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Population in Belgium compared to Costa Rica: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 2.3 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).

Belgium vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Costa Rica
2100 11,193,616 3,804,183
2099 11,211,908 3,842,423
2098 11,230,002 3,880,999
2097 11,246,180 3,919,996
2096 11,261,636 3,959,352
2095 11,277,513 3,999,084
2094 11,293,934 4,039,053
2093 11,309,421 4,079,349
2092 11,325,500 4,119,898
2091 11,339,887 4,160,663
2090 11,354,304 4,201,548
2089 11,368,748 4,242,452
2088 11,384,019 4,283,327
2087 11,399,441 4,324,225
2086 11,413,731 4,364,979
2085 11,427,305 4,405,520
2084 11,441,192 4,445,770
2083 11,454,476 4,485,644
2082 11,468,827 4,525,171
2081 11,480,917 4,564,265
2080 11,494,860 4,602,737
2079 11,507,804 4,640,677
2078 11,522,057 4,677,935
2077 11,534,819 4,714,527
2076 11,546,262 4,750,309
2075 11,558,154 4,785,359
2074 11,571,164 4,819,691
2073 11,584,391 4,853,137
2072 11,597,605 4,885,727
2071 11,611,079 4,917,445
2070 11,627,079 4,948,313
2069 11,643,296 4,978,425
2068 11,660,663 5,007,604
2067 11,677,909 5,035,877
2066 11,696,417 5,063,521
2065 11,716,114 5,090,474
2064 11,736,957 5,116,546
2063 11,758,738 5,141,922
2062 11,780,812 5,166,260
2061 11,804,421 5,189,836
2060 11,825,799 5,212,549
2059 11,847,336 5,234,066
2058 11,867,449 5,254,528
2057 11,890,466 5,273,844
2056 11,911,901 5,292,013
2055 11,931,594 5,308,829
2054 11,950,146 5,324,305
2053 11,968,395 5,338,417
2052 11,984,694 5,350,974
2051 11,998,099 5,361,865
2050 12,008,766 5,371,197
2049 12,017,817 5,378,904
2048 12,024,879 5,385,081
2047 12,029,815 5,389,678
2046 12,032,975 5,392,713
2045 12,034,718 5,394,209
2044 12,034,116 5,394,124
2043 12,032,908 5,392,590
2042 12,030,714 5,389,628
2041 12,026,814 5,385,101
2040 12,023,124 5,379,344
2039 12,018,547 5,372,186
2038 12,012,586 5,363,617
2037 12,005,650 5,353,928
2036 11,999,298 5,343,027
2035 11,992,761 5,330,994
2034 11,985,730 5,317,895
2033 11,977,334 5,303,634
2032 11,969,302 5,288,416
2031 11,960,910 5,272,215
2030 11,951,381 5,255,064
2029 11,939,712 5,236,901
2028 11,927,038 5,217,724
2027 11,913,457 5,197,413
2026 11,898,731 5,176,096
2025 11,881,020 5,153,634
2024 11,858,610 5,129,910
2023 11,779,946 5,105,525
2022 11,680,210 5,081,765
2021 11,586,195 5,059,988
2020 11,538,604 5,034,320
2019 11,488,980 4,999,553
2018 11,427,054 4,957,818
2017 11,375,158 4,913,177
2016 11,331,422 4,866,998
2015 11,274,196 4,818,038
2014 11,209,057 4,767,119
2013 11,159,407 4,716,147
2012 11,106,932 4,663,934
2011 11,038,264 4,609,833
2010 10,895,586 4,555,962
2009 10,796,493 4,499,791
2008 10,709,973 4,440,056
2007 10,625,700 4,380,248
2006 10,547,958 4,321,340
2005 10,478,617 4,261,240
2004 10,421,137 4,200,078
2003 10,376,133 4,138,784
2002 10,332,785 4,075,705
2001 10,286,570 4,008,947
2000 10,251,250 3,937,739
1999 10,226,419 3,862,101
1998 10,203,008 3,782,838
1997 10,181,245 3,701,711
1996 10,156,637 3,619,013
1995 10,136,811 3,535,176
1994 10,115,603 3,451,122
1993 10,084,475 3,367,434
1992 10,045,158 3,284,258
1991 10,004,486 3,202,176
1990 9,967,379 3,121,706
1989 9,937,697 3,043,827
1988 9,901,664 2,968,103
1987 9,870,234 2,892,699
1986 9,861,823 2,817,216
1985 9,858,308 2,741,894
1984 9,855,372 2,667,595
1983 9,855,520 2,595,153
1982 9,856,303 2,524,806
1981 9,858,982 2,456,637
1980 9,859,242 2,390,633
1979 9,848,382 2,326,490
1978 9,839,534 2,264,510
1977 9,830,358 2,205,025
1976 9,818,227 2,147,774
1975 9,800,700 2,092,719
1974 9,772,419 2,039,643
1973 9,741,720 1,988,343
1972 9,711,115 1,938,248
1971 9,673,162 1,888,539
1970 9,655,549 1,838,949
1969 9,646,032 1,789,276
1968 9,618,756 1,739,731
1967 9,580,991 1,689,523
1966 9,527,807 1,638,116
1965 9,463,667 1,586,208
1964 9,378,113 1,533,960
1963 9,289,770 1,481,604
1962 9,220,578 1,429,445
1961 9,183,948 1,377,920
1960 9,153,489 1,327,496

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/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Costa Rica was ranked 119th in 2006 and ranked 126th 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 Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Costa Rica
2100 -0.16% -1%
2099 -0.16% -0.99%
2098 -0.14% -0.99%
2097 -0.14% -0.99%
2096 -0.14% -0.99%
2095 -0.15% -0.99%
2094 -0.14% -0.99%
2093 -0.14% -0.98%
2092 -0.13% -0.98%
2091 -0.13% -0.97%
2090 -0.13% -0.96%
2089 -0.13% -0.95%
2088 -0.14% -0.95%
2087 -0.13% -0.93%
2086 -0.12% -0.92%
2085 -0.12% -0.91%
2084 -0.12% -0.89%
2083 -0.13% -0.87%
2082 -0.11% -0.86%
2081 -0.12% -0.84%
2080 -0.11% -0.82%
2079 -0.12% -0.8%
2078 -0.11% -0.78%
2077 -0.1% -0.75%
2076 -0.1% -0.73%
2075 -0.11% -0.71%
2074 -0.11% -0.69%
2073 -0.11% -0.67%
2072 -0.12% -0.65%
2071 -0.14% -0.62%
2070 -0.14% -0.6%
2069 -0.15% -0.58%
2068 -0.15% -0.56%
2067 -0.16% -0.55%
2066 -0.17% -0.53%
2065 -0.18% -0.51%
2064 -0.19% -0.49%
2063 -0.19% -0.47%
2062 -0.2% -0.45%
2061 -0.18% -0.44%
2060 -0.18% -0.41%
2059 -0.17% -0.39%
2058 -0.19% -0.37%
2057 -0.18% -0.34%
2056 -0.17% -0.32%
2055 -0.16% -0.29%
2054 -0.15% -0.26%
2053 -0.14% -0.23%
2052 -0.11% -0.2%
2051 -0.09% -0.17%
2050 -0.08% -0.14%
2049 -0.06% -0.11%
2048 -0.04% -0.09%
2047 -0.03% -0.06%
2046 -0.01% -0.03%
2045 0.005% 0.002%
2044 0.01% 0.03%
2043 0.02% 0.05%
2042 0.03% 0.08%
2041 0.03% 0.11%
2040 0.04% 0.13%
2039 0.05% 0.16%
2038 0.06% 0.18%
2037 0.05% 0.2%
2036 0.05% 0.23%
2035 0.06% 0.25%
2034 0.07% 0.27%
2033 0.07% 0.29%
2032 0.07% 0.31%
2031 0.08% 0.33%
2030 0.1% 0.35%
2029 0.11% 0.37%
2028 0.11% 0.39%
2027 0.12% 0.41%
2026 0.15% 0.44%
2025 0.19% 0.46%
2024 0.67% 0.48%
2023 0.85% 0.47%
2022 0.81% 0.43%
2021 0.41% 0.51%
2020 0.43% 0.7%
2019 0.54% 0.84%
2018 0.46% 0.91%
2017 0.39% 0.95%
2016 0.51% 1.02%
2015 0.58% 1.07%
2014 0.44% 1.08%
2013 0.47% 1.12%
2012 0.62% 1.17%
2011 1.31% 1.18%
2010 0.92% 1.25%
2009 0.81% 1.35%
2008 0.79% 1.37%
2007 0.74% 1.36%
2006 0.66% 1.41%
2005 0.55% 1.46%
2004 0.43% 1.48%
2003 0.42% 1.55%
2002 0.45% 1.67%
2001 0.34% 1.81%
2000 0.24% 1.96%
1999 0.23% 2.1%
1998 0.21% 2.19%
1997 0.24% 2.29%
1996 0.2% 2.37%
1995 0.21% 2.44%
1994 0.31% 2.49%
1993 0.39% 2.53%
1992 0.41% 2.56%
1991 0.37% 2.58%
1990 0.3% 2.56%
1989 0.36% 2.55%
1988 0.32% 2.61%
1987 0.09% 2.68%
1986 0.04% 2.75%
1985 0.03% 2.79%
1984 -0.002% 2.79%
1983 -0.008% 2.79%
1982 -0.03% 2.77%
1981 -0.003% 2.76%
1980 0.11% 2.76%
1979 0.09% 2.74%
1978 0.09% 2.7%
1977 0.12% 2.67%
1976 0.18% 2.63%
1975 0.29% 2.6%
1974 0.32% 2.58%
1973 0.32% 2.58%
1972 0.39% 2.63%
1971 0.18% 2.7%
1970 0.1% 2.78%
1969 0.28% 2.85%
1968 0.39% 2.97%
1967 0.56% 3.14%
1966 0.68% 3.27%
1965 0.91% 3.41%
1964 0.95% 3.53%
1963 0.75% 3.65%
1962 0.4% 3.74%
1961 0.33% 3.8%

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/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.

Live population counters

Belgium Costa Rica
Current population
11902714
5181862
Population rank 83/197 126/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.06%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
21.6 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
18.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +67
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +24,385
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.48%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 138/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
8.78 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 +1,000
Net migration rank 28/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 1,000
2024 - 36,243 - 967
2023 0 41,679 24,109 995
2022 -2,336 118,615 21,409 1,006
2021 5,793 24,017 20,119 1,018
2020 -12,692 43,777 29,164 1,029
2019 8,042 58,469 37,682 1,653
2018 7,999 50,604 42,469 1,673
2017 10,238 37,981 43,471 1,671
2016 14,731 28,090 45,565 1,649
2015 11,274 63,536 49,077 1,617
2014 21,297 37,472 49,559 1,589
2013 16,739 28,066 49,227 1,579
2012 18,882 45,001 52,036 1,587
2011 25,388 52,464 52,884 1,695
2010 23,970 105,232 50,803 2,357
2009 23,752 97,175 55,757 3,432
2008 22,491 66,470 56,491 3,794
2007 23,376 59,911 55,244 4,080
2006 21,096 53,574 54,177 4,321
2005 15,718 50,576 57,139 4,567
2004 16,673 35,143 55,769 4,856
2003 7,263 34,472 56,743 5,216
2002 7,233 39,404 58,388 5,812
2001 11,315 34,924 62,199 7,119
2000 12,302 13,952 64,268 8,826
1999 9,203 16,849 64,922 13,253
1998 9,183 12,517 64,788 15,556
1997 12,218 10,262 64,954 16,954
1996 12,188 15,684 66,094 17,393
1995 11,150 1,937 67,585 16,609
1994 12,139 17,636 68,336 15,587
1993 14,118 18,542 69,016 14,431
1992 20,090 25,941 69,830 13,069
1991 22,010 27,038 70,506 10,757
1990 19,935 8,299 71,727 7,949
1989 13,912 7,301 72,327 3,758
1988 14,853 3,929 72,944 2,414
1987 11,844 3,525 73,188 2,267
1986 5,917 2,964 73,211 2,302
1985 2,958 2,165 72,776 2,357
1984 4,927 1,697 71,062 2,402
1983 2,956 1,252 68,972 2,449
1982 7,885 1,100 66,826 2,453
1981 11,831 2,826 64,632 2,431
1980 10,845 11,482 62,561 2,387
1979 11,818 11,277 60,984 2,349
1978 7,872 10,828 58,327 2,296
1977 8,847 10,460 56,122 2,228
1976 1,964 10,360 54,019 2,129
1975 0 9,652 51,979 1,992
1974 7,818 8,924 50,349 1,839
1973 11,690 8,684 48,943 1,468
1972 18,451 8,384 48,417 1,366
1971 21,281 7,992 48,341 1,296
1970 23,173 19,393 48,398 1,137
1969 21,221 20,072 48,790 1,017
1968 20,199 19,809 48,361 939
1967 31,618 19,492 50,193 926
1966 36,206 18,985 50,755 930
1965 39,748 18,243 51,196 932
1964 51,580 17,687 51,435 934
1963 41,804 16,355 51,403 938
1962 42,414 14,829 51,046 934
1961 52,349 10,566 50,149 924
1960 40,275 9,893 48,857 910

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/costa-rica | 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 Costa Rica 96.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

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
Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Alajuela 44.4K
Puntarenas 41.5K
Cartago 22.8K
Heredia 16.7K
Tamarindo 7.13K
Santa Teresa 3K

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/costa-rica | 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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