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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 9.87 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.56% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Belgium vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium DR Congo
2100 11,193,616 436,320,913
2099 11,211,908 433,372,904
2098 11,230,002 430,335,169
2097 11,246,180 427,231,271
2096 11,261,636 424,043,303
2095 11,277,513 420,759,430
2094 11,293,934 417,384,609
2093 11,309,421 413,946,692
2092 11,325,500 410,440,733
2091 11,339,887 406,841,757
2090 11,354,304 403,166,901
2089 11,368,748 399,411,004
2088 11,384,019 395,583,655
2087 11,399,441 391,688,383
2086 11,413,731 387,713,874
2085 11,427,305 383,678,330
2084 11,441,192 379,568,054
2083 11,454,476 375,402,379
2082 11,468,827 371,195,818
2081 11,480,917 366,948,626
2080 11,494,860 362,644,227
2079 11,507,804 358,295,825
2078 11,522,057 353,888,897
2077 11,534,819 349,435,210
2076 11,546,262 344,932,895
2075 11,558,154 340,403,800
2074 11,571,164 335,826,108
2073 11,584,391 331,220,816
2072 11,597,605 326,568,298
2071 11,611,079 321,892,514
2070 11,627,079 317,165,418
2069 11,643,296 312,409,702
2068 11,660,663 307,625,941
2067 11,677,909 302,820,577
2066 11,696,417 297,989,401
2065 11,716,114 293,137,514
2064 11,736,957 288,267,282
2063 11,758,738 283,369,365
2062 11,780,812 278,452,605
2061 11,804,421 273,517,380
2060 11,825,799 268,572,331
2059 11,847,336 263,620,905
2058 11,867,449 258,672,397
2057 11,890,466 253,733,756
2056 11,911,901 248,796,045
2055 11,931,594 243,861,631
2054 11,950,146 238,931,249
2053 11,968,395 234,016,357
2052 11,984,694 229,117,369
2051 11,998,099 224,240,788
2050 12,008,766 219,397,034
2049 12,017,817 214,588,560
2048 12,024,879 209,814,694
2047 12,029,815 205,079,870
2046 12,032,975 200,379,842
2045 12,034,718 195,731,078
2044 12,034,116 191,124,003
2043 12,032,908 186,569,843
2042 12,030,714 182,068,630
2041 12,026,814 177,617,360
2040 12,023,124 173,224,822
2039 12,018,547 168,878,834
2038 12,012,586 164,583,465
2037 12,005,650 160,347,349
2036 11,999,298 156,129,049
2035 11,992,761 151,953,443
2034 11,985,730 147,811,138
2033 11,977,334 143,712,496
2032 11,969,302 139,669,159
2031 11,960,910 135,660,570
2030 11,951,381 131,710,378
2029 11,939,712 127,818,130
2028 11,927,038 123,980,695
2027 11,913,457 120,212,011
2026 11,898,731 116,505,117
2025 11,881,020 112,854,120
2024 11,858,610 109,276,265
2023 11,779,946 105,789,731
2022 11,680,210 102,396,968
2021 11,586,195 99,148,932
2020 11,538,604 95,989,998
2019 11,488,980 92,947,442
2018 11,427,054 90,047,644
2017 11,375,158 87,083,398
2016 11,331,422 83,956,415
2015 11,274,196 81,035,531
2014 11,209,057 78,403,242
2013 11,159,407 75,789,395
2012 11,106,932 73,254,618
2011 11,038,264 70,849,311
2010 10,895,586 68,563,038
2009 10,796,493 66,412,044
2008 10,709,973 64,390,664
2007 10,625,700 62,477,752
2006 10,547,958 60,615,908
2005 10,478,617 58,775,724
2004 10,421,137 56,997,741
2003 10,376,133 55,343,867
2002 10,332,785 53,750,524
2001 10,286,570 52,132,646
2000 10,251,250 50,507,442
1999 10,226,419 48,912,971
1998 10,203,008 47,297,600
1997 10,181,245 46,029,902
1996 10,156,637 45,296,124
1995 10,136,811 44,433,704
1994 10,115,603 42,626,876
1993 10,084,475 40,656,336
1992 10,045,158 39,228,910
1991 10,004,486 37,925,817
1990 9,967,379 36,684,063
1989 9,937,697 35,486,866
1988 9,901,664 34,382,752
1987 9,870,234 33,298,904
1986 9,861,823 32,265,196
1985 9,858,308 31,264,816
1984 9,855,372 30,245,081
1983 9,855,520 29,250,963
1982 9,856,303 28,338,190
1981 9,858,982 27,500,515
1980 9,859,242 26,711,099
1979 9,848,382 25,886,782
1978 9,839,534 24,992,689
1977 9,830,358 24,229,061
1976 9,818,227 23,624,031
1975 9,800,700 23,021,101
1974 9,772,419 22,418,878
1973 9,741,720 21,827,665
1972 9,711,115 21,251,160
1971 9,673,162 20,695,569
1970 9,655,549 20,137,436
1969 9,646,032 19,570,445
1968 9,618,756 19,012,189
1967 9,580,991 18,462,782
1966 9,527,807 17,931,929
1965 9,463,667 17,427,802
1964 9,378,113 16,955,327
1963 9,289,770 16,507,599
1962 9,220,578 16,075,724
1961 9,183,948 15,662,374
1960 9,153,489 15,264,846

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/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 15th 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 DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium DR Congo
2100 -0.16% 0.68%
2099 -0.16% 0.71%
2098 -0.14% 0.73%
2097 -0.14% 0.75%
2096 -0.14% 0.78%
2095 -0.15% 0.81%
2094 -0.14% 0.83%
2093 -0.14% 0.85%
2092 -0.13% 0.88%
2091 -0.13% 0.91%
2090 -0.13% 0.94%
2089 -0.13% 0.97%
2088 -0.14% 0.99%
2087 -0.13% 1.03%
2086 -0.12% 1.05%
2085 -0.12% 1.08%
2084 -0.12% 1.11%
2083 -0.13% 1.13%
2082 -0.11% 1.16%
2081 -0.12% 1.19%
2080 -0.11% 1.21%
2079 -0.12% 1.25%
2078 -0.11% 1.27%
2077 -0.1% 1.31%
2076 -0.1% 1.33%
2075 -0.11% 1.36%
2074 -0.11% 1.39%
2073 -0.11% 1.42%
2072 -0.12% 1.45%
2071 -0.14% 1.49%
2070 -0.14% 1.52%
2069 -0.15% 1.56%
2068 -0.15% 1.59%
2067 -0.16% 1.62%
2066 -0.17% 1.66%
2065 -0.18% 1.69%
2064 -0.19% 1.73%
2063 -0.19% 1.77%
2062 -0.2% 1.8%
2061 -0.18% 1.84%
2060 -0.18% 1.88%
2059 -0.17% 1.91%
2058 -0.19% 1.95%
2057 -0.18% 1.98%
2056 -0.17% 2.02%
2055 -0.16% 2.06%
2054 -0.15% 2.1%
2053 -0.14% 2.14%
2052 -0.11% 2.17%
2051 -0.09% 2.21%
2050 -0.08% 2.24%
2049 -0.06% 2.28%
2048 -0.04% 2.31%
2047 -0.03% 2.35%
2046 -0.01% 2.38%
2045 0.005% 2.41%
2044 0.01% 2.44%
2043 0.02% 2.47%
2042 0.03% 2.51%
2041 0.03% 2.54%
2040 0.04% 2.57%
2039 0.05% 2.61%
2038 0.06% 2.64%
2037 0.05% 2.7%
2036 0.05% 2.75%
2035 0.06% 2.8%
2034 0.07% 2.85%
2033 0.07% 2.89%
2032 0.07% 2.95%
2031 0.08% 3%
2030 0.1% 3.05%
2029 0.11% 3.1%
2028 0.11% 3.14%
2027 0.12% 3.18%
2026 0.15% 3.24%
2025 0.19% 3.27%
2024 0.67% 3.3%
2023 0.85% 3.31%
2022 0.81% 3.28%
2021 0.41% 3.29%
2020 0.43% 3.27%
2019 0.54% 3.22%
2018 0.46% 3.4%
2017 0.39% 3.72%
2016 0.51% 3.6%
2015 0.58% 3.36%
2014 0.44% 3.45%
2013 0.47% 3.46%
2012 0.62% 3.39%
2011 1.31% 3.33%
2010 0.92% 3.24%
2009 0.81% 3.14%
2008 0.79% 3.06%
2007 0.74% 3.07%
2006 0.66% 3.13%
2005 0.55% 3.12%
2004 0.43% 2.99%
2003 0.42% 2.96%
2002 0.45% 3.1%
2001 0.34% 3.22%
2000 0.24% 3.26%
1999 0.23% 3.42%
1998 0.21% 2.75%
1997 0.24% 1.62%
1996 0.2% 1.94%
1995 0.21% 4.24%
1994 0.31% 4.85%
1993 0.39% 3.64%
1992 0.41% 3.44%
1991 0.37% 3.38%
1990 0.3% 3.37%
1989 0.36% 3.21%
1988 0.32% 3.25%
1987 0.09% 3.2%
1986 0.04% 3.2%
1985 0.03% 3.37%
1984 -0.002% 3.4%
1983 -0.008% 3.22%
1982 -0.03% 3.05%
1981 -0.003% 2.96%
1980 0.11% 3.18%
1979 0.09% 3.58%
1978 0.09% 3.15%
1977 0.12% 2.56%
1976 0.18% 2.62%
1975 0.29% 2.69%
1974 0.32% 2.71%
1973 0.32% 2.71%
1972 0.39% 2.68%
1971 0.18% 2.77%
1970 0.1% 2.9%
1969 0.28% 2.94%
1968 0.39% 2.98%
1967 0.56% 2.96%
1966 0.68% 2.89%
1965 0.91% 2.79%
1964 0.95% 2.71%
1963 0.75% 2.69%
1962 0.4% 2.64%
1961 0.33% 2.6%

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/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Belgium DR Congo
Current population
11902714
117507801
Population rank 83/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 1.42%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
9.05 seconds
One birth every
4.75 minutes
7.22 seconds
One death every
4.75 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +216 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 11/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 -27,309
Net migration rank 28/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -27,309
2024 - 36,243 - -26,968
2023 0 41,679 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 -2,336 118,615 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 5,793 24,017 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 -12,692 43,777 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 8,042 58,469 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 7,999 50,604 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 10,238 37,981 2,883,245 176,290
2016 14,731 28,090 2,753,687 440,748
2015 11,274 63,536 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 21,297 37,472 2,580,251 36,966
2013 16,739 28,066 2,489,378 121,097
2012 18,882 45,001 2,405,462 53,668
2011 25,388 52,464 2,310,679 40,891
2010 23,970 105,232 2,212,255 8,823
2009 23,752 97,175 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 22,491 66,470 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 23,376 59,911 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 21,096 53,574 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 15,718 50,576 1,800,300 20,384
2004 16,673 35,143 1,731,022 4,260
2003 7,263 34,472 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 7,233 39,404 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 11,315 34,924 1,594,999 26,523
2000 12,302 13,952 1,549,518 79,340
1999 9,203 16,849 1,450,318 109,761
1998 9,183 12,517 1,375,130 295,560
1997 12,218 10,262 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 12,188 15,684 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 11,150 1,937 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 12,139 17,636 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 14,118 18,542 1,209,242 240,176
1992 20,090 25,941 1,152,781 252,666
1991 22,010 27,038 1,114,033 86,721
1990 19,935 8,299 1,063,508 219,270
1989 13,912 7,301 1,027,238 84,415
1988 14,853 3,929 995,278 101,314
1987 11,844 3,525 959,875 111,220
1986 5,917 2,964 925,334 70,988
1985 2,958 2,165 885,670 118,791
1984 4,927 1,697 844,956 190,045
1983 2,956 1,252 807,122 146,095
1982 7,885 1,100 774,823 97,495
1981 11,831 2,826 748,371 54,656
1980 10,845 11,482 724,111 51,685
1979 11,818 11,277 691,773 181,028
1978 7,872 10,828 646,411 268,974
1977 8,847 10,460 638,242 -26,355
1976 1,964 10,360 624,147 -25,965
1975 0 9,652 608,655 -972
1974 7,818 8,924 593,539 3,216
1973 11,690 8,684 578,280 7,414
1972 18,451 8,384 564,495 2,840
1971 21,281 7,992 549,343 -5,497
1970 23,173 19,393 533,300 39,116
1969 21,221 20,072 514,800 46,778
1968 20,199 19,809 497,682 57,274
1967 31,618 19,492 479,552 64,307
1966 36,206 18,985 463,397 54,443
1965 39,748 18,243 429,002 61,397
1964 51,580 17,687 406,334 48,207
1963 41,804 16,355 398,972 41,960
1962 42,414 14,829 383,406 39,431
1961 52,349 10,566 368,207 35,654
1960 40,275 9,893 363,517 27,673

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/dr-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 DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR 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
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

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/dr-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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