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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 2.16 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • 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 +0.55% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

Belgium vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Ireland
2100 11,193,616 5,468,791
2099 11,211,908 5,493,162
2098 11,230,002 5,516,999
2097 11,246,180 5,540,157
2096 11,261,636 5,562,811
2095 11,277,513 5,583,505
2094 11,293,934 5,603,538
2093 11,309,421 5,623,266
2092 11,325,500 5,642,437
2091 11,339,887 5,661,268
2090 11,354,304 5,680,076
2089 11,368,748 5,697,512
2088 11,384,019 5,714,108
2087 11,399,441 5,729,431
2086 11,413,731 5,743,405
2085 11,427,305 5,757,666
2084 11,441,192 5,771,610
2083 11,454,476 5,785,324
2082 11,468,827 5,798,037
2081 11,480,917 5,809,262
2080 11,494,860 5,821,598
2079 11,507,804 5,836,731
2078 11,522,057 5,851,937
2077 11,534,819 5,867,627
2076 11,546,262 5,883,876
2075 11,558,154 5,900,200
2074 11,571,164 5,917,659
2073 11,584,391 5,934,975
2072 11,597,605 5,952,211
2071 11,611,079 5,969,279
2070 11,627,079 5,986,770
2069 11,643,296 6,003,570
2068 11,660,663 6,019,937
2067 11,677,909 6,035,810
2066 11,696,417 6,051,604
2065 11,716,114 6,066,791
2064 11,736,957 6,081,606
2063 11,758,738 6,094,455
2062 11,780,812 6,106,325
2061 11,804,421 6,118,587
2060 11,825,799 6,131,482
2059 11,847,336 6,143,979
2058 11,867,449 6,153,447
2057 11,890,466 6,161,059
2056 11,911,901 6,164,047
2055 11,931,594 6,168,611
2054 11,950,146 6,169,455
2053 11,968,395 6,169,673
2052 11,984,694 6,167,591
2051 11,998,099 6,164,894
2050 12,008,766 6,159,756
2049 12,017,817 6,151,623
2048 12,024,879 6,140,272
2047 12,029,815 6,128,245
2046 12,032,975 6,115,454
2045 12,034,718 6,099,562
2044 12,034,116 6,081,384
2043 12,032,908 6,062,477
2042 12,030,714 6,041,683
2041 12,026,814 6,017,573
2040 12,023,124 5,992,311
2039 12,018,547 5,967,604
2038 12,012,586 5,940,474
2037 12,005,650 5,912,327
2036 11,999,298 5,884,159
2035 11,992,761 5,855,902
2034 11,985,730 5,825,178
2033 11,977,334 5,792,751
2032 11,969,302 5,757,842
2031 11,960,910 5,721,671
2030 11,951,381 5,684,420
2029 11,939,712 5,644,008
2028 11,927,038 5,600,083
2027 11,913,457 5,553,725
2026 11,898,731 5,505,248
2025 11,881,020 5,452,752
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 6.17M 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 0.19% 1.06%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

Belgium Ireland
Current population
11902714
5518360
Population rank 83/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.07%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
6.24 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
9.61 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +231
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 68/197
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 - 36,243 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 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 (1960–2024, 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/ireland | 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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