15,630
1980 10,845 11,482 55,550 -14,972
1979 11,818 11,277 54,723 -14,378
1978 7,872 10,828 53,885 -13,356
1977 8,847 10,460 53,179 -12,673
1976 1,964 10,360 52,148 -11,971
1975 0 9,652 51,155 -10,944
1974 7,818 8,924 49,563 -312
1973 11,690 8,684 48,017 -22
1972 18,451 8,384 46,427 0
1971 21,281 7,992 44,431 0
1970 23,173 19,393 42,374 0
1969 21,221 20,072 40,532 0
1968 20,199 19,809 38,786 0
1967 31,618 19,492 36,866 0
1966 36,206 18,985 35,452 0
1965 39,748 18,243 33,865 0
1964 51,580 17,687 32,270 0
1963 41,804 16,355 30,832 0
1962 42,414 14,829 29,342 0
1961 52,349 10,566 28,220 0
1960 40,275 9,893 27,094 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/congo | 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 Congo 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 385,589 people or 6.1% in the Congo.

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
Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K

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/congo | 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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