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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 68,720,337 people in France in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 68,871,753 in France.

Population statistics:

  • France's population is 5.76 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while France is the 23rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.97% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.83% for France.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.58% per year vs +0.32% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.9M (8.25% growth).

Belgium vs France: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium France
2100 11,250,862 70,675,442
2099 11,269,247 70,692,029
2098 11,287,433 70,701,942
2097 11,303,694 70,707,028
2096 11,319,229 70,713,643
2095 11,335,187 70,707,277
2094 11,351,692 70,691,394
2093 11,367,258 70,665,663
2092 11,383,419 70,643,058
2091 11,397,881 70,615,655
2090 11,412,370 70,582,877
2089 11,426,889 70,549,228
2088 11,442,238 70,510,136
2087 11,457,739 70,470,494
2086 11,472,102 70,427,922
2085 11,485,745 70,390,427
2084 11,499,703 70,348,036
2083 11,513,055 70,296,271
2082 11,527,480 70,255,426
2081 11,539,632 70,210,373
2080 11,553,646 70,169,003
2079 11,566,656 70,127,568
2078 11,580,982 70,087,269
2077 11,593,809 70,045,257
2076 11,605,311 70,001,871
2075 11,617,264 69,959,255
2074 11,630,340 69,924,120
2073 11,643,635 69,892,712
2072 11,656,916 69,866,697
2071 11,670,459 69,838,818
2070 11,686,541 69,826,471
2069 11,702,841 69,816,539
2068 11,720,297 69,818,570
2067 11,737,631 69,826,386
2066 11,756,233 69,835,591
2065 11,776,031 69,856,319
2064 11,796,981 69,880,666
2063 11,818,873 69,910,009
2062 11,841,060 69,948,667
2061 11,864,790 69,988,307
2060 11,886,277 70,030,670
2059 11,907,924 70,076,337
2058 11,928,140 70,119,195
2057 11,951,275 70,164,701
2056 11,972,819 70,208,938
2055 11,992,614 70,258,544
2054 12,011,260 70,298,466
2053 12,029,602 70,332,664
2052 12,045,984 70,357,980
2051 12,059,458 70,383,190
2050 12,070,180 70,398,057
2049 12,079,277 70,407,335
2048 12,086,376 70,406,135
2047 12,091,336 70,394,515
2046 12,094,512 70,376,409
2045 12,096,264 70,345,569
2044 12,095,660 70,306,509
2043 12,094,445 70,260,348
2042 12,092,240 70,199,353
2041 12,088,320 70,133,877
2040 12,084,611 70,067,958
2039 12,080,011 69,998,706
2038 12,074,019 69,920,456
2037 12,067,048 69,831,930
2036 12,060,663 69,743,406
2035 12,054,093 69,651,629
2034 12,047,026 69,558,099
2033 12,038,587 69,468,319
2032 12,030,514 69,377,856
2031 12,022,079 69,288,525
2030 12,012,501 69,197,981
2029 12,000,773 69,104,114
2028 11,988,034 69,012,886
2027 11,974,384 68,917,613
2026 11,959,583 68,823,318
2025 11,941,781 68,720,337
2024 11,858,610 68,551,653
2023 11,779,946 68,372,286
2022 11,680,210 68,184,457
2021 11,586,195 67,842,811
2020 11,538,604 67,601,110
2019 11,488,980 67,382,061
2018 11,427,054 67,158,348
2017 11,375,158 66,918,020
2016 11,331,422 66,724,104
2015 11,274,196 66,548,272
2014 11,209,057 66,312,067
2013 11,159,407 65,997,932
2012 11,106,932 65,657,659
2011 11,038,264 65,340,830
2010 10,895,586 65,026,211
2009 10,796,493 64,706,436
2008 10,709,973 64,375,116
2007 10,625,700 64,016,890
2006 10,547,958 63,622,342
2005 10,478,617 63,180,854
2004 10,421,137 62,707,588
2003 10,376,133 62,249,855
2002 10,332,785 61,812,142
2001 10,286,570 61,364,377
2000 10,251,250 60,918,661
1999 10,226,419 60,501,986
1998 10,203,008 60,190,684
1997 10,181,245 59,968,066
1996 10,156,637 59,754,504
1995 10,136,811 59,541,294
1994 10,115,603 59,324,863
1993 10,084,475 59,103,094
1992 10,045,158 58,846,584
1991 10,004,486 58,554,242
1990 9,967,379 58,261,012
1989 9,937,697 57,943,062
1988 9,901,664 57,598,186
1987 9,870,234 57,266,167
1986 9,861,823 56,956,002
1985 9,858,308 56,665,619
1984 9,855,372 56,383,085
1983 9,855,520 56,108,330
1982 9,856,303 55,806,789
1981 9,858,982 55,603,353
1980 9,859,242 55,274,184
1979 9,848,382 54,979,851
1978 9,839,534 54,734,030
1977 9,830,358 54,486,467
1976 9,818,227 54,232,383
1975 9,800,700 54,002,853
1974 9,772,419 53,746,571
1973 9,741,720 53,392,161
1972 9,711,115 52,962,356
1971 9,673,162 52,499,553
1970 9,655,549 52,007,169
1969 9,646,032 51,536,014
1968 9,618,756 51,112,980
1967 9,580,991 50,722,791
1966 9,527,807 50,311,637
1965 9,463,667 49,877,725
1964 9,378,113 49,401,492
1963 9,289,770 48,877,567
1962 9,220,578 48,389,516
1961 9,183,948 47,905,982
1960 9,153,489 47,412,964

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/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while France gained 3,101,762 people (a 4.88% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while France's population increased by 2,147,649 people (a 3.22% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. France was ranked 20th in 2006 and ranked 23rd 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 France will increase by 2.22% to 70,398,057 people and rank change from 23rd to 30th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people compared to the peak of 70.7M people in 2096 for France.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium France
2100 -0.16% -0.02%
2099 -0.16% -0.01%
2098 -0.14% -0.007%
2097 -0.14% -0.009%
2096 -0.14% 0.009%
2095 -0.15% 0.02%
2094 -0.14% 0.04%
2093 -0.14% 0.03%
2092 -0.13% 0.04%
2091 -0.13% 0.05%
2090 -0.13% 0.05%
2089 -0.13% 0.06%
2088 -0.14% 0.06%
2087 -0.13% 0.06%
2086 -0.12% 0.05%
2085 -0.12% 0.06%
2084 -0.12% 0.07%
2083 -0.13% 0.06%
2082 -0.11% 0.06%
2081 -0.12% 0.06%
2080 -0.11% 0.06%
2079 -0.12% 0.06%
2078 -0.11% 0.06%
2077 -0.1% 0.06%
2076 -0.1% 0.06%
2075 -0.11% 0.05%
2074 -0.11% 0.04%
2073 -0.11% 0.04%
2072 -0.12% 0.04%
2071 -0.14% 0.02%
2070 -0.14% 0.01%
2069 -0.15% -0.003%
2068 -0.15% -0.01%
2067 -0.16% -0.01%
2066 -0.17% -0.03%
2065 -0.18% -0.03%
2064 -0.19% -0.04%
2063 -0.19% -0.06%
2062 -0.2% -0.06%
2061 -0.18% -0.06%
2060 -0.18% -0.07%
2059 -0.17% -0.06%
2058 -0.19% -0.06%
2057 -0.18% -0.06%
2056 -0.17% -0.07%
2055 -0.16% -0.06%
2054 -0.15% -0.05%
2053 -0.14% -0.04%
2052 -0.11% -0.04%
2051 -0.09% -0.02%
2050 -0.08% -0.01%
2049 -0.06% 0.002%
2048 -0.04% 0.02%
2047 -0.03% 0.03%
2046 -0.01% 0.04%
2045 0.005% 0.06%
2044 0.01% 0.07%
2043 0.02% 0.09%
2042 0.03% 0.09%
2041 0.03% 0.09%
2040 0.04% 0.1%
2039 0.05% 0.11%
2038 0.06% 0.13%
2037 0.05% 0.13%
2036 0.05% 0.13%
2035 0.06% 0.13%
2034 0.07% 0.13%
2033 0.07% 0.13%
2032 0.07% 0.13%
2031 0.08% 0.13%
2030 0.1% 0.14%
2029 0.11% 0.13%
2028 0.11% 0.14%
2027 0.12% 0.14%
2026 0.15% 0.15%
2025 0.7% 0.25%
2024 0.67% 0.26%
2023 0.85% 0.28%
2022 0.81% 0.5%
2021 0.41% 0.36%
2020 0.43% 0.33%
2019 0.54% 0.33%
2018 0.46% 0.36%
2017 0.39% 0.29%
2016 0.51% 0.26%
2015 0.58% 0.36%
2014 0.44% 0.48%
2013 0.47% 0.52%
2012 0.62% 0.48%
2011 1.31% 0.48%
2010 0.92% 0.49%
2009 0.81% 0.51%
2008 0.79% 0.56%
2007 0.74% 0.62%
2006 0.66% 0.7%
2005 0.55% 0.75%
2004 0.43% 0.74%
2003 0.42% 0.71%
2002 0.45% 0.73%
2001 0.34% 0.73%
2000 0.24% 0.69%
1999 0.23% 0.52%
1998 0.21% 0.37%
1997 0.24% 0.36%
1996 0.2% 0.36%
1995 0.21% 0.36%
1994 0.31% 0.38%
1993 0.39% 0.44%
1992 0.41% 0.5%
1991 0.37% 0.5%
1990 0.3% 0.55%
1989 0.36% 0.6%
1988 0.32% 0.58%
1987 0.09% 0.54%
1986 0.04% 0.51%
1985 0.03% 0.5%
1984 -0.002% 0.49%
1983 -0.008% 0.54%
1982 -0.03% 0.37%
1981 -0.003% 0.6%
1980 0.11% 0.54%
1979 0.09% 0.45%
1978 0.09% 0.45%
1977 0.12% 0.47%
1976 0.18% 0.43%
1975 0.29% 0.48%
1974 0.32% 0.66%
1973 0.32% 0.81%
1972 0.39% 0.88%
1971 0.18% 0.95%
1970 0.1% 0.91%
1969 0.28% 0.83%
1968 0.39% 0.77%
1967 0.56% 0.82%
1966 0.68% 0.87%
1965 0.91% 0.96%
1964 0.95% 1.07%
1963 0.75% 1.01%
1962 0.4% 1.01%
1961 0.33% 1.04%

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/france | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while France's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Belgium France
Current population
11967185
68871753
Population rank 83/197 23/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.83%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
3.12 minutes
One birth every
4.82 minutes
47.4 seconds
One death every
4.67 minutes
48.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +228 +462
Annual growth/decline +83,171 +168,684
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 149/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
5.75 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +91,737
Net migration rank 28/196 18/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 9,186,757
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 5/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 13.8%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 49/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
France
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium France
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 91,737
2024 -3,557 36,243 20,566 90,527
2023 0 41,679 34,186 91,862
2022 -2,336 118,615 54,547 179,377
2021 5,793 24,017 74,627 131,465
2020 -12,692 43,777 67,602 145,593
2019 8,042 58,469 141,503 71,972
2018 7,999 50,604 147,749 132,925
2017 10,238 37,981 160,604 102,984
2016 14,731 28,090 193,500 15,548
2015 11,274 63,536 206,300 -345
2014 21,297 37,472 265,248 52,342
2013 16,739 28,066 244,192 116,297
2012 18,882 45,001 256,065 103,287
2011 25,388 52,464 280,966 70,178
2010 23,970 105,232 286,116 52,644
2009 23,752 97,175 278,238 58,032
2008 22,491 66,470 283,250 79,528
2007 23,376 59,911 288,076 91,973
2006 21,096 53,574 305,387 132,512
2005 15,718 50,576 271,677 191,417
2004 16,673 35,143 282,185 200,629
2003 7,263 34,472 230,325 195,616
2002 7,233 39,404 253,430 191,373
2001 11,315 34,924 263,867 179,476
2000 12,302 13,952 268,042 171,637
1999 9,203 16,849 229,907 169,448
1998 9,183 12,517 222,705 20,216
1997 12,218 10,262 215,885 -15,255
1996 12,188 15,684 221,092 -21,463
1995 11,150 1,937 220,303 -17,128
1994 12,139 17,636 201,704 -4,232
1993 14,118 18,542 224,592 16,892
1992 20,090 25,941 229,502 61,964
1991 22,010 27,038 234,216 35,201
1990 19,935 8,299 238,870 43,323
1989 13,912 7,301 243,361 82,052
1988 14,853 3,929 247,672 69,935
1987 11,844 3,525 251,971 59,890
1986 5,917 2,964 250,606 51,642
1985 2,958 2,165 249,328 66,149
1984 4,927 1,697 248,086 76,175
1983 2,956 1,252 235,655 88,166
1982 7,885 1,100 234,389 81,084
1981 11,831 2,826 222,414 69,365
1980 10,845 11,482 210,042 54,718
1979 11,818 11,277 208,923 34,295
1978 7,872 10,828 213,462 18,692
1977 8,847 10,460 217,946 44,918
1976 1,964 10,360 227,776 59,515
1975 0 9,652 248,413 16,139
1974 7,818 8,924 268,733 26,203
1973 11,690 8,684 282,979 103,910
1972 18,451 8,384 296,589 101,223
1971 21,281 7,992 309,747 144,321
1970 23,173 19,393 322,444 182,941
1969 21,221 20,072 329,831 160,403
1968 20,199 19,809 337,346 113,115
1967 31,618 19,492 339,843 63,018
1966 36,206 18,985 352,181 96,097
1965 39,748 18,243 354,132 82,879
1964 51,580 17,687 360,631 163,039
1963 41,804 16,355 361,694 190,925
1962 42,414 14,829 358,082 141,634
1961 52,349 10,566 354,504 128,618
1960 40,275 9,893 346,115 143,032

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/france | 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 France 53.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,101,184 people) and 46.6% is from migration (a gain of 961,908 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 9,186,757 people or 13.8% in France.

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
France
City Population
Paris 2.1M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

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/france | 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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