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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 48,289,334 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 +0.55% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Belgium vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Iraq
2100 11,193,616 101,632,594
2099 11,211,908 101,421,266
2098 11,230,002 101,212,536
2097 11,246,180 100,980,835
2096 11,261,636 100,724,441
2095 11,277,513 100,464,590
2094 11,293,934 100,194,041
2093 11,309,421 99,876,174
2092 11,325,500 99,532,041
2091 11,339,887 99,203,830
2090 11,354,304 98,886,956
2089 11,368,748 98,513,025
2088 11,384,019 98,144,039
2087 11,399,441 97,767,537
2086 11,413,731 97,325,026
2085 11,427,305 96,873,007
2084 11,441,192 96,448,602
2083 11,454,476 95,991,166
2082 11,468,827 95,509,663
2081 11,480,917 95,009,326
2080 11,494,860 94,507,216
2079 11,507,804 93,960,228
2078 11,522,057 93,417,384
2077 11,534,819 92,903,983
2076 11,546,262 92,359,592
2075 11,558,154 91,825,254
2074 11,571,164 91,229,266
2073 11,584,391 90,571,021
2072 11,597,605 89,918,374
2071 11,611,079 89,265,548
2070 11,627,079 88,596,492
2069 11,643,296 87,909,474
2068 11,660,663 87,220,494
2067 11,677,909 86,513,996
2066 11,696,417 85,734,530
2065 11,716,114 84,971,898
2064 11,736,957 84,191,350
2063 11,758,738 83,387,951
2062 11,780,812 82,604,577
2061 11,804,421 81,800,637
2060 11,825,799 80,951,008
2059 11,847,336 80,141,868
2058 11,867,449 79,319,543
2057 11,890,466 78,477,339
2056 11,911,901 77,609,202
2055 11,931,594 76,739,924
2054 11,950,146 75,857,125
2053 11,968,395 74,952,948
2052 11,984,694 74,072,580
2051 11,998,099 73,150,234
2050 12,008,766 72,235,938
2049 12,017,817 71,272,122
2048 12,024,879 70,316,860
2047 12,029,815 69,347,823
2046 12,032,975 68,400,664
2045 12,034,718 67,435,953
2044 12,034,116 66,447,309
2043 12,032,908 65,453,565
2042 12,030,714 64,433,831
2041 12,026,814 63,408,709
2040 12,023,124 62,360,117
2039 12,018,547 61,289,355
2038 12,012,586 60,253,073
2037 12,005,650 59,221,658
2036 11,999,298 58,155,990
2035 11,992,761 57,127,999
2034 11,985,730 56,087,695
2033 11,977,334 55,051,140
2032 11,969,302 54,002,289
2031 11,960,910 52,991,443
2030 11,951,381 51,986,773
2029 11,939,712 50,982,563
2028 11,927,038 50,001,133
2027 11,913,457 49,014,822
2026 11,898,731 48,020,334
2025 11,881,020 47,020,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% 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 0.89% to 12,008,766 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

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

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

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Belgium Iraq
Current population
11902714
48289334
Population rank 83/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.58%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
32.6 seconds
One birth every
4.75 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
4.75 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 46/197
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 - 36,243 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 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 (1960–2024, 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/iraq | 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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