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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 386,506 people in Iceland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 397,129 in Iceland.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 30 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Iceland is the 173rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.005% for Iceland.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +1.63% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 397K (30.7% growth).

Belgium vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Iceland
2100 11,193,616 359,553
2099 11,211,908 361,331
2098 11,230,002 363,133
2097 11,246,180 364,957
2096 11,261,636 366,850
2095 11,277,513 368,746
2094 11,293,934 370,650
2093 11,309,421 372,614
2092 11,325,500 374,717
2091 11,339,887 376,803
2090 11,354,304 378,807
2089 11,368,748 380,812
2088 11,384,019 382,997
2087 11,399,441 385,164
2086 11,413,731 387,257
2085 11,427,305 389,362
2084 11,441,192 391,416
2083 11,454,476 393,481
2082 11,468,827 395,438
2081 11,480,917 397,470
2080 11,494,860 399,499
2079 11,507,804 401,462
2078 11,522,057 403,324
2077 11,534,819 405,255
2076 11,546,262 406,954
2075 11,558,154 408,546
2074 11,571,164 410,015
2073 11,584,391 411,402
2072 11,597,605 412,903
2071 11,611,079 414,245
2070 11,627,079 415,521
2069 11,643,296 416,683
2068 11,660,663 417,749
2067 11,677,909 418,899
2066 11,696,417 419,918
2065 11,716,114 420,941
2064 11,736,957 421,814
2063 11,758,738 422,695
2062 11,780,812 423,614
2061 11,804,421 424,319
2060 11,825,799 425,096
2059 11,847,336 425,721
2058 11,867,449 426,288
2057 11,890,466 426,844
2056 11,911,901 427,304
2055 11,931,594 427,695
2054 11,950,146 427,915
2053 11,968,395 428,108
2052 11,984,694 428,300
2051 11,998,099 428,278
2050 12,008,766 428,323
2049 12,017,817 428,289
2048 12,024,879 428,213
2047 12,029,815 428,102
2046 12,032,975 427,911
2045 12,034,718 427,683
2044 12,034,116 427,236
2043 12,032,908 426,580
2042 12,030,714 425,915
2041 12,026,814 425,212
2040 12,023,124 424,385
2039 12,018,547 423,407
2038 12,012,586 422,302
2037 12,005,650 421,094
2036 11,999,298 419,738
2035 11,992,761 418,238
2034 11,985,730 416,721
2033 11,977,334 415,006
2032 11,969,302 413,150
2031 11,960,910 411,039
2030 11,951,381 408,677
2029 11,939,712 406,109
2028 11,927,038 403,085
2027 11,913,457 399,797
2026 11,898,731 396,141
2025 11,881,020 391,759
2024 11,858,610 386,506
2023 11,779,946 385,663
2022 11,680,210 382,003
2021 11,586,195 372,520
2020 11,538,604 366,463
2019 11,488,980 360,563
2018 11,427,054 352,721
2017 11,375,158 343,400
2016 11,331,422 335,439
2015 11,274,196 330,815
2014 11,209,057 327,386
2013 11,159,407 323,764
2012 11,106,932 320,716
2011 11,038,264 319,014
2010 10,895,586 318,041
2009 10,796,493 318,499
2008 10,709,973 317,414
2007 10,625,700 311,566
2006 10,547,958 303,782
2005 10,478,617 296,734
2004 10,421,137 292,074
2003 10,376,133 289,521
2002 10,332,785 287,523
2001 10,286,570 284,968
2000 10,251,250 281,205
1999 10,226,419 277,381
1998 10,203,008 274,047
1997 10,181,245 271,128
1996 10,156,637 268,916
1995 10,136,811 267,468
1994 10,115,603 266,021
1993 10,084,475 263,725
1992 10,045,158 261,057
1991 10,004,486 257,797
1990 9,967,379 254,826
1989 9,937,697 252,852
1988 9,901,664 249,740
1987 9,870,234 245,859
1986 9,861,823 243,180
1985 9,858,308 241,405
1984 9,855,372 239,511
1983 9,855,520 236,977
1982 9,856,303 233,860
1981 9,858,982 230,755
1980 9,859,242 228,138
1979 9,848,382 225,735
1978 9,839,534 223,537
1977 9,830,358 221,799
1976 9,818,227 220,154
1975 9,800,700 217,979
1974 9,772,419 215,209
1973 9,741,720 212,317
1972 9,711,115 209,137
1971 9,673,162 206,098
1970 9,655,549 204,438
1969 9,646,032 203,369
1968 9,618,756 201,488
1967 9,580,991 198,751
1966 9,527,807 195,570
1965 9,463,667 192,286
1964 9,378,113 188,983
1963 9,289,770 185,653
1962 9,220,578 182,378
1961 9,183,948 179,029
1960 9,153,489 175,574

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/iceland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Iceland gained 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Iceland's population increased by 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Iceland was ranked 172nd in 2006 and ranked 173rd 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 Iceland will increase by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 428K people in 2050 for Iceland.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Iceland
2100 -0.16% -0.49%
2099 -0.16% -0.5%
2098 -0.14% -0.5%
2097 -0.14% -0.52%
2096 -0.14% -0.51%
2095 -0.15% -0.51%
2094 -0.14% -0.53%
2093 -0.14% -0.56%
2092 -0.13% -0.55%
2091 -0.13% -0.53%
2090 -0.13% -0.53%
2089 -0.13% -0.57%
2088 -0.14% -0.56%
2087 -0.13% -0.54%
2086 -0.12% -0.54%
2085 -0.12% -0.52%
2084 -0.12% -0.52%
2083 -0.13% -0.49%
2082 -0.11% -0.51%
2081 -0.12% -0.51%
2080 -0.11% -0.49%
2079 -0.12% -0.46%
2078 -0.11% -0.48%
2077 -0.1% -0.42%
2076 -0.1% -0.39%
2075 -0.11% -0.36%
2074 -0.11% -0.34%
2073 -0.11% -0.36%
2072 -0.12% -0.32%
2071 -0.14% -0.31%
2070 -0.14% -0.28%
2069 -0.15% -0.26%
2068 -0.15% -0.27%
2067 -0.16% -0.24%
2066 -0.17% -0.24%
2065 -0.18% -0.21%
2064 -0.19% -0.21%
2063 -0.19% -0.22%
2062 -0.2% -0.17%
2061 -0.18% -0.18%
2060 -0.18% -0.15%
2059 -0.17% -0.13%
2058 -0.19% -0.13%
2057 -0.18% -0.11%
2056 -0.17% -0.09%
2055 -0.16% -0.05%
2054 -0.15% -0.05%
2053 -0.14% -0.04%
2052 -0.11% 0.005%
2051 -0.09% -0.01%
2050 -0.08% 0.008%
2049 -0.06% 0.02%
2048 -0.04% 0.03%
2047 -0.03% 0.04%
2046 -0.01% 0.05%
2045 0.005% 0.1%
2044 0.01% 0.15%
2043 0.02% 0.16%
2042 0.03% 0.17%
2041 0.03% 0.2%
2040 0.04% 0.23%
2039 0.05% 0.26%
2038 0.06% 0.29%
2037 0.05% 0.32%
2036 0.05% 0.36%
2035 0.06% 0.36%
2034 0.07% 0.41%
2033 0.07% 0.45%
2032 0.07% 0.51%
2031 0.08% 0.58%
2030 0.1% 0.63%
2029 0.11% 0.75%
2028 0.11% 0.82%
2027 0.12% 0.92%
2026 0.15% 1.12%
2025 0.19% 1.36%
2024 0.67% 0.22%
2023 0.85% 0.96%
2022 0.81% 2.55%
2021 0.41% 1.65%
2020 0.43% 1.64%
2019 0.54% 2.22%
2018 0.46% 2.71%
2017 0.39% 2.37%
2016 0.51% 1.4%
2015 0.58% 1.05%
2014 0.44% 1.12%
2013 0.47% 0.95%
2012 0.62% 0.53%
2011 1.31% 0.31%
2010 0.92% -0.14%
2009 0.81% 0.34%
2008 0.79% 1.88%
2007 0.74% 2.56%
2006 0.66% 2.38%
2005 0.55% 1.6%
2004 0.43% 0.88%
2003 0.42% 0.69%
2002 0.45% 0.9%
2001 0.34% 1.34%
2000 0.24% 1.38%
1999 0.23% 1.22%
1998 0.21% 1.08%
1997 0.24% 0.82%
1996 0.2% 0.54%
1995 0.21% 0.54%
1994 0.31% 0.87%
1993 0.39% 1.02%
1992 0.41% 1.26%
1991 0.37% 1.17%
1990 0.3% 0.78%
1989 0.36% 1.25%
1988 0.32% 1.58%
1987 0.09% 1.1%
1986 0.04% 0.74%
1985 0.03% 0.79%
1984 -0.002% 1.07%
1983 -0.008% 1.33%
1982 -0.03% 1.35%
1981 -0.003% 1.15%
1980 0.11% 1.06%
1979 0.09% 0.98%
1978 0.09% 0.78%
1977 0.12% 0.75%
1976 0.18% 1%
1975 0.29% 1.29%
1974 0.32% 1.36%
1973 0.32% 1.52%
1972 0.39% 1.47%
1971 0.18% 0.81%
1970 0.1% 0.53%
1969 0.28% 0.93%
1968 0.39% 1.38%
1967 0.56% 1.63%
1966 0.68% 1.71%
1965 0.91% 1.75%
1964 0.95% 1.79%
1963 0.75% 1.8%
1962 0.4% 1.87%
1961 0.33% 1.97%

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/iceland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Iceland's population grew by 0.22%.

Live population counters

Belgium Iceland
Current population
11902714
397129
Population rank 83/197 173/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.005%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
10.4 hours
One birth every
4.75 minutes
2.07 hours
One death every
4.75 minutes
3.44 hours
Daily growth/decline +216 +2
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +843
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.22%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 155/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
3.24 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 +2,709
Net migration rank 28/196 56/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 98,818
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 130/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 25.1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 23/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Iceland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Iceland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 2,709
2024 - 36,243 - 3,543
2023 0 41,679 1,697 4,630
2022 -2,336 118,615 1,719 6,535
2021 5,793 24,017 2,534 4,911
2020 -12,692 43,777 2,199 2,498
2019 8,042 58,469 2,163 5,030
2018 7,999 50,604 1,975 6,638
2017 10,238 37,981 1,854 8,348
2016 14,731 28,090 1,711 4,128
2015 11,274 63,536 1,952 1,499
2014 21,297 37,472 2,324 1,139
2013 16,739 28,066 2,169 1,666
2012 18,882 45,001 2,566 -277
2011 25,388 52,464 2,521 -1,393
2010 23,970 105,232 2,862 -2,055
2009 23,752 97,175 3,026 -4,785
2008 22,491 66,470 2,825 1,138
2007 23,376 59,911 2,617 5,254
2006 21,096 53,574 2,491 5,300
2005 15,718 50,576 2,433 3,925
2004 16,673 35,143 2,425 610
2003 7,263 34,472 2,317 -204
2002 7,233 39,404 2,243 -333
2001 11,315 34,924 2,365 867
2000 12,302 13,952 2,475 1,877
1999 9,203 16,849 2,192 1,165
1998 9,183 12,517 2,357 1,014
1997 12,218 10,262 2,305 225
1996 12,188 15,684 2,447 -511
1995 11,150 1,937 2,354 -1,354
1994 12,139 17,636 2,713 -804
1993 14,118 18,542 2,875 -194
1992 20,090 25,941 2,898 -225
1991 22,010 27,038 2,733 1,145
1990 19,935 8,299 3,058 -971
1989 13,912 7,301 2,832 -994
1988 14,853 3,929 2,847 1,572
1987 11,844 3,525 2,360 944
1986 5,917 2,964 2,384 -335
1985 2,958 2,165 2,221 -628
1984 4,927 1,697 2,539 -328
1983 2,956 1,252 2,702 170
1982 7,885 1,100 2,736 616
1981 11,831 2,826 2,677 157
1980 10,845 11,482 2,966 -629
1979 11,818 11,277 2,980 -572
1978 7,872 10,828 2,727 -781
1977 8,847 10,460 2,551 -1,079
1976 1,964 10,360 2,951 -1,181
1975 0 9,652 2,965 -388
1974 7,818 8,924 2,776 209
1973 11,690 8,684 3,121 -310
1972 18,451 8,384 3,241 362
1971 21,281 7,992 2,782 -231
1970 23,173 19,393 2,576 -1,754
1969 21,221 20,072 2,766 -1,414
1968 20,199 19,809 2,841 -448
1967 31,618 19,492 3,021 47
1966 36,206 18,985 3,305 39
1965 39,748 18,243 3,442 -194
1964 51,580 17,687 3,459 -67
1963 41,804 16,355 3,490 -113
1962 42,414 14,829 3,465 -228
1961 52,349 10,566 3,312 164
1960 40,275 9,893 3,758 -269

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/iceland | 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 Iceland 30.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 98,818 people or 25.1% in Iceland.

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
Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K

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/iceland | 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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