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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 3,866,200 people in Croatia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 3,812,193 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 3.12 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 129th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs -0.82% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.81M (11.6% decline).

Belgium vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Croatia
2100 11,193,616 2,137,465
2099 11,211,908 2,155,186
2098 11,230,002 2,173,108
2097 11,246,180 2,190,995
2096 11,261,636 2,209,326
2095 11,277,513 2,227,698
2094 11,293,934 2,246,224
2093 11,309,421 2,264,550
2092 11,325,500 2,283,068
2091 11,339,887 2,301,556
2090 11,354,304 2,319,851
2089 11,368,748 2,338,604
2088 11,384,019 2,357,581
2087 11,399,441 2,376,274
2086 11,413,731 2,395,139
2085 11,427,305 2,414,304
2084 11,441,192 2,433,813
2083 11,454,476 2,453,361
2082 11,468,827 2,473,204
2081 11,480,917 2,493,128
2080 11,494,860 2,513,378
2079 11,507,804 2,534,101
2078 11,522,057 2,554,982
2077 11,534,819 2,576,370
2076 11,546,262 2,597,887
2075 11,558,154 2,619,688
2074 11,571,164 2,641,342
2073 11,584,391 2,663,253
2072 11,597,605 2,685,714
2071 11,611,079 2,708,053
2070 11,627,079 2,730,187
2069 11,643,296 2,753,302
2068 11,660,663 2,776,996
2067 11,677,909 2,800,742
2066 11,696,417 2,824,811
2065 11,716,114 2,848,913
2064 11,736,957 2,872,881
2063 11,758,738 2,897,651
2062 11,780,812 2,922,653
2061 11,804,421 2,947,832
2060 11,825,799 2,973,162
2059 11,847,336 2,998,389
2058 11,867,449 3,023,822
2057 11,890,466 3,049,085
2056 11,911,901 3,074,796
2055 11,931,594 3,100,195
2054 11,950,146 3,125,459
2053 11,968,395 3,151,016
2052 11,984,694 3,176,316
2051 11,998,099 3,201,973
2050 12,008,766 3,227,869
2049 12,017,817 3,253,597
2048 12,024,879 3,279,316
2047 12,029,815 3,305,051
2046 12,032,975 3,330,260
2045 12,034,718 3,355,638
2044 12,034,116 3,381,196
2043 12,032,908 3,406,105
2042 12,030,714 3,430,854
2041 12,026,814 3,455,487
2040 12,023,124 3,479,631
2039 12,018,547 3,503,577
2038 12,012,586 3,527,583
2037 12,005,650 3,551,581
2036 11,999,298 3,574,520
2035 11,992,761 3,596,996
2034 11,985,730 3,620,363
2033 11,977,334 3,643,692
2032 11,969,302 3,667,478
2031 11,960,910 3,691,842
2030 11,951,381 3,715,373
2029 11,939,712 3,739,203
2028 11,927,038 3,762,505
2027 11,913,457 3,787,023
2026 11,898,731 3,812,193
2025 11,881,020 3,838,346
2024 11,858,610 3,866,200
2023 11,779,946 3,859,686
2022 11,680,210 3,855,641
2021 11,586,195 3,878,981
2020 11,538,604 3,914,206
2019 11,488,980 3,949,390
2018 11,427,054 3,988,775
2017 11,375,158 4,041,407
2016 11,331,422 4,106,867
2015 11,274,196 4,151,725
2014 11,209,057 4,201,598
2013 11,159,407 4,233,922
2012 11,106,932 4,260,368
2011 11,038,264 4,280,622
2010 10,895,586 4,295,427
2009 10,796,493 4,305,181
2008 10,709,973 4,309,705
2007 10,625,700 4,310,217
2006 10,547,958 4,311,159
2005 10,478,617 4,310,145
2004 10,421,137 4,304,600
2003 10,376,133 4,303,399
2002 10,332,785 4,302,174
2001 10,286,570 4,299,642
2000 10,251,250 4,468,302
1999 10,226,419 4,512,597
1998 10,203,008 4,532,135
1997 10,181,245 4,534,920
1996 10,156,637 4,557,097
1995 10,136,811 4,620,030
1994 10,115,603 4,652,024
1993 10,084,475 4,600,463
1992 10,045,158 4,575,818
1991 10,004,486 4,689,022
1990 9,967,379 4,777,368
1989 9,937,697 4,767,260
1988 9,901,664 4,755,207
1987 9,870,234 4,739,745
1986 9,861,823 4,721,446
1985 9,858,308 4,701,417
1984 9,855,372 4,680,285
1983 9,855,520 4,658,254
1982 9,856,303 4,634,234
1981 9,858,982 4,611,509
1980 9,859,242 4,599,782
1979 9,848,382 4,594,778
1978 9,839,534 4,581,085
1977 9,830,358 4,559,571
1976 9,818,227 4,535,934
1975 9,800,700 4,512,082
1974 9,772,419 4,490,660
1973 9,741,720 4,470,161
1972 9,711,115 4,450,564
1971 9,673,162 4,431,275
1970 9,655,549 4,412,252
1969 9,646,032 4,391,490
1968 9,618,756 4,365,628
1967 9,580,991 4,338,683
1966 9,527,807 4,310,701
1965 9,463,667 4,280,923
1964 9,378,113 4,252,876
1963 9,289,770 4,225,675
1962 9,220,578 4,196,712
1961 9,183,948 4,167,292
1960 9,153,489 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 129th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people and rank change from 129th to 139th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.14M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Croatia
2100 -0.16% -0.82%
2099 -0.16% -0.82%
2098 -0.14% -0.82%
2097 -0.14% -0.83%
2096 -0.14% -0.82%
2095 -0.15% -0.82%
2094 -0.14% -0.81%
2093 -0.14% -0.81%
2092 -0.13% -0.8%
2091 -0.13% -0.79%
2090 -0.13% -0.8%
2089 -0.13% -0.8%
2088 -0.14% -0.79%
2087 -0.13% -0.79%
2086 -0.12% -0.79%
2085 -0.12% -0.8%
2084 -0.12% -0.8%
2083 -0.13% -0.8%
2082 -0.11% -0.8%
2081 -0.12% -0.81%
2080 -0.11% -0.82%
2079 -0.12% -0.82%
2078 -0.11% -0.83%
2077 -0.1% -0.83%
2076 -0.1% -0.83%
2075 -0.11% -0.82%
2074 -0.11% -0.82%
2073 -0.11% -0.84%
2072 -0.12% -0.82%
2071 -0.14% -0.81%
2070 -0.14% -0.84%
2069 -0.15% -0.85%
2068 -0.15% -0.85%
2067 -0.16% -0.85%
2066 -0.17% -0.85%
2065 -0.18% -0.83%
2064 -0.19% -0.85%
2063 -0.19% -0.86%
2062 -0.2% -0.85%
2061 -0.18% -0.85%
2060 -0.18% -0.84%
2059 -0.17% -0.84%
2058 -0.19% -0.83%
2057 -0.18% -0.84%
2056 -0.17% -0.82%
2055 -0.16% -0.81%
2054 -0.15% -0.81%
2053 -0.14% -0.8%
2052 -0.11% -0.8%
2051 -0.09% -0.8%
2050 -0.08% -0.79%
2049 -0.06% -0.78%
2048 -0.04% -0.78%
2047 -0.03% -0.76%
2046 -0.01% -0.76%
2045 0.005% -0.76%
2044 0.01% -0.73%
2043 0.02% -0.72%
2042 0.03% -0.71%
2041 0.03% -0.69%
2040 0.04% -0.68%
2039 0.05% -0.68%
2038 0.06% -0.68%
2037 0.05% -0.64%
2036 0.05% -0.62%
2035 0.06% -0.65%
2034 0.07% -0.64%
2033 0.07% -0.65%
2032 0.07% -0.66%
2031 0.08% -0.63%
2030 0.1% -0.64%
2029 0.11% -0.62%
2028 0.11% -0.65%
2027 0.12% -0.66%
2026 0.15% -0.68%
2025 0.19% -0.72%
2024 0.67% 0.17%
2023 0.85% 0.1%
2022 0.81% -0.6%
2021 0.41% -0.9%
2020 0.43% -0.89%
2019 0.54% -0.99%
2018 0.46% -1.3%
2017 0.39% -1.59%
2016 0.51% -1.08%
2015 0.58% -1.19%
2014 0.44% -0.76%
2013 0.47% -0.62%
2012 0.62% -0.47%
2011 1.31% -0.34%
2010 0.92% -0.23%
2009 0.81% -0.1%
2008 0.79% -0.01%
2007 0.74% -0.02%
2006 0.66% 0.02%
2005 0.55% 0.13%
2004 0.43% 0.03%
2003 0.42% 0.03%
2002 0.45% 0.06%
2001 0.34% -3.77%
2000 0.24% -0.98%
1999 0.23% -0.43%
1998 0.21% -0.06%
1997 0.24% -0.49%
1996 0.2% -1.36%
1995 0.21% -0.69%
1994 0.31% 1.12%
1993 0.39% 0.54%
1992 0.41% -2.41%
1991 0.37% -1.85%
1990 0.3% 0.21%
1989 0.36% 0.25%
1988 0.32% 0.33%
1987 0.09% 0.39%
1986 0.04% 0.43%
1985 0.03% 0.45%
1984 -0.002% 0.47%
1983 -0.008% 0.52%
1982 -0.03% 0.49%
1981 -0.003% 0.25%
1980 0.11% 0.11%
1979 0.09% 0.3%
1978 0.09% 0.47%
1977 0.12% 0.52%
1976 0.18% 0.53%
1975 0.29% 0.48%
1974 0.32% 0.46%
1973 0.32% 0.44%
1972 0.39% 0.44%
1971 0.18% 0.43%
1970 0.1% 0.47%
1969 0.28% 0.59%
1968 0.39% 0.62%
1967 0.56% 0.65%
1966 0.68% 0.7%
1965 0.91% 0.66%
1964 0.95% 0.64%
1963 0.75% 0.69%
1962 0.4% 0.71%
1961 0.33% 0.65%

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/croatia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Belgium Croatia
Current population
11902714
3812193
Population rank 83/197 129/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.05%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
1.34 hours
One birth every
4.75 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
10.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +18
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +6,514
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.17%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 157/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
2.52 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 -3,481
Net migration rank 28/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -3,481
2024 - 36,243 - -5,186
2023 0 41,679 -19,298 10,202
2022 -2,336 118,615 -23,134 11,681
2021 5,793 24,017 -26,377 -4,517
2020 -12,692 43,777 -20,354 -8,552
2019 8,042 58,469 -15,008 -13,239
2018 7,999 50,604 -15,557 -25,016
2017 10,238 37,981 -16,570 -44,557
2016 14,731 28,090 -13,553 -32,144
2015 11,274 63,536 -16,607 -27,501
2014 21,297 37,472 -11,345 -13,127
2013 16,739 28,066 -10,162 -6,245
2012 18,882 45,001 -9,799 -4,794
2011 25,388 52,464 -9,846 -17,463
2010 23,970 105,232 -8,591 -3,995
2009 23,752 97,175 -7,319 1,358
2008 22,491 66,470 -8,188 6,495
2007 23,376 59,911 -10,335 8,893
2006 21,096 53,574 -8,669 10,852
2005 15,718 50,576 -9,022 10,629
2004 16,673 35,143 -9,040 15,445
2003 7,263 34,472 -12,480 12,556
2002 7,233 39,404 -10,325 10,306
2001 11,315 34,924 -8,599 19,298
2000 12,302 13,952 -6,255 -47,629
1999 9,203 16,849 -6,769 -47,418
1998 9,183 12,517 -4,985 -47,931
1997 12,218 10,262 3,175 -52,897
1996 12,188 15,684 3,190 -53,688
1995 11,150 1,937 0 -51,882
1994 12,139 17,636 -930 -50,444
1993 14,118 18,542 -2,301 -49,615
1992 20,090 25,941 -4,576 -47,865
1991 22,010 27,038 -2,813 -31,968
1990 19,935 8,299 3,344 9,538
1989 13,912 7,301 3,337 8,471
1988 14,853 3,929 5,707 7,242
1987 11,844 3,525 6,161 6,956
1986 5,917 2,964 8,499 6,261
1985 2,958 2,165 10,343 5,550
1984 4,927 1,697 10,764 5,757
1983 2,956 1,252 10,714 6,323
1982 7,885 1,100 15,756 7,475
1981 11,831 2,826 15,680 4,872
1980 10,845 11,482 17,939 -5,486
1979 11,818 11,277 21,136 -5,740
1978 7,872 10,828 20,157 -7,329
1977 8,847 10,460 22,798 -7,339
1976 1,964 10,360 22,226 -7,400
1975 0 9,652 21,658 -7,366
1974 7,818 8,924 22,453 -8,076
1973 11,690 8,684 21,904 -8,335
1972 18,451 8,384 17,802 -7,277
1971 21,281 7,992 19,941 -5,608
1970 23,173 19,393 16,767 -2,359
1969 21,221 20,072 16,688 -2,796
1968 20,199 19,809 21,828 -2,799
1967 31,618 19,492 26,032 -3,518
1966 36,206 18,985 33,192 -6,341
1965 39,748 18,243 31,251 -5,253
1964 51,580 17,687 25,942 -2,090
1963 41,804 16,355 31,270 -1,289
1962 42,414 14,829 30,216 -2,176
1961 52,349 10,566 36,255 -6,567
1960 40,275 9,893 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/croatia | 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 Croatia 54.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 177,803 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a loss of 146,770 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

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
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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/croatia | 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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