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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 5,484,367 people in Ireland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 5,562,212 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 2.15 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.58% per year vs +1.5% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.56M (30.2% growth).

Belgium vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Ireland
2100 11,250,862 5,500,499
2099 11,269,247 5,525,011
2098 11,287,433 5,548,986
2097 11,303,694 5,572,279
2096 11,319,229 5,595,064
2095 11,335,187 5,615,877
2094 11,351,692 5,636,027
2093 11,367,258 5,655,870
2092 11,383,419 5,675,151
2091 11,397,881 5,694,092
2090 11,412,370 5,713,009
2089 11,426,889 5,730,546
2088 11,442,238 5,747,238
2087 11,457,739 5,762,650
2086 11,472,102 5,776,705
2085 11,485,745 5,791,049
2084 11,499,703 5,805,074
2083 11,513,055 5,818,867
2082 11,527,480 5,831,653
2081 11,539,632 5,842,944
2080 11,553,646 5,855,351
2079 11,566,656 5,870,572
2078 11,580,982 5,885,866
2077 11,593,809 5,901,647
2076 11,605,311 5,917,991
2075 11,617,264 5,934,408
2074 11,630,340 5,951,970
2073 11,643,635 5,969,385
2072 11,656,916 5,986,721
2071 11,670,459 6,003,888
2070 11,686,541 6,021,481
2069 11,702,841 6,038,378
2068 11,720,297 6,054,840
2067 11,737,631 6,070,805
2066 11,756,233 6,086,691
2065 11,776,031 6,101,966
2064 11,796,981 6,116,867
2063 11,818,873 6,129,790
2062 11,841,060 6,141,729
2061 11,864,790 6,154,062
2060 11,886,277 6,167,032
2059 11,907,924 6,179,602
2058 11,928,140 6,189,124
2057 11,951,275 6,196,781
2056 11,972,819 6,199,786
2055 11,992,614 6,204,376
2054 12,011,260 6,205,225
2053 12,029,602 6,205,444
2052 12,045,984 6,203,350
2051 12,059,458 6,200,637
2050 12,070,180 6,195,469
2049 12,079,277 6,187,289
2048 12,086,376 6,175,872
2047 12,091,336 6,163,776
2046 12,094,512 6,150,911
2045 12,096,264 6,134,927
2044 12,095,660 6,116,643
2043 12,094,445 6,097,627
2042 12,092,240 6,076,713
2041 12,088,320 6,052,462
2040 12,084,611 6,027,054
2039 12,080,011 6,002,204
2038 12,074,019 5,974,917
2037 12,067,048 5,946,606
2036 12,060,663 5,918,275
2035 12,054,093 5,889,854
2034 12,047,026 5,858,952
2033 12,038,587 5,826,337
2032 12,030,514 5,791,225
2031 12,022,079 5,754,845
2030 12,012,501 5,717,377
2029 12,000,773 5,676,731
2028 11,988,034 5,632,552
2027 11,974,384 5,585,925
2026 11,959,583 5,537,167
2025 11,941,781 5,484,367
2024 11,858,610 5,395,790
2023 11,779,946 5,311,538
2022 11,680,210 5,212,836
2021 11,586,195 5,110,585
2020 11,538,604 5,039,747
2019 11,488,980 4,976,456
2018 11,427,054 4,898,022
2017 11,375,158 4,827,445
2016 11,331,422 4,762,722
2015 11,274,196 4,701,957
2014 11,209,057 4,657,740
2013 11,159,407 4,623,816
2012 11,106,932 4,599,533
2011 11,038,264 4,580,084
2010 10,895,586 4,560,155
2009 10,796,493 4,535,375
2008 10,709,973 4,489,544
2007 10,625,700 4,398,942
2006 10,547,958 4,273,591
2005 10,478,617 4,159,914
2004 10,421,137 4,070,262
2003 10,376,133 3,996,521
2002 10,332,785 3,931,947
2001 10,286,570 3,866,243
2000 10,251,250 3,805,174
1999 10,226,419 3,754,786
1998 10,203,008 3,712,696
1997 10,181,245 3,674,171
1996 10,156,637 3,637,510
1995 10,136,811 3,608,841
1994 10,115,603 3,590,386
1993 10,084,475 3,576,261
1992 10,045,158 3,558,430
1991 10,004,486 3,534,235
1990 9,967,379 3,513,974
1989 9,937,697 3,511,009
1988 9,901,664 3,524,949
1987 9,870,234 3,540,057
1986 9,861,823 3,539,690
1985 9,858,308 3,538,082
1984 9,855,372 3,532,423
1983 9,855,520 3,510,600
1982 9,856,303 3,485,800
1981 9,858,982 3,453,000
1980 9,859,242 3,412,800
1979 9,848,382 3,373,750
1978 9,839,534 3,329,100
1977 9,830,358 3,282,200
1976 9,818,227 3,238,050
1975 9,800,700 3,189,550
1974 9,772,419 3,137,500
1973 9,741,720 3,085,950
1972 9,711,115 3,036,850
1971 9,673,162 2,992,050
1970 9,655,549 2,957,250
1969 9,646,032 2,932,650
1968 9,618,756 2,915,550
1967 9,580,991 2,902,450
1966 9,527,807 2,888,800
1965 9,463,667 2,877,300
1964 9,378,113 2,866,550
1963 9,289,770 2,852,650
1962 9,220,578 2,836,050
1961 9,183,948 2,824,400
1960 9,153,489 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Ireland will increase by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people and rank change from 122nd to 118th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people compared to the peak of 6.21M people in 2053 for Ireland.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Ireland
2100 -0.16% -0.44%
2099 -0.16% -0.43%
2098 -0.14% -0.42%
2097 -0.14% -0.41%
2096 -0.14% -0.37%
2095 -0.15% -0.36%
2094 -0.14% -0.35%
2093 -0.14% -0.34%
2092 -0.13% -0.33%
2091 -0.13% -0.33%
2090 -0.13% -0.31%
2089 -0.13% -0.29%
2088 -0.14% -0.27%
2087 -0.13% -0.24%
2086 -0.12% -0.25%
2085 -0.12% -0.24%
2084 -0.12% -0.24%
2083 -0.13% -0.22%
2082 -0.11% -0.19%
2081 -0.12% -0.21%
2080 -0.11% -0.26%
2079 -0.12% -0.26%
2078 -0.11% -0.27%
2077 -0.1% -0.28%
2076 -0.1% -0.28%
2075 -0.11% -0.3%
2074 -0.11% -0.29%
2073 -0.11% -0.29%
2072 -0.12% -0.29%
2071 -0.14% -0.29%
2070 -0.14% -0.28%
2069 -0.15% -0.27%
2068 -0.15% -0.26%
2067 -0.16% -0.26%
2066 -0.17% -0.25%
2065 -0.18% -0.24%
2064 -0.19% -0.21%
2063 -0.19% -0.19%
2062 -0.2% -0.2%
2061 -0.18% -0.21%
2060 -0.18% -0.2%
2059 -0.17% -0.15%
2058 -0.19% -0.12%
2057 -0.18% -0.05%
2056 -0.17% -0.07%
2055 -0.16% -0.01%
2054 -0.15% -0.004%
2053 -0.14% 0.03%
2052 -0.11% 0.04%
2051 -0.09% 0.08%
2050 -0.08% 0.13%
2049 -0.06% 0.18%
2048 -0.04% 0.2%
2047 -0.03% 0.21%
2046 -0.01% 0.26%
2045 0.005% 0.3%
2044 0.01% 0.31%
2043 0.02% 0.34%
2042 0.03% 0.4%
2041 0.03% 0.42%
2040 0.04% 0.41%
2039 0.05% 0.46%
2038 0.06% 0.48%
2037 0.05% 0.48%
2036 0.05% 0.48%
2035 0.06% 0.53%
2034 0.07% 0.56%
2033 0.07% 0.61%
2032 0.07% 0.63%
2031 0.08% 0.66%
2030 0.1% 0.72%
2029 0.11% 0.78%
2028 0.11% 0.83%
2027 0.12% 0.88%
2026 0.15% 0.96%
2025 0.7% 1.64%
2024 0.67% 1.59%
2023 0.85% 1.89%
2022 0.81% 2%
2021 0.41% 1.41%
2020 0.43% 1.27%
2019 0.54% 1.6%
2018 0.46% 1.46%
2017 0.39% 1.36%
2016 0.51% 1.29%
2015 0.58% 0.95%
2014 0.44% 0.73%
2013 0.47% 0.53%
2012 0.62% 0.42%
2011 1.31% 0.44%
2010 0.92% 0.55%
2009 0.81% 1.02%
2008 0.79% 2.06%
2007 0.74% 2.93%
2006 0.66% 2.73%
2005 0.55% 2.2%
2004 0.43% 1.85%
2003 0.42% 1.64%
2002 0.45% 1.7%
2001 0.34% 1.6%
2000 0.24% 1.34%
1999 0.23% 1.13%
1998 0.21% 1.05%
1997 0.24% 1.01%
1996 0.2% 0.79%
1995 0.21% 0.51%
1994 0.31% 0.39%
1993 0.39% 0.5%
1992 0.41% 0.68%
1991 0.37% 0.58%
1990 0.3% 0.08%
1989 0.36% -0.4%
1988 0.32% -0.43%
1987 0.09% 0.01%
1986 0.04% 0.05%
1985 0.03% 0.16%
1984 -0.002% 0.62%
1983 -0.008% 0.71%
1982 -0.03% 0.95%
1981 -0.003% 1.18%
1980 0.11% 1.16%
1979 0.09% 1.34%
1978 0.09% 1.43%
1977 0.12% 1.36%
1976 0.18% 1.52%
1975 0.29% 1.66%
1974 0.32% 1.67%
1973 0.32% 1.62%
1972 0.39% 1.5%
1971 0.18% 1.18%
1970 0.1% 0.84%
1969 0.28% 0.59%
1968 0.39% 0.45%
1967 0.56% 0.47%
1966 0.68% 0.4%
1965 0.91% 0.38%
1964 0.95% 0.49%
1963 0.75% 0.59%
1962 0.4% 0.41%
1961 0.33% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.64%.

Live population counters

Belgium Ireland
Current population
11967185
5562212
Population rank 83/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.07%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
5.95 minutes
One birth every
4.82 minutes
9.74 minutes
One death every
4.67 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +228 +243
Annual growth/decline +83,171 +88,577
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% +1.64%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 64/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +35,417
Net migration rank 28/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 35,417
2024 -3,557 36,243 18,885 39,059
2023 0 41,679 19,652 43,873
2022 -2,336 118,615 19,287 93,535
2021 5,793 24,017 26,064 27,419
2020 -12,692 43,777 23,687 15,746
2019 8,042 58,469 28,365 29,663
2018 7,999 50,604 29,878 33,387
2017 10,238 37,981 31,379 28,883
2016 14,731 28,090 33,339 18,967
2015 11,274 63,536 35,265 13,376
2014 21,297 37,472 37,728 448
2013 16,739 28,066 39,302 -12,309
2012 18,882 45,001 42,775 -22,411
2011 25,388 52,464 45,801 -26,529
2010 23,970 105,232 47,426 -26,974
2009 23,752 97,175 47,168 -18,524
2008 22,491 66,470 46,691 18,979
2007 23,376 59,911 43,109 76,465
2006 21,096 53,574 36,752 94,513
2005 15,718 50,576 33,279 63,983
2004 16,673 35,143 33,376 49,102
2003 7,263 34,472 32,372 32,220
2002 7,233 39,404 31,062 34,286
2001 11,315 34,924 27,837 39,220
2000 12,302 13,952 23,592 31,298
1999 9,203 16,849 21,402 23,592
1998 9,183 12,517 22,277 16,615
1997 12,218 10,262 21,311 17,425
1996 12,188 15,684 18,915 9,959
1995 11,150 1,937 16,601 10,019
1994 12,139 17,636 17,234 -3,118
1993 14,118 18,542 17,166 -3,762
1992 20,090 25,941 20,283 1,335
1991 22,010 27,038 21,206 4,944
1990 19,935 8,299 21,787 -8,203
1989 13,912 7,301 20,012 -28,752
1988 14,853 3,929 22,912 -44,020
1987 11,844 3,525 26,904 -38,426
1986 5,917 2,964 27,963 -21,139
1985 2,958 2,165 29,013 -16,178
1984 4,927 1,697 31,791 -15,549
1983 2,956 1,252 34,053 -15,043
1982 7,885 1,100 38,344 -14,464
1981 11,831 2,826 39,364 -10,834
1980 10,845 11,482 40,612 -2,876
1979 11,818 11,277 38,798 1,486
1978 7,872 10,828 36,288 15,543
1977 8,847 10,460 35,448 14,505
1976 1,964 10,360 33,676 14,200
1975 0 9,652 34,128 13,828
1974 7,818 8,924 34,199 13,482
1973 11,690 8,684 34,562 13,164
1972 18,451 8,384 34,316 12,858
1971 21,281 7,992 35,606 5,851
1970 23,173 19,393 30,756 -8,892
1969 21,221 20,072 29,326 -10,250
1968 20,199 19,809 27,697 -11,132
1967 31,618 19,492 29,895 -11,708
1966 36,206 18,985 26,866 -11,858
1965 39,748 18,243 30,500 -14,016
1964 51,580 17,687 31,532 -15,640
1963 41,804 16,355 29,667 -16,615
1962 42,414 14,829 28,077 -17,438
1961 52,349 10,566 25,137 -22,237
1960 40,275 9,893 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/ireland | 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 Ireland 43.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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