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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 68,551,653 people in France in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 68,788,006 in France.

Population statistics:

  • France's population is 5.78 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 +0.55% per year vs +0.35% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.8M (8.12% growth).

Belgium vs France: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium France
2100 11,193,616 70,613,012
2099 11,211,908 70,629,584
2098 11,230,002 70,639,488
2097 11,246,180 70,644,570
2096 11,261,636 70,651,179
2095 11,277,513 70,644,818
2094 11,293,934 70,628,949
2093 11,309,421 70,603,242
2092 11,325,500 70,580,656
2091 11,339,887 70,553,277
2090 11,354,304 70,520,528
2089 11,368,748 70,486,909
2088 11,384,019 70,447,851
2087 11,399,441 70,408,245
2086 11,413,731 70,365,710
2085 11,427,305 70,328,248
2084 11,441,192 70,285,895
2083 11,454,476 70,234,175
2082 11,468,827 70,193,367
2081 11,480,917 70,148,354
2080 11,494,860 70,107,021
2079 11,507,804 70,065,621
2078 11,522,057 70,025,358
2077 11,534,819 69,983,383
2076 11,546,262 69,940,036
2075 11,558,154 69,897,457
2074 11,571,164 69,862,353
2073 11,584,391 69,830,973
2072 11,597,605 69,804,981
2071 11,611,079 69,777,127
2070 11,627,079 69,764,791
2069 11,643,296 69,754,867
2068 11,660,663 69,756,896
2067 11,677,909 69,764,705
2066 11,696,417 69,773,902
2065 11,716,114 69,794,612
2064 11,736,957 69,818,938
2063 11,758,738 69,848,255
2062 11,780,812 69,886,879
2061 11,804,421 69,926,483
2060 11,825,799 69,968,809
2059 11,847,336 70,014,435
2058 11,867,449 70,057,256
2057 11,890,466 70,102,722
2056 11,911,901 70,146,920
2055 11,931,594 70,196,482
2054 11,950,146 70,236,369
2053 11,968,395 70,270,537
2052 11,984,694 70,295,830
2051 11,998,099 70,321,018
2050 12,008,766 70,335,872
2049 12,017,817 70,345,142
2048 12,024,879 70,343,943
2047 12,029,815 70,332,332
2046 12,032,975 70,314,243
2045 12,034,718 70,283,430
2044 12,034,116 70,244,405
2043 12,032,908 70,198,284
2042 12,030,714 70,137,343
2041 12,026,814 70,071,925
2040 12,023,124 70,006,064
2039 12,018,547 69,936,874
2038 12,012,586 69,858,693
2037 12,005,650 69,770,244
2036 11,999,298 69,681,800
2035 11,992,761 69,590,103
2034 11,985,730 69,496,656
2033 11,977,334 69,406,955
2032 11,969,302 69,316,572
2031 11,960,910 69,227,320
2030 11,951,381 69,136,856
2029 11,939,712 69,043,072
2028 11,927,038 68,951,924
2027 11,913,457 68,856,735
2026 11,898,731 68,762,523
2025 11,881,020 68,659,633
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while France's population increased by 2,063,902 people (a 3.09% 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 0.89% to 12,008,766 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of France will increase by 2.25% to 70,335,872 people and rank change from 23rd to 30th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M 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 0.19% 0.16%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/france | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while France's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Belgium France
Current population
11902714
68788006
Population rank 83/197 23/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.83%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
2.93 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
46.6 seconds
One death every
4.75 minutes
50.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +216 +491
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +179,367
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 152/197
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 - 36,243 - 90,527
2023 0 41,679 47,860 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/france | 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 France 59.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,359,540 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a gain of 923,723 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 2.11M
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 (1960–2024, 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/france | 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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