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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 47,020,774 people in Iraq in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 48,531,417 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 4.06 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.58% per year vs +2.32% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.5M (69.6% growth).

Belgium vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Iraq
2100 11,250,862 101,633,126
2099 11,269,247 101,421,797
2098 11,287,433 101,213,066
2097 11,303,694 100,981,364
2096 11,319,229 100,724,968
2095 11,335,187 100,465,117
2094 11,351,692 100,194,566
2093 11,367,258 99,876,697
2092 11,383,419 99,532,563
2091 11,397,881 99,204,350
2090 11,412,370 98,887,474
2089 11,426,889 98,513,541
2088 11,442,238 98,144,553
2087 11,457,739 97,768,049
2086 11,472,102 97,325,536
2085 11,485,745 96,873,514
2084 11,499,703 96,449,107
2083 11,513,055 95,991,669
2082 11,527,480 95,510,163
2081 11,539,632 95,009,824
2080 11,553,646 94,507,711
2079 11,566,656 93,960,720
2078 11,580,982 93,417,874
2077 11,593,809 92,904,470
2076 11,605,311 92,360,076
2075 11,617,264 91,825,735
2074 11,630,340 91,229,744
2073 11,643,635 90,571,495
2072 11,656,916 89,918,845
2071 11,670,459 89,266,016
2070 11,686,541 88,596,956
2069 11,702,841 87,909,934
2068 11,720,297 87,220,950
2067 11,737,631 86,514,449
2066 11,756,233 85,734,979
2065 11,776,031 84,972,344
2064 11,796,981 84,191,791
2063 11,818,873 83,388,388
2062 11,841,060 82,605,010
2061 11,864,790 81,801,066
2060 11,886,277 80,951,432
2059 11,907,924 80,142,288
2058 11,928,140 79,319,959
2057 11,951,275 78,477,750
2056 11,972,819 77,609,609
2055 11,992,614 76,740,326
2054 12,011,260 75,857,522
2053 12,029,602 74,953,340
2052 12,045,984 74,072,968
2051 12,059,458 73,150,617
2050 12,070,180 72,236,317
2049 12,079,277 71,272,496
2048 12,086,376 70,317,228
2047 12,091,336 69,348,186
2046 12,094,512 68,401,022
2045 12,096,264 67,436,306
2044 12,095,660 66,447,658
2043 12,094,445 65,453,908
2042 12,092,240 64,434,168
2041 12,088,320 63,409,041
2040 12,084,611 62,360,444
2039 12,080,011 61,289,676
2038 12,074,019 60,253,388
2037 12,067,048 59,221,968
2036 12,060,663 58,156,294
2035 12,054,093 57,128,298
2034 12,047,026 56,087,988
2033 12,038,587 55,051,428
2032 12,030,514 54,002,572
2031 12,022,079 52,991,720
2030 12,012,501 51,987,045
2029 12,000,773 50,982,830
2028 11,988,034 50,001,395
2027 11,974,384 49,015,079
2026 11,959,583 48,020,585
2025 11,941,781 47,020,774
2024 11,858,610 46,042,015
2023 11,779,946 45,074,049
2022 11,680,210 44,070,551
2021 11,586,195 43,071,211
2020 11,538,604 42,116,605
2019 11,488,980 41,192,171
2018 11,427,054 40,265,624
2017 11,375,158 39,337,353
2016 11,331,422 38,469,627
2015 11,274,196 37,560,535
2014 11,209,057 36,550,059
2013 11,159,407 35,281,989
2012 11,106,932 33,654,842
2011 11,038,264 32,161,424
2010 10,895,586 31,045,366
2009 10,796,493 30,058,206
2008 10,709,973 28,971,036
2007 10,625,700 28,391,607
2006 10,547,958 28,616,515
2005 10,478,617 28,407,448
2004 10,421,137 27,577,878
2003 10,376,133 26,802,659
2002 10,332,785 26,006,559
2001 10,286,570 25,197,840
2000 10,251,250 24,424,056
1999 10,226,419 23,636,527
1998 10,203,008 22,884,399
1997 10,181,245 22,176,593
1996 10,156,637 21,501,321
1995 10,136,811 20,825,860
1994 10,115,603 20,139,807
1993 10,084,475 19,201,195
1992 10,045,158 18,300,845
1991 10,004,486 17,767,253
1990 9,967,379 17,581,206
1989 9,937,697 17,364,542
1988 9,901,664 16,908,819
1987 9,870,234 16,521,049
1986 9,861,823 16,074,145
1985 9,858,308 15,683,430
1984 9,855,372 15,310,733
1983 9,855,520 14,840,555
1982 9,856,303 14,406,083
1981 9,858,982 14,006,381
1980 9,859,242 13,591,992
1979 9,848,382 13,170,365
1978 9,839,534 12,753,355
1977 9,830,358 12,331,046
1976 9,818,227 11,927,651
1975 9,800,700 11,543,639
1974 9,772,419 11,167,761
1973 9,741,720 10,795,869
1972 9,711,115 10,430,164
1971 9,673,162 10,077,809
1970 9,655,549 9,735,611
1969 9,646,032 9,403,356
1968 9,618,756 9,085,016
1967 9,580,991 8,778,869
1966 9,527,807 8,485,104
1965 9,463,667 8,202,140
1964 9,378,113 7,929,566
1963 9,289,770 7,667,928
1962 9,220,578 7,413,875
1961 9,183,948 7,194,553
1960 9,153,489 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 48.8% to 72,236,317 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Iraq
2100 -0.16% 0.21%
2099 -0.16% 0.21%
2098 -0.14% 0.23%
2097 -0.14% 0.25%
2096 -0.14% 0.26%
2095 -0.15% 0.27%
2094 -0.14% 0.32%
2093 -0.14% 0.35%
2092 -0.13% 0.33%
2091 -0.13% 0.32%
2090 -0.13% 0.38%
2089 -0.13% 0.38%
2088 -0.14% 0.39%
2087 -0.13% 0.45%
2086 -0.12% 0.47%
2085 -0.12% 0.44%
2084 -0.12% 0.48%
2083 -0.13% 0.5%
2082 -0.11% 0.53%
2081 -0.12% 0.53%
2080 -0.11% 0.58%
2079 -0.12% 0.58%
2078 -0.11% 0.55%
2077 -0.1% 0.59%
2076 -0.1% 0.58%
2075 -0.11% 0.65%
2074 -0.11% 0.73%
2073 -0.11% 0.73%
2072 -0.12% 0.73%
2071 -0.14% 0.76%
2070 -0.14% 0.78%
2069 -0.15% 0.79%
2068 -0.15% 0.82%
2067 -0.16% 0.91%
2066 -0.17% 0.9%
2065 -0.18% 0.93%
2064 -0.19% 0.96%
2063 -0.19% 0.95%
2062 -0.2% 0.98%
2061 -0.18% 1.05%
2060 -0.18% 1.01%
2059 -0.17% 1.04%
2058 -0.19% 1.07%
2057 -0.18% 1.12%
2056 -0.17% 1.13%
2055 -0.16% 1.16%
2054 -0.15% 1.21%
2053 -0.14% 1.19%
2052 -0.11% 1.26%
2051 -0.09% 1.27%
2050 -0.08% 1.35%
2049 -0.06% 1.36%
2048 -0.04% 1.4%
2047 -0.03% 1.38%
2046 -0.01% 1.43%
2045 0.005% 1.49%
2044 0.01% 1.52%
2043 0.02% 1.58%
2042 0.03% 1.62%
2041 0.03% 1.68%
2040 0.04% 1.75%
2039 0.05% 1.72%
2038 0.06% 1.74%
2037 0.05% 1.83%
2036 0.05% 1.8%
2035 0.06% 1.85%
2034 0.07% 1.88%
2033 0.07% 1.94%
2032 0.07% 1.91%
2031 0.08% 1.93%
2030 0.1% 1.97%
2029 0.11% 1.96%
2028 0.11% 2.01%
2027 0.12% 2.07%
2026 0.15% 2.13%
2025 0.7% 2.13%
2024 0.67% 2.15%
2023 0.85% 2.28%
2022 0.81% 2.32%
2021 0.41% 2.27%
2020 0.43% 2.24%
2019 0.54% 2.3%
2018 0.46% 2.36%
2017 0.39% 2.26%
2016 0.51% 2.42%
2015 0.58% 2.76%
2014 0.44% 3.59%
2013 0.47% 4.83%
2012 0.62% 4.64%
2011 1.31% 3.59%
2010 0.92% 3.28%
2009 0.81% 3.75%
2008 0.79% 2.04%
2007 0.74% -0.79%
2006 0.66% 0.74%
2005 0.55% 3.01%
2004 0.43% 2.89%
2003 0.42% 3.06%
2002 0.45% 3.21%
2001 0.34% 3.17%
2000 0.24% 3.33%
1999 0.23% 3.29%
1998 0.21% 3.19%
1997 0.24% 3.14%
1996 0.2% 3.24%
1995 0.21% 3.41%
1994 0.31% 4.89%
1993 0.39% 4.92%
1992 0.41% 3%
1991 0.37% 1.06%
1990 0.3% 1.25%
1989 0.36% 2.7%
1988 0.32% 2.35%
1987 0.09% 2.78%
1986 0.04% 2.49%
1985 0.03% 2.43%
1984 -0.002% 3.17%
1983 -0.008% 3.02%
1982 -0.03% 2.85%
1981 -0.003% 3.05%
1980 0.11% 3.2%
1979 0.09% 3.27%
1978 0.09% 3.42%
1977 0.12% 3.38%
1976 0.18% 3.33%
1975 0.29% 3.37%
1974 0.32% 3.44%
1973 0.32% 3.51%
1972 0.39% 3.5%
1971 0.18% 3.51%
1970 0.1% 3.53%
1969 0.28% 3.5%
1968 0.39% 3.49%
1967 0.56% 3.46%
1966 0.68% 3.45%
1965 0.91% 3.44%
1964 0.95% 3.41%
1963 0.75% 3.43%
1962 0.4% 3.05%
1961 0.33% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

Belgium Iraq
Current population
11967185
48531417
Population rank 83/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.58%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
32.3 seconds
One birth every
4.82 minutes
26.8 seconds
One death every
4.67 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +228 +2,682
Annual growth/decline +83,171 +978,759
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 43/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 -1,064
Net migration rank 28/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -1,064
2024 -3,557 36,243 985,943 -17,735
2023 0 41,679 973,420 -5,710
2022 -2,336 118,615 962,501 76,821
2021 5,793 24,017 941,924 17,474
2020 -12,692 43,777 919,953 29,858
2019 8,042 58,469 942,972 -43,919
2018 7,999 50,604 938,310 15,775
2017 10,238 37,981 924,507 -21,998
2016 14,731 28,090 946,968 -113,980
2015 11,274 63,536 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 21,297 37,472 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 16,739 28,066 1,026,036 474,379
2012 18,882 45,001 999,987 753,907
2011 25,388 52,464 971,082 261,880
2010 23,970 105,232 906,369 92,779
2009 23,752 97,175 855,096 120,092
2008 22,491 66,470 802,382 396,792
2007 23,376 59,911 784,119 -824,428
2006 21,096 53,574 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 15,718 50,576 776,603 51,019
2004 16,673 35,143 761,563 69,948
2003 7,263 34,472 746,159 -27,236
2002 7,233 39,404 739,419 133,839
2001 11,315 34,924 729,704 14,451
2000 12,302 13,952 715,771 87,624
1999 9,203 16,849 702,170 69,491
1998 9,183 12,517 684,152 48,446
1997 12,218 10,262 667,582 15,429
1996 12,188 15,684 652,866 14,652
1995 11,150 1,937 642,977 40,424
1994 12,139 17,636 634,344 54,355
1993 14,118 18,542 606,700 581,818
1992 20,090 25,941 591,886 20,292
1991 22,010 27,038 550,146 -95,155
1990 19,935 8,299 518,575 -601,469
1989 13,912 7,301 496,852 19,392
1988 14,853 3,929 476,778 -81,562
1987 11,844 3,525 488,742 -108,426
1986 5,917 2,964 474,348 39,136
1985 2,958 2,165 467,445 -199,505
1984 4,927 1,697 455,740 21,709
1983 2,956 1,252 439,800 23,115
1982 7,885 1,100 428,336 -22,302
1981 11,831 2,826 416,998 -23,640
1980 10,845 11,482 419,653 15,757
1979 11,818 11,277 428,458 -20,617
1978 7,872 10,828 418,756 7,434
1977 8,847 10,460 410,229 8,204
1976 1,964 10,360 402,260 -13,915
1975 0 9,652 385,916 -6,237
1974 7,818 8,924 376,197 -4,090
1973 11,690 8,684 373,191 -1,507
1972 18,451 8,384 362,334 -2,600
1971 21,281 7,992 351,464 -6,479
1970 23,173 19,393 338,030 1,377
1969 21,221 20,072 324,792 312
1968 20,199 19,809 310,644 928
1967 31,618 19,492 298,192 2,531
1966 36,206 18,985 285,507 1,298
1965 39,748 18,243 274,551 4,555
1964 51,580 17,687 262,825 3,224
1963 41,804 16,355 254,046 3,197
1962 42,414 14,829 247,520 3,343
1961 52,349 10,566 184,792 2,981
1960 40,275 9,893 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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